# How long does a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 take to burn up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824 "2016-10-17T12:06:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/1 "2016-10-17T12:06:49Z")
The news last week mentioned airlines adding safety gear to enable cabin crew members to handle self-immolating cell phones and place them in fireproof bags. Which makes me wonder: how long does a cell phone take to burn up? The problematic phase (AIUI) is the vigorous release of energy from the battery; once that’s done, you’ve just got smoldering plastic, the flames of which are relatively easy to smother. But if the battery is done spewing energy in the space of thirty seconds, a flight attendant is not going to have time to comprehend the situation, run to the front/back of the cabin, put the gear on, and come back to grab the flaming phone and bag it; by the time they return all geared up, the passengers on scene will have smothered the burning plastic with blankets and sweaters and what-