Fire Extinguishers: How the Battery Age Is Rewriting a Century-Old Market
Updated: 4 days ago
Executive summary. The fire extinguisher is one of the oldest products in industrial safety, and in 2026 it is being redesigned by three forces at once: lithium-ion batteries that burn in ways conventional agents cannot handle, a regulatory shift away from fluorinated chemistry, and the rise of data centres and energy storage as the most demanding fire-protection environments in the built world. Strategic Revenue Insights estimates the global fire extinguishers market at USD 6.90 billion in 2025, rising to USD 11.13 billion by 2035 at a 4.9 percent compound annual growth rate. The companies that will capture that growth are the ones that treat the extinguisher as part of a connected, code-driven protection system for the hazards of this decade rather than as a red cylinder on a wall. This article sets out five lessons from the manufacturers, specifiers and building owners moving first, with takeaways for strategy, product, regulation, channels, data and revenue.
The structure of that growth matters more than the headline. Strategic Revenue Insights' Fire Extinguishers Market research finds that dry chemical powder holds a significant share by agent, that portable units are the largest product segment, that commercial buildings are the largest and fastest-growing application, that direct sales, distributors and online retail are the main channels, and that North America is the largest regional market while Asia Pacific is the fastest growing. The research identifies rising fire-safety awareness, stricter regulation, growing fire incidents, urbanisation and industrialisation in emerging economies, demand for environmentally friendly agents and the arrival of Internet of Things monitoring as the forces behind the forecast, and the cost of advanced systems, counterfeit products and changing compliance standards as the forces working against it.
The hazard profile behind that forecast has changed in a way the market has not fully absorbed. The National Institute of Standards and Technology estimated in 2026 that lithium-ion batteries have been involved in roughly 198,000 structure fires in the United States since 2011, with consumer battery fires growing at about 10 percent a year. The Fire Department of New York investigated a record 292 lithium-ion battery fires in 2025 and reported a 70 percent increase in 2026 to date. In London, e-bikes and e-scooters accounted for 283 of 565 battery fires in the year to January 2026. A dry powder extinguisher designed for a paper fire does not extinguish a cell in thermal runaway, and the codes, products and buyers are catching up.
Why the Fire Extinguishers Market Is Entering a New Phase
Three structural forces are converging.
Batteries have created a fire the traditional extinguisher was not built for. Lithium-ion thermal runaway generates its own oxygen, reignites after apparent extinguishment and spreads cell to cell, which is why the National Fire Protection Association's standard for energy storage, NFPA 855, now in its 2026 edition, mandates large-scale fire testing under UL 9540A, whose sixth edition was published in March 2026, and why water-based cooling and containment rather than gaseous suppression are specified for indoor battery installations. Batteries were blamed for two fires at a Virginia data centre in late 2025, and the NFPA's own journal has described lithium-ion as the one notable fire risk in hyperscale data centres. The portable extinguisher is being redesigned around a hazard that did not exist at scale a decade ago.
Fluorinated chemistry is being regulated out. The United States Department of Defense was required to end its use of fluorinated firefighting foam after October 2024 and has used its statutory waivers to extend that deadline, with a transition cost estimated by the Government Accountability Office at more than USD 2.1 billion, and the 2026 edition of NFPA 10, the standard for portable extinguishers, consolidated its foam definitions as the industry moves to fluorine-free agents. SRI's research identifies demand for environmentally friendly agents such as water mist and clean agents as a driver, and the regulatory pressure on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances is turning that preference into a requirement across foam, clean-agent and wet-chemical products.
Data centres and energy storage are the new high-value buyers. Artificial intelligence data centres are pushing power density and battery backup to levels that make fire protection a design constraint, and new installations increasingly default to inert gas or low-global-warming clean agents alongside water-based systems for battery rooms. Energy storage installations are multiplying under NFPA 855 and the International Fire Code, and utility-scale battery failure rates have fallen 99 percent per unit of deployed capacity since 2018, according to the Electric Power Research Institute's incident database, which shows that standards and engineering work when applied. The most demanding fire-protection buyers in the economy are now the ones building digital and energy infrastructure.
These forces explain SRI's forecast of a market that grows by more than 60 percent between 2025 and 2035, with growth concentrated in agents, products and systems designed for battery hazards, in compliance-driven replacement, and in the commercial and infrastructure segments where regulation and risk are highest.
