Fire Risk: A Growing Concern with Device Charging
As school districts adopt policies to restrict phone use during school hours, many vendors rush to include charging capabilities inside lockers. But charging adds risk – especially in unsupervised, high-traffic school environments.
- Most battery fires start while charging.
Lithium-ion/polymer fires are fast, intense, and notoriously difficult to control once triggered. - Phones, power banks, and low-cost electronics pose a real threat.
These devices – often poorly manufactured – are especially dangerous in settings where supervision is minimal.
Charging + Vandalism = A Dangerous Mix
Students are known to tamper with or damage locker hardware. A compromised charger becomes not just a maintenance issue, but a fire hazard.
Charging hardware in lockers creates long-term risk exposure for facilities, and is one more failure point that can disrupt school operations.
A Deliberate and Proactive Design Decision
We’ve made a conscious decision not to include charging in our school lockers – because no added convenience is worth the potential liability.
Our focus is on secure, reliable, zero-risk storage – nothing more, nothing less.
Want proof that charging isn’t always safe?
Even trusted brands aren’t immune – Anker recalled over 1 million chargers in 2024 due to fire hazards. Read our breakdown on how HonestWaves engineers for reliability and safety, even when others fall short:
Safe. Sustainable. Student-First.
We don’t believe school safety should be compromised for convenience. That’s why our lockers are designed for secure storage – without the hidden fire risk.Connect with our team, and we’ll walk you through how HonestWaves Smart Lockers can be customized for your school’s unique needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t you offer charging in school lockers when other companies do?
Because school locker safety is our top priority. Charging devices creates fire risks, especially in unsupervised school environments where students may tamper with equipment. We believe secure storage without charging is the safest approach for schools.
What if parents want their kids’ phones charged during the school day?
We recommend students arrive with charged devices and use supervised charging stations if needed. This approach eliminates fire risks while still addressing battery needs through safer, monitored methods.
How do your lockers handle high-traffic school environments?
Our school lockers use tamper-resistant steel construction designed specifically for educational settings. Without charging components, there are fewer failure points and safety concerns, making them ideal for busy school environments.
What makes your approach different from competitors?
Most companies add charging to increase sales appeal. We deliberately exclude it to prioritize student safety. Our focus is on secure storage with multiple access options (PIN, badge, fingerprint) without the fire risks associated with charging.
Are there any safe ways to provide charging in schools?
Yes – supervised charging stations with commercial-grade equipment, proper ventilation, and staff oversight. These controlled environments are much safer than unsupervised charging in hallway lockers.
How do you handle schools that insist on charging capabilities?
We have honest conversations about liability and safety. If schools still insist on charging, we recommend they work with specialized charging station providers for supervised areas rather than compromising locker safety.