Technical Articles
Deep dives on sensor networks, EtherCAT topology, anomaly detection, and the design choices behind the RoRoSafe platform.
Can Electrolyte Vapour Warn Before Fire?
A failing lithium cell vents electrolyte-solvent vapour — DMC boils near 90°C — before any combustion gas or heat. That VOC is the earliest signature.
Does GB 38031 Change Marine Detection?
GB 38031-2025 makes an EV pack contain a cell runaway for 120 minutes with no fire. At sea that makes silent off-gas detection more vital, not less.
Does Deck Ventilation Delay Fire Detection?
Yes. SOLAS II-2/20 mandates continuous ventilation on closed vehicle decks, and that airflow dilutes smoke and off-gas before detectors see it.
Does UR E26/E27 Apply to Fire Detection?
Yes. UR E22 puts fire detection in Category III, so a networked grid is a Category III CBS needing E27 security capabilities and class approval.
What SOLAS 2026 Video Monitoring Requires
MSC.550(108) mandates effective video monitoring and recording of vehicle spaces from 2026. It verifies and evidences an alarm — it does not detect one.
Do Flame Detectors Work on a Car Deck?
UV/IR flame detectors alarm in seconds and reject sunlight, but they fire only after ignition and need a line of sight the packed car deck blocks.
How Fast Does a Car-Deck Fire Spread?
Full-scale tests show fire reaches the next car in ~20 minutes, and deck spacing is tighter than a parking lot. That spread time is your detection budget.
LFP vs NMC: Tuning Detection Thresholds
LFP vents about a third the gas of NMC and burns far cooler, but proportionally richer in hydrogen. A detector tuned only on NMC under-warns on LFP.
Can Acoustic Sensors Detect a Cell Vent Early?
Acoustic and ultrasonic sensors flag a lithium-ion cell venting minutes before temperature, voltage or gas do — but vehicle-deck use is still emerging.