Five Lessons From the Companies Moving First
The manufacturers, specifiers, insurers and building owners converting fire extinguishing from a compliance purchase into a hazard-specific protection strategy share a recognisable pattern. We have distilled it into five lessons, each followed by a takeaway for a specific leadership function.
Lesson 1: The Hazard Has Changed, So the Product Must Follow
The extinguisher market was built around fire classes defined decades ago: ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, electrical equipment, metals and cooking oils. Lithium-ion batteries do not fit any of them cleanly, and the response of the market leaders named in SRI's research, Johnson Controls, Amerex, Minimax Viking, Carrier and Kidde among them, has been to develop agents and products specifically for battery fires: water-based and encapsulating agents that cool cells, extinguishers and automatic units for e-mobility charging areas, and containment and suppression packages for battery rooms and storage installations.
That shift changes what the buyer is purchasing. A facility with electric forklifts, e-bikes in a lobby, battery backup in a server room or an energy storage container on site needs protection matched to each hazard, and the companies moving first are selling hazard assessments and tailored packages rather than a count of cylinders per square metre. SRI's research names rising fire incidents as a driver; the incidents that are rising fastest are battery fires, and the products that address them carry higher value and faster replacement cycles than the commodity portable.
The lesson applies beyond batteries. Kitchen, industrial and process hazards have each driven agent innovation in the past; the battery age is doing it again at a larger scale and with regulatory backing.
"For a hundred years the extinguisher was designed for the fire in the room. Now the fire is inside the battery, and the product has to be designed for a chemistry, not a room."
Takeaway on strategy. Reorganise the portfolio around hazards rather than fire classes. Build dedicated products, agents and service packages for lithium-ion and energy storage risks, sell hazard assessment as the entry point, and prioritise the facilities where battery hazards are concentrated: logistics, e-mobility, data centres, energy storage and multi-occupancy residential. Treat the battery fire as the growth segment of the decade.
Lesson 2: Fluorine-Free Is Becoming the Specification, Not the Option
The regulatory pressure on fluorinated agents has moved from foam concentrates to the whole product range. The Department of Defense's fluorine-free transition, the European and American restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and the 2026 editions of NFPA 10 and related standards are converging on a market in which fluorinated agents are a liability on the balance sheet, in procurement and in litigation. SRI's research identifies environmentally friendly agents as a driver and compliance with changing standards as a restraint; the companies moving first have treated the transition as a product development programme rather than a compliance deadline.
Fluorine-free agents are not drop-in replacements, as the Government Accountability Office found in the defence sector, and that is where the competitive advantage sits. Manufacturers that have reformulated foam, wet-chemical and clean-agent products to meet performance standards without fluorinated chemistry, and have certified them under the current editions of the relevant standards, are winning specifications in airports, defence, industrial and commercial buildings as owners replace stock ahead of regulation.
The transition is also a service opportunity. Every fluorinated unit in the installed base must eventually be decommissioned, disposed of under hazardous-waste rules and replaced, and the companies that offer that programme as a managed service are capturing the replacement cycle.
Takeaway on product and regulation. Make fluorine-free the default across the range and certify it to the current standards before customers are forced to ask. Invest in agent performance so that fluorine-free products meet or exceed the ratings of the agents they replace, build decommissioning and disposal into the service offer, and track the defence, aviation and European deadlines as the leading indicators for commercial demand.
Lesson 3: Codes Are Now the Demand Signal
Fire protection has always been code-driven, but the pace of change has accelerated. NFPA 855 for energy storage, UL 9540A large-scale fire testing, the 2026 edition of NFPA 10 for portable extinguishers, the International Fire Code and the per- and polyfluoroalkyl restrictions are each creating or redefining demand, and the edition that counts is the one each local authority adopts, which means the market moves jurisdiction by jurisdiction. SRI's research names stricter regulation as a driver and compliance cost as a restraint; for the companies moving first, the code calendar is the sales calendar.
The practical consequence is that manufacturers and distributors with regulatory intelligence sell more. They know which jurisdictions have adopted which editions, which buildings fall under new energy storage rules, and which facilities will be inspected against the new requirements, and they bring that knowledge to the customer as a service. The 2026 edition of NFPA 10 introduces performance-based inspection intervals where the owner can document history and risk, which creates demand for monitoring and documentation tools that did not previously exist.
Insurers reinforce the signal. Battery fires in warehouses, apartment buildings and data centres have raised insurer scrutiny, and premiums and coverage increasingly depend on documented, code-compliant protection for battery hazards.
"In fire protection the customer does not decide when to buy. The code does. The companies that read the code calendar sell the year before everyone else."
