Chemitox Inc. Launches Contract Service for "Thermal Propagation Test" of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Chemitox Inc. has launched a "Thermal Propagation Test" service to evaluate the fire safety of lithium-ion battery packs for EVs and industrial storage systems, complying with international safety standards.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 19:37
- 🔍 Collected: April 3, 2026 at 11:00
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Chemitox Inc. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Koichi Nakayama), which provides evaluation testing and certification support for lithium-ion batteries, has newly launched a contract service for the "Thermal Propagation Test" as a safety evaluation for battery packs in EVs (electric vehicles), industrial energy storage systems, and various portable devices.
## Background and Purpose of Introducing the Thermal Propagation Test
Generally, battery packs composed of multiple cells are protected from abnormalities such as overcharging and overdischarging by a BMS (Battery Management System). However, should thermal runaway occur even once due to internal cell factors (e.g., an internal short circuit caused by microscopic contamination), electrical control by the system becomes extremely difficult.
In the worst-case scenario of such an "uncontrollable runaway of a single cell," whether or not the fire jumps (thermal propagation) to adjacent cells becomes the biggest factor determining the scale of the fire and the damage to the entire system.
With the spread of EVs, international regulations (such as UN GTR No.20 and GB 38031) strictly mandate not only the safety of individual cells but also the "prevention of fire spread" and "securing of evacuation time for occupants" at the vehicle pack level. Furthermore, JIS C 8715-2 (IEC 62619 compliant), the safety standard for industrial lithium-ion batteries, also requires this test to guarantee the safety of the entire system. Even for power tools and portable power stations, this test is highly regarded as the supplier's responsibility to protect product safety.
In response to these market needs, Chemitox provides thermal propagation testing services that offer empirical data to prevent fatal large-scale fires.
## Overview and Method of the Thermal Propagation Test
In this test, one cell (the trigger cell) within a battery pack or system is intentionally forced into thermal runaway to evaluate thermal propagation to adjacent cells and modules.
As a trigger to cause thermal runaway in the trigger cell, we use the following methods tailored to your product specifications and standards:
- Heater Heating (External Heating): Heat is applied from the outside to induce thermal runaway.
- Nail Penetration (Internal Heating): A metal nail is driven in to cause a physical internal short circuit.
- Overcharge (Electrical Load): Excessive voltage is applied to chemically induce runaway.
## Background and Purpose of Introducing the Thermal Propagation Test
Generally, battery packs composed of multiple cells are protected from abnormalities such as overcharging and overdischarging by a BMS (Battery Management System). However, should thermal runaway occur even once due to internal cell factors (e.g., an internal short circuit caused by microscopic contamination), electrical control by the system becomes extremely difficult.
In the worst-case scenario of such an "uncontrollable runaway of a single cell," whether or not the fire jumps (thermal propagation) to adjacent cells becomes the biggest factor determining the scale of the fire and the damage to the entire system.
With the spread of EVs, international regulations (such as UN GTR No.20 and GB 38031) strictly mandate not only the safety of individual cells but also the "prevention of fire spread" and "securing of evacuation time for occupants" at the vehicle pack level. Furthermore, JIS C 8715-2 (IEC 62619 compliant), the safety standard for industrial lithium-ion batteries, also requires this test to guarantee the safety of the entire system. Even for power tools and portable power stations, this test is highly regarded as the supplier's responsibility to protect product safety.
In response to these market needs, Chemitox provides thermal propagation testing services that offer empirical data to prevent fatal large-scale fires.
## Overview and Method of the Thermal Propagation Test
In this test, one cell (the trigger cell) within a battery pack or system is intentionally forced into thermal runaway to evaluate thermal propagation to adjacent cells and modules.
As a trigger to cause thermal runaway in the trigger cell, we use the following methods tailored to your product specifications and standards:
- Heater Heating (External Heating): Heat is applied from the outside to induce thermal runaway.
- Nail Penetration (Internal Heating): A metal nail is driven in to cause a physical internal short circuit.
- Overcharge (Electrical Load): Excessive voltage is applied to chemically induce runaway.