FireThief —
The Fire Thief
A water-based, mineral-rich, heterogeneous fire suppressant — fully developed and owned by SOLUNI, engineered for lithium-ion battery fires and tested to NTA 8133:2021+A1:2025.
Owning the technology, serving public safety
SOLUNI Technology Investment Joint Stock Company runs a lean organization, concentrating resources on R&D — where the FireThief formula is owned end-to-end, from the lab to production.
Facing the fire risks of the new energy era, SOLUNI pursues advanced scientific solutions that meet the most demanding Vietnamese and international standards, helping build a proactive, effective fire safety network.
As fire risk from the new energy era (lithium-ion batteries) becomes a major challenge to public order and social safety, SOLUNI is proud to introduce FireThief — a "Make in Vietnam" fire suppressant built on fully owned technology.
We are committed to delivering advanced scientific solutions that meet the most rigorous international and Vietnamese standards, contributing to a proactive and effective fire safety network.
Why lithium-ion battery fires defeat conventional suppression
Rapid propagation
Thermal runaway can spread quickly between adjacent cells within a battery pack.
Hard to cool deeply
Heat trapped inside a battery pack is difficult to reach and cool with surface spraying alone.
Re-ignition risk
Fires can reignite even after the surface flame has been extinguished.
Legacy agent limits
Foam, ABC powder, and CO2 were designed for conventional fires and have significant limits against lithium battery fires.
FireThief — a water-based, mineral, heterogeneous fire suppressant
Composed of inorganic minerals, stabilizers, surfactants and water — free of fluorocarbons (PFOS/PFAS), purpose-built for fires involving lithium-ion batteries.
- Water-based, reversible suspension system
- Long-term storage stability, easily re-dispersed
- Excellent pumpability and spray performance
- Non-corrosive to equipment
- Non-toxic, odorless, biologically safe
- Environmentally friendly
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| State / Color | Liquid, dark yellow – brown |
| pH | 7.0 – 8.5 (TCVN 6492) |
| Viscosity | ≥ 15 cP (ASTM D2196) |
| Shelf life | 24 months, dry and cool storage |
| Packaging | 200L / 1,000L plastic drums or barrels |
| Origin | Vietnam |
Four steps to control thermal runaway
FireThief is engineered to act simultaneously on the four basic elements of combustion, while helping control the thermal runaway phenomenon characteristic of lithium-ion battery fires.
Forming a new barrier layer
Mineral components help form a barrier at the damaged separator area, reducing the risk of a short circuit between the two electrodes.
Rapid cooling of the heat zone
Water in the solution absorbs and carries away heat as it evaporates, supporting rapid cooling and limiting cathode material decomposition.
Creating an oxygen barrier film
A heat-resistant mineral film limits contact with ambient oxygen while converting the surface of the burning material into a slower-burning state.
Suppressing the combustion reaction
Additives limit free-radical formation and inhibit the chemical reactions of combustion, reducing the risk of re-ignition.
FireThief versus common fire suppression agents
This comparison summarizes general characteristics of each agent type; it is not the result of parallel head-to-head testing between specific products.
| Criteria | ABC Powder | CO₂ Gas | Foam | FireThief |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium battery fires | Not effective | Not effective | Low effectiveness | Purpose-built, prevents re-ignition |
| Extinguishing mechanism | Oxygen exclusion | Oxygen exclusion | Oxygen exclusion | Deep cooling + barrier + suppression |
| Cooling capability | Low | Very low | Moderate | Extremely fast and deep |
| Toxicity | Lung-irritant dust | Asphyxiation risk | May contain toxic fluorine | Safe for people & environment |
| Post-use cleanup | Difficult | Clean | Difficult | Easy cleanup (water-based) |
Verified against Vietnamese and international standards
TCCS 01:2025/SOL
SOLUNI's own internal standard, controlling quality throughout production, distribution, and use.
NTA 8133:2021+A1:2025
Reference for the most rigorous test method currently available for lithium-ion battery fire suppression.
QCVN 03:2023/BCA
Vietnam's national technical regulation on fire prevention and fighting equipment.
TCVN 13457-1:2022
Technical requirements and test methods for water-based fire suppression additives.
