How to Identify and Address Fire Safety Risks in London’s Growing Micro-Mobility Sector: Essential Guidelines for Compliance and Safety in 2025

Fire safety risks in London’s micro-mobility sector are rising as e-scooters, e-bikes and other electrically powered personal vehicles become more common, and this guide explains what property managers, facilities teams and responsible persons must do to identify hazards and meet their legal duties. You will learn how to spot the highest-risk situations, practical steps to reduce the chance of a fire, the record‑keeping and policy changes that support compliance, and where to find authoritative UK guidance.

Official guidance that informed this article is available from gov.uk and the london-fire.gov.uk.

Micro-mobility devices typically use lithium-ion batteries. While these batteries are efficient, they can fail catastrophically if damaged, charged incorrectly or paired with counterfeit chargers. As a result, fires related to e-bikes and e-scooters have increased sharply in recent years, particularly in London where many incidents have happened in homes and communal areas.

Responsible persons must treat these devices as a growing fire risk when preparing fire risk assessments and safety plans. See guidance from the nfcc.org.uk and the london-fire.gov.uk for incident summaries and campaign materials.

This matters for anyone who manages or occupies multi‑occupied buildings, workplaces or shared facilities. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsible person must assess and control fire risks in common areas and workplaces. Consequently, failing to consider micro-mobility hazards may place people at risk and leave a building non‑compliant. See the official collection on gov.uk.

Start with a focused review of where devices are stored, charged and repaired. Key risk locations include communal corridors, bike stores, bin stores and flats where batteries are charged on escape routes. Take a methodical approach: list sources of ignition, items that will burn, people who may be at risk and likely escape paths. Use this evidence to update your fire risk assessment. See guidance from the london-fire.gov.uk.

Look for specific warning signs on batteries and chargers. These include visible swelling, scorch marks, odd smells, hissing noises, and overheating during use or charging. Replace suspect batteries immediately and document the issue. For converted bikes or DIY kits, check whether the work was carried out professionally; conversions and cheap aftermarket batteries are a common cause of fires. See the nfcc.org.uk guidance.

Consider usage patterns. High turnover in build-to-rent blocks or student housing often means many devices are charged overnight in bedrooms and corridors, increasing risk. Deliveries, on‑demand courier fleets and shared mobility hubs can create clusters of charged batteries in one location, multiplying the hazard and consequences if a battery fails. Campaign materials from the nfcc.org.uk explain use-case risks.

A competent fire risk assessment tailored for micro‑mobility must include these checks.

Storage and charging location audits: identify whether devices or spare batteries are kept on escape routes, in communal corridors or in bin stores.

Quantity and proximity: note how many devices or spare batteries are stored together and their proximity to combustible materials.

Electrical load and socket condition: inspect sockets, chargers and extension leads used for charging; overloaded circuits and unsuitable extension leads increase fire risk.

Product provenance: check whether chargers and batteries are genuine, UKCA/CE marked or bought from reputable suppliers.

Behavioural factors: record whether residents or staff charge devices unattended or overnight, and whether guidance is followed.

Document findings clearly and use them to update mitigation measures and emergency plans. Where appropriate, retain photographic evidence to support risk decisions and future audits. See gov.uk and the nfcc.org.uk campaign pages for audit prompts.

Prohibit charging on escape routes and in communal corridors. Where possible, provide designated charging rooms with controlled ventilation and limited access. This reduces the chance a single fault will block evacuation.

Require manufacturer‑approved chargers and genuine batteries. Instruct residents and staff to avoid third‑party and universal chargers. This lowers the risk of incompatible charging and thermal runaway. See battery safety guidance on gov.uk and the nfcc.org.uk.

Limit the number of spare batteries stored in communal areas. Where storage cannot be avoided, use metal cabinets or fire‑resistant containers and keep quantities low.

Install or upgrade detection in charging locations. For garages or purpose-built stores, heat detectors can be more reliable than smoke detectors. Ensure alarms feed into your building’s alerting system. Refer to gov.uk materials.

Introduce a reporting process and immediate isolation: if a battery shows signs of damage, it must be taken out of service and safely isolated in a non‑combustible container until it can be recycled or returned to supplier. Practical advice is available from britsafe.org.

These controls are practical and low cost. They also demonstrate a proportionate approach to risk management that a regulator will expect to see recorded in the fire risk assessment. See the official collection on gov.uk for legal context.

Policies alone will not prevent fires. However, clear rules combined with training and resident engagement make them effective. Introduce a micro‑mobility policy that explains where charging and storage are permitted, how to spot damaged batteries and how residents should report concerns.

