From Smoke to Silence: How PyroBubbles Crushed the test
We recently decided to put a fire suppression product to the test - and not just in theory. We're talking a real-world demonstration setup!
The hero of the story? A patented, lightweight extinguishing medium called PyroBubbles®.
The victim? A poor lithium cell that never saw the hammer coming.
The outcome? watch our video on YouTube!
But here’s the exciting part: we’re just getting started.
We want to test more fire suppression systems right here at our Johannesburg office — so if you’ve got a product that claims to handle lithium fires, send it our way and let’s see how it holds up under pressure.
Email andries@lbsa.co.za to get in touch and put your product to the test!
The Test: Smoke, heat, and PyroBubbles® in Action
To simulate a real-world battery incident, we took one of our trusted LiFePO₄ cells and… well, gave it a rough day:
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First, we tapped it with a steel rod — nothing dramatic.
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Then, we hit it with a hammer. Boom. Internal reaction triggered.
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Once the hammer hit the cell smoke began pouring out.
At 162°C, the cell smoking and cooking, we placed it in a container filled with GENIUS PyroBubbles®.
Within a few minutes, the smoke stopped. No fireball. No toxic mess. Just cool, clean containment.
What Are PyroBubbles®, Anyway?
They might look like regular granules, but PyroBubbles® are anything but ordinary. Engineered specifically for high-risk fires — especially lithium batteries — they are:
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~8–10× lighter than sand
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Resistant up to 1050°C
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Low thermal conductivity (stops heat from spreading)
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Electrolyte-binding and liquid-absorbing
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Electrically insulating
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Reusable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly
In simple terms: they don’t just suppress fires — they shut them down.
How They Work
PyroBubbles® combine four powerful effects to kill fire at its core:
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Inerting: Blocks air and gases from feeding the flame.
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Cooling: Absorbs heat rapidly to lower combustion temps.
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Condensation: Traps vapors before they become flammable again.
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Adsorption: Binds liquids and smoke particles onto their porous surface.
It’s like a fire blanket, heat sink, and chemical sponge rolled into one.
Why LBSA Is Doing These Tests
At Lithium Batteries South Africa, we’re not only here to sell high-performance batteries - we’re also obsessed with safety.
As lithium batteries become more common in homes, businesses, solar installations, and even ceiling spaces, we’re making sure we understand what happens when things go wrong - and which products help make them right.
That’s why we’re testing real-world fire suppression methods in a controlled, transparent environment. And we’re inviting you to join us.
Got a Fire Suppression Product? Prove It.
If you manufacture, import, or distribute a fire suppression method — especially for lithium-ion batteries — let’s see what it can really do.
We’re calling on:
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Fire safety companies
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Battery storage manufacturers
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Safety equipment suppliers
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And any inventors with a bright idea and a fire to fight
Email Andries at andries@lbsa.co.za to schedule your test at our Johannesburg facility.
Let’s make battery safety better — together.
Stay safe. Stay smart. Stay powered.
Follow LBSA for more innovations in lithium battery tech, safety insights, and behind-the-scenes experiments that prove we walk the talk.