Takeaway on regulatory intelligence and sales. Build a regulatory tracking capability that maps code adoption by jurisdiction and building type, and use it to target sales and service ahead of inspection cycles. Partner with insurers and authorities having jurisdiction, offer documentation and compliance tools that support the new performance-based inspection regime, and position the brand as the interpreter of the code for building owners who cannot follow it themselves.
Lesson 4: Connected Extinguishers Turn a Product Into a Service
SRI's research identifies Internet of Things and smart monitoring as a driver, and the 2026 edition of NFPA 10 gives it commercial force. An extinguisher that reports its pressure, location, obstruction and inspection status removes the cost of manual monthly inspection, provides the documented history the new performance-based intervals require, and alerts the owner when a unit is missing or discharged. For large estates such as logistics networks, retail chains, hospitals and campuses, that is a measurable saving and a compliance safeguard.
The companies moving first are building connected extinguishers and the monitoring platforms behind them, and are selling them as a subscription service that bundles the product, monitoring, inspection, maintenance and replacement. That shifts revenue from a one-time purchase to recurring income and gives the manufacturer a continuous relationship with the building owner. It also generates data: on where discharges occur, which hazards are growing and how the installed base is ageing, which feeds product development and the regulatory intelligence described above.
The same logic applies to fixed and automatic systems. Suppression systems in data centres and battery rooms are increasingly connected to building management, off-gas detection and emergency response, and the extinguisher is becoming one node in a monitored protection network.
Takeaway on data and service models. Develop connected extinguishers and the monitoring platform behind them, and sell protection as a subscription that bundles product, inspection, maintenance and replacement. Use the data to document compliance under the new inspection regime, to target replacement and to inform product development. Prioritise large multi-site estates where inspection cost and compliance risk are highest.
Lesson 5: Counterfeits and Commoditisation Are the Threat, Trust Is the Defence
SRI's research names counterfeit and substandard products as a restraint, and it is a growing one. As the market expands in emerging economies and online channels, uncertified and fake units are reaching buyers who cannot tell the difference until a fire. The same problem affects batteries themselves: fake safety certifications on e-bike batteries are a documented cause of fires. In a product whose only purpose is to work once in an emergency, trust is the entire value proposition.
The companies moving first are defending it with certification, traceability and channel discipline. Serialised units, tamper-evident features, verifiable certification marks, authorised online distribution and connected monitoring all make counterfeits easier to detect, and brand reputation in a safety product is worth a premium that commodity price competition cannot erode. SRI's research identifies online retail as a distinct channel; the manufacturers winning there are the ones who control it.
The capabilities that decide who captures this demand are specific:
Agents and products designed for lithium-ion and energy storage hazards, certified to current standards.
Fluorine-free formulations across foam, wet-chemical and clean-agent ranges, with decommissioning services.
Regulatory intelligence that turns the code calendar into a sales and service calendar.
Connected extinguishers and monitoring platforms sold as subscription protection services.
Certification, traceability and channel control that defend trust against counterfeits.
Companies evaluating these competitive dynamics in greater detail can use SRI's Fire Extinguishers Market analysis to assess agent, product, application, channel and regional segments and the positioning of the leading fire safety manufacturers.
Takeaway on brand, channels and trust. Serialise and certify every unit, control online distribution through authorised channels, and make verification easy for the buyer. Invest in the brand as a safety guarantee rather than competing on price per cylinder, and use connected monitoring as both a service and a counterfeit defence. Work with regulators and marketplaces to remove uncertified products, because every counterfeit fire damages the category.
Where the Opportunity Is Concentrating
Value is moving toward battery hazards, fluorine-free chemistry and connected service.
By agent, dry chemical powder remains the volume base, clean agents and water mist are growing on environmental and electronics demand, wet chemical serves commercial kitchens, and lithium-ion-specific agents are the fastest-emerging category.
By product, portable units are the largest segment, automatic fixed units are growing fastest in battery rooms, charging areas and data centres, and wheeled units serve industrial and energy sites.
By application, commercial buildings are the largest and fastest-growing segment, industrial and energy facilities are growing on storage and process hazards, residential demand is rising with e-mobility, and automotive, transportation and marine are adopting battery-specific protection.
By channel, direct sales and distributors dominate commercial and industrial demand, while online retail is growing fastest and is where counterfeit risk and brand control matter most.
By geography, North America is the largest market on strict codes and high awareness, Asia Pacific is the fastest growing on industrialisation, urbanisation and e-mobility in China and India, and Europe is leading the regulatory shift away from fluorinated agents.
