Korea’s Data Center Fire Renews Focus on Battery Safety, Accelerates Shift to Prismatic and LFP battery Cells
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — As investigators probe the cause of the recent fire at South Korea’s National Information Resources Service (NIRS) data center, attention is turning to the safety of the lithium-ion batteries used in its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system—reviving debate over pouch-type battery risks and accelerating the industry’s shift toward prismatic and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technologies.
According to industry officials, the NIRS fire began in a UPS equipped with pouch-type nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries supplied in 2014.
While authorities believe the blaze was likely triggered during maintenance work conducted without a full power shutdown—and not by a battery defect—the incident’s parallels to the 2022 fire at SK C&C’s data center in Pangyo, which disrupted Kakao’s nationwide services, have reignited scrutiny. Both fires involved pouch-type NCM batteries.
Pouch cells, valued for their high energy density and efficient heat dissipation, are also more vulnerable to mechanical damage and “swelling,” a gas-induced expansion that can lead to fire risk. In contrast, prismatic batteries—encased in metal housings—allow for safety features such as pressure vents and fuses that can prevent thermal runaway.
Although some experts argue that no single battery format guarantees safety—citing 17 fires involving prismatic cells among 54 energy storage system (ESS) incidents over the past five years—others say structural advantages and design flexibility make prismatic cells more reliable.
At the same time, LFP chemistry is gaining ground for its superior thermal stability and lower fire risk. Chinese manufacturers, which dominate the global market with prismatic LFP designs, have bolstered the case for wider adoption.
Data from SNE Research show prismatic batteries accounted for 77 percent of global electric vehicle installations last year, up from 59 percent in 2021, while pouch cells fell to 13 percent. In large-scale ESS applications, prismatic batteries now exceed 90 percent of installations.
Korea’s major battery makers are racing to adapt. Samsung SDI, the domestic leader in prismatic cell technology, first began mass production in 2011 and has since developed its proprietary “No TP” (No Thermal Propagation) system to block fire spread between cells.
LG Energy Solution is leading the LFP segment, debuting its first ESS-focused prismatic LFP battery at the RE+ 2025 energy expo in Las Vegas last month, and is developing next-generation LMR (lithium-manganese-rich) batteries for EVs. The company is also improving pouch-cell safety by adding modular gas venting and reinforced protection components.
SK On, meanwhile, confirmed at this year’s InterBattery exhibition that it has completed development of prismatic batteries and is expediting mass production, noting the format’s growing global dominance.
one industry source, said:
While battery safety cannot be judged by shape alone, customer preference is clearly shifting toward prismatic designs that allow for more built-in safety mechanisms
“Combined with the strong safety profile of LFP materials, these technologies will continue to drive market growth.”
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Korea’s Data Center Fire Renews Focus on Battery Safety, Accelerates Shift to Prismatic and LFP battery Cells, source