Battery and vape fires in the waste stream are rising fast. Firesleeve protects the compaction and tail-lift hydraulics so a fire doesn't take the vehicle down with it — buying the crew time to reach safety or discharge the load.
Refuse collection vehicles are increasingly catching fire not because of the vehicle, but because of what's inside the hopper. Discarded lithium-ion batteries and disposable vapes are ending up in general waste, and when they're crushed by the compaction mechanism they can enter thermal runaway — igniting the surrounding waste with little warning.
Battery-related fires in bin lorries and at waste sites across the UK have reached an all-time high — over 1,200 incidents in a single year, up 71% from 2022 (NFCC / Recycle Your Electricals, 2024). The Environmental Services Association estimates these fires cost operators, fire services and the environment around £158 million a year.
Firesleeve can't stop a battery igniting. What it protects is everything around it — the compaction and tail-lift hydraulic hoses and electrical looms that keep the vehicle operable, and which a fire can turn into a second, faster-moving hazard if they fail. Made in Burnley. Supplied to specification.
Standard hose protection wasn't built for a battery fire inside a hopper. Firesleeve is — keeping the compaction and tail-lift hydraulics running while the crew responds.
Refuse collection vehicles operate complex hydraulic systems — compaction mechanisms, lifting arms and tailgate rams — with hose runs passing close to the hot exhaust and to whatever is being compacted directly above them.
In a fire, an unprotected hydraulic hose can rupture and spray pressurised fluid straight onto the ignition source, rapidly accelerating the spread of flame and disabling the vehicle at the worst possible moment.
Discarded batteries and disposable vapes entering the waste stream are damaged and crushed during compaction. Damaged cells can enter thermal runaway — generating intense heat and igniting the surrounding waste with very little warning.
Battery-related fires in bin lorries and at waste sites across the UK have reached an all-time high — over 1,200 incidents in a year, up 71% since 2022 (NFCC / Recycle Your Electricals, 2024).
Most RCVs on the road today weren't specified with this risk in mind. Retrofitting standard sleeve means disconnecting hoses — impractical for a vehicle that needs to stay on its round.
Hook & Loop Retrofit Firesleeve wraps directly over hose runs already in place, fastening with no hose disconnection required — fitted during a routine maintenance slot rather than a depot day off the road.
Even without a fire event, hose runs near the compaction area and exhaust are subject to constant radiant heat, abrasion and impact from the waste being processed. This degrades unprotected hose well ahead of its rated service life.
Firesleeve extends service life, reduces heat-related hose failures and keeps hydraulic systems reliable across the working life of the vehicle.
A hydraulic or electrical fault caused by heat damage can disable critical vehicle systems mid-round, making an emergency response harder and putting the crew and attending fire service at greater risk.
Protecting the hoses and looms around the hopper is a practical step that keeps the vehicle controllable for longer if a fire does start.
The Environmental Services Association estimates battery-related waste fires cost operators, fire services and the environment around £158 million a year — in vehicle downtime, repairs, lost rounds and insurance.
Firesleeve can't stop a battery igniting, but it's a low-cost, practical part of limiting the secondary damage when one does.
Download the full case study and product specifications — rated to 1200°C molten splash, made in Britain.
We supply direct to fleet engineers, maintenance managers and procurement teams at local authorities and waste management contractors across the UK. Standard Firesleeve is available from 4mm to 203mm internal diameter, supplied in 15-metre coils or cut lengths to suit fleet maintenance schedules.
For vehicles already in service, our Hook & Loop Retrofit sleeve wraps around hoses in place — no disconnection, no vehicle off the road longer than a routine maintenance slot. Contact our sales team with your fleet details for sizing, pricing and lead times.
Tell us the process environment, operating temperatures and hose or cable dimensions. We'll confirm the right product and come back with pricing and availability.