Provide short, accessible guidance for tenants and staff. For instance, include advice on buying approved products, not charging overnight, and not leaving batteries on charge when the property is unoccupied. Posters in bin stores and bike rooms reinforce the message.

Train front‑line staff and concierge teams in basic battery awareness and emergency actions. They should know how to isolate charging equipment safely and when to call the fire service. NFCC and London Fire Brigade materials make suitable templates for local information campaigns. See the nfcc.org.uk and the london-fire.gov.uk resources.

For higher‑risk buildings, consider technical investments. These may include dedicated battery charging rooms with suppression systems or fire‑resistant walls; automatic smoke and heat detection linked to staging alarms in common areas; enhanced compartmentation and fire stopping around bike stores and plant rooms; fire rated enclosures or steel cabinets for battery storage; and power management to prevent socket overload and to supply dedicated circuits for charging hubs.

Total Safe UK can advise on appropriate measures and install or test systems to ensure compliance. For help with surveys and installations see our Total Safe UK fire safety services and fire risk assessment guidance.

Responsible persons must keep records that show risks were considered and acted on. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, reasonable fire precautions and training for staff. Your records should show the review date, inspection findings, decisions taken and communications with residents or tenants. Official guidance is available on gov.uk.

Where you introduce restrictions ensure the policy is communicated and evidence retained. Keep copies of emails, noticeboard photographs and incident reports. These records are invaluable if enforcement authorities ask for evidence that the risk has been managed proportionately. See the official guidance on gov.uk for expectations.

If you suspect a battery is overheating, move people away from the source, raise the alarm and call 999. Do not attempt to extinguish large battery fires; they can produce rapid flame spread and toxic fumes. Fire and rescue services advise evacuation and professional intervention for lithium battery fires. For smaller smouldering devices, isolate the item in a safe place if you can do so without risk, and call the fire service for guidance. See advice from the nfcc.org.uk and the london-fire.gov.uk.

After an incident, preserve records and take immediate corrective action. Review the fire risk assessment, update measures and communicate changes to residents and staff. If the fire resulted from a defective product, notify the manufacturer and report any potential product safety issue to the relevant authorities. The NFCC and Electrical Safety First recommend product registration and checking for recalls. See the nfcc.org.uk materials.

Effective risk control depends on collaboration. Ask suppliers and management companies to confirm that any charging infrastructure or hired charging pods meet UK standards. Encourage residents to buy products from reputable suppliers and to register devices with manufacturers so they receive safety notices.

Engage with local fire and rescue services for advice. They can offer tailored guidance and, in many areas, have produced downloadable resources and campaign materials to support building managers. The nfcc.org.uk and the london-fire.gov.uk resources are particularly useful for resident-facing communications.

Summing up, take these immediate steps this month.

Update your fire risk assessment to include micro‑mobility devices and record the update. Official guidance is available on gov.uk.

Prohibit charging on escape routes and set up designated charging zones where possible. See battery safety guidance on gov.uk.

Communicate and train: issue clear guidance to residents and staff and record distribution. See campaign materials from the nfcc.org.uk.

Inspect chargers and sockets, remove counterfeit or damaged items and reduce stored battery quantities. See the nfcc.org.uk guidance.

If needed, contact a specialist to assess technical upgrades and provide evidence for compliance. Total Safe UK offers tailored risk assessments and installation services to help you manage these issues. Contact Total Safe UK for support.

These actions will reduce the chance of a micro‑mobility related fire and will help demonstrate that you have taken a proportionate, evidence‑based approach to a known and growing hazard.

A: The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 must consider micro‑mobility devices in communal areas and take reasonable steps to manage the risk. Document any decisions and the rationale in your fire risk assessment. See the official collection on gov.uk.

A: No. Charging on escape routes or in corridors can block exits and is strongly discouraged. Provide alternatives such as designated charging rooms or advise residents to use off‑site charging where possible. See the battery safety publication on gov.uk.

A: Signs include bulging or swelling, excessive heat, strange smells, hissing or cracking noises, smoke or failure to charge normally. If you see these signs isolate the battery and remove it from use. See safety information from the london-fire.gov.uk.

A: Use the government collection on fire safety duties, London Fire Brigade guidance for e-bikes/e-scooters and NFCC campaign materials to form resident‑facing communications and technical controls. See gov.uk, london-fire.gov.uk and nfcc.org.uk.

A: Call a specialist if you have large numbers of devices, restricted storage space, or if you need technical measures such as detection upgrades, fire stopping or a charging room design. Total Safe UK can provide surveys and solutions tailored to your building type. Explore our fire safety services.

References: Official guidance from gov.uk, the London Fire Brigade and the NFCC has informed this article and should be consulted when you update policies and fire risk assessments.