At the Horizon: What to Watch Over the Next Three Years
Lithium-ion standards for portable products. As test methods and ratings for battery-fire extinguishers mature, the first products certified to a recognised lithium-ion standard will set the specification for the segment.
The fluorine-free deadlines. The defence transition, European restrictions and the adoption of the 2026 standards will determine how fast the installed base of fluorinated agents is replaced, and which manufacturers capture the cycle.
Data centre and energy storage codes. Each adoption of NFPA 855 and the 2026 edition of the International Fire Code by a jurisdiction creates a wave of compliance demand for suppression, detection and extinguishing in the fastest-growing building types of the decade.
"The next phase of competition in fire extinguishers will not be won by the company with the cheapest cylinder. It will be won by the one a data centre operator trusts to put out a battery fire that the rulebook was rewritten for."
The Strategic Revenue Opportunity
For manufacturers, the task is to move the portfolio toward battery-specific, fluorine-free and connected products and to sell protection as a service against the code calendar. For distributors and service providers, the priority is to own the inspection, monitoring and replacement relationship with large estates. For building owners and operators, the opportunity is to get ahead of the hazards and codes that insurers and inspectors are already applying. For investors, the signal is the mix shift: the companies growing in battery, clean-agent and connected segments are the ones outpacing the market.
Market intelligence turns these questions into decisions. Segment-level sizing shows where spend is concentrating, competitive benchmarking shows where incumbents are strong and where specialist agents and connected entrants are taking share, and regional analysis shows which markets will adopt the new codes first. This is the path from market signals to strategic insight to revenue impact.
Takeaway on revenue. Treat the fire extinguishers market as four revenue pools with different buyers and sales cycles: commodity portables sold on compliance and price, hazard-specific products for batteries, kitchens and electronics, fluorine-free replacement and decommissioning programmes, and connected protection services for multi-site estates. Each needs its own certification and channel. Enter where the hazard is new, the code has just changed and the buyer cannot afford to be wrong.
The Next Leg: Preparing for the Journey Ahead
The defining shift in fire extinguishers is that the hazard, the chemistry and the code have all changed at once. That changes the buyer, the business case and the pace. The companies moving first are not the ones with the longest product lists; they are the ones who have redesigned for the battery fire, moved to fluorine-free agents ahead of the deadlines, learned to read the code calendar and connected the product to a service.
The next three years will decide which manufacturers and service providers own fire protection for the buildings, batteries and data centres of the following decade. Decision-makers should reorganise around hazards, make fluorine-free the default, treat codes as the demand signal, sell connected protection as a service, and defend trust against counterfeits. Companies evaluating growth opportunities in this market can use Strategic Revenue Insights' Fire Extinguishers Market report to assess market size, competitive dynamics, regional opportunities and strategic growth priorities.
Related analysis: Predictive Maintenance: Why USD 1.4 Trillion in Downtime Fuels a USD 107.51 Billion Market; Humanoid Robots: What 5,500 Unitree Shipments Reveal About the Race to Scale; Industrial Robots: Why Collaborative Automation and Software Are Redrawing the Factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the fire extinguishers market?
Strategic Revenue Insights estimates the global fire extinguishers market at USD 6.90 billion in 2025, rising to USD 11.13 billion by 2035 at a 4.9 percent compound annual growth rate.
How are lithium-ion batteries changing fire extinguishers?
Lithium-ion batteries burn in ways conventional agents cannot handle well, so manufacturers are developing products for battery fires in buildings, data centres and energy storage sites.
Which fire extinguisher segments lead?
Dry chemical powder holds a significant share by agent, portable units are the largest product segment and commercial buildings are the largest and fastest growing application. North America is the largest region and Asia Pacific the fastest growing.
What is driving the fire extinguishers market?
Fire-safety awareness, stricter regulation, urbanisation, demand for environmentally friendly agents and IoT monitoring drive the market, while the cost of advanced systems, counterfeit products and changing standards work against it.
About the authors: This article was prepared by the Strategic Revenue Insights research team, which combines market intelligence, competitive analysis and strategic advisory for growth-stage, mid-market and enterprise organisations across the industrial and heavy industry sector. Sector analyst: Anirudh Singh, Research Analyst. Our market estimates combine primary research (interviews, surveys and expert panels) with secondary data (industry reports, databases and public disclosures); read more about how Strategic Revenue Insights works. To discuss this market with our analysts, contact our team.
Comments