Source: Test report No. VNT.26/C12.06.0528, Vietnam Certification and Inspection JSC (Vinatest), issued 1 July 2026. Conclusion: meets technical specifications across all evaluation criteria.
The people directly researching and standardizing the solution
Dr. Huong Tran Phuong Nam
Extensive experience evaluating and developing advanced fire safety technologies; played a key role in applying international standards such as NTA 8133 to research practice in Vietnam.
Eng. Vu Bao Nguyen
Over 20 years of technical project management experience; directly leads experimental trials and application configurations for FireThief across firefighting equipment.
Eng. Hoang Minh Dung
Deep experience analyzing complex fire scenarios and optimizing the quantity of solution required for each type of facility.
From fire suppressant to a full fire-safety equipment ecosystem
Alongside scaling up FireThief production, SOLUNI is researching and developing integrated firefighting equipment lines to bring the technology into broader real-world application.
Portable fire extinguisher with FireThief
Researching a dedicated extinguisher configuration optimized for lithium-ion battery fires in residential and transport settings.
Automatic fire suppression system for energy storage facilities
A solution aimed at charging stations, battery warehouses, and large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), controlled through an integrated central cabinet.
Mobile mini fire unit for narrow alleys
A compact vehicle that can navigate deep alleys and dense residential areas where standard fire trucks cannot reach.
Fire suppression module for electric vehicles
Researching the integration of the FireThief solution into vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries.
The devices shown above (including illustrative images, prototypes, and technical specifications) are currently in research and development and have not been commercialized or officially certified.
News
The cheap-battery paradox: how safety risk and capacity degradation raise total BESS cost
Analyzes how low upfront battery prices can raise lifecycle costs of energy storage systems through safety risk and capacity degradation, citing the 2025 Moss Landing fire in California. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Project owners to self-assess and accept fire-safety works
Under Decree 347/2026, project owners self-assess fire-safety design and acceptance, shifting from pre-approval to post-inspection; the article cites procedures cut from 37 to 9. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Heightening vigilance against fire and explosion risks from EV batteries
Ho Chi Minh City's fire police warn of lithium-ion battery hazards when damaged or improperly charged, advising against overnight charging and outlining "3 don'ts, 3 dos" safety measures. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Modernization to improve fire prevention and firefighting effectiveness
Outlines modernization of the fire and rescue police through the 114 alert app, thermal cameras and robots, and stresses investor responsibility under the move to post-inspection. (Vietnamese-language source.)
[Video] FireThief — A breakthrough in Vietnam's lithium battery fire suppression technology
Introduces FireThief as Vietnam's first water-based heterogeneous fire suppressant, extinguishing lithium battery fires in 8–11 seconds in real-world testing. (Vietnamese-language source.)
The truth about "the fire thief" — FireThief
Analysis of the product extinguishing an 18kWh EV battery fire in 3 minutes 40 seconds, and the mechanism forming a mineral barrier film that prevents re-ignition. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Vietnam invents FireThief — EV battery fire suppression technology never before seen in the country
Reports on containing a car battery fire in under 4 minutes and an electric motorbike battery fire in under 10 seconds during test demonstrations. (Vietnamese-language source.)
FireThief — a homegrown Vietnamese solution opening new ground in lithium battery fire suppression
A look at FireThief's domestic development journey and the role of the heat-resistant mineral film in fast fire suppression. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Extinguishing a battery fire in 8 seconds — a Made-in-Vietnam breakthrough from SOLUNI
FireThief fully extinguishes lithium battery fires in 8–11 seconds via a heat-resistant mineral film that isolates the electrodes, preventing short circuits and re-ignition. (Vietnamese-language source.)
A solution to stop fire spread in buildings caused by lithium batteries
SOLUNI announces test results showing FireThief fully extinguishes lithium battery fires in 8–11 seconds, moving toward commercialization for building applications. (Vietnamese-language source.)
5 key changes in Decree 347/2026/NĐ-CP on fire safety for businesses
Removes mandatory police inspection for fire-safety acceptance, replaces equipment licensing with a declaration system, standardizes training hours, and raises penalties to VND 50 million for businesses operating without fire-safety acceptance. (Vietnamese-language source.)
Connect with SOLUNI
SOLUNI's technical team is ready to advise government agencies, businesses, and project partners on the right solution.