Battery factories require a new way of thinking about plant design and construction. Mitigation of potential fire risks is an essential part of designing a factory layout when planning the construction of a EV battery manufacturing mega facility. Gigafactories may reduce hazards, safeguard their workers, and guarantee local and international standards compliance by integrating safety and compliance issues into the layout design.

One critical aspect that impacts construction timelines and production safety is the fireproofing of steel structures within manufacturing facilities. Fireproofing ensures structures can withstand high temperatures without igniting or losing structural integrity. This is achieved through the application of fire-resistant coatings or treatments designed to delay or prevent the spread of fire and protect the structural components from heat damage.

Building safety should be at the forefront when constructing a gigafactory and adhere to local code and industry standards. A structural plan should allow for a large number of fire compartments to prevent spread and safe and short escape routes to ensure the safety of employees and rescue teams. A comprehensive full-area fire alarm system with an automatic fire extinguishing system must be able to be installed, as well as extinguishing water retentions to prevent environmental pollution. Passive protection can be established during design and construction, these measures include the use of fire compartments for processes that utilise fire walls, fire doors, and fire dampers; access points for emergency services and evacuation; and a smoke extraction system.

Matthew Arvin, Safety Manager at Barton Malow, will be joining us as a keynote expert speaker at our newest event the Constructing Mega Facilities: Advances in Planning, Design, and Engineering Summit. Matthew will be delivering a presentation titled ‘Safety Considerations while Constructing Electric Vehicle Battery Facilities’ in which he will discuss the topics of Chemical Introduction during Construction, Clean Room Protocols and Walkable Ceiling Hazards and Thermal Runaway Risk. Matthew is currently a construction safety manager for Barton Malow and is a Certified Safety Professional through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.  With Barton Malow, Matthew has supervised the construction of two large battery cell facilities for electric vehicles at both the Ultium Cells II project in Spring Hill, Tennessee and the Ford BOSK project in Glendale, Kentucky.  Before that, Matthew was the General Motors lead Assembly Shop safety supervisor in their Spring Hill facility supervising equipment installation to allow for the manufacturing of the EV Cadillac LYRIQ. Matthew also is a licensed attorney in the state of Tennessee where he has given several presentations to the legal community and is a regular contributor to the American Bar Association’s construction publication, Under Construction.

To discuss mega facility construction and the key issues facing the industry, connect with solution providers and network with delegates, attend the Constructing Mega Facilities: Advances in Planning, Design, and Engineering Summit taking place on April 9th and 10th, 2025, in Houston, Texas.

For more information, visit our website or email us at info@innovatrix.eu for the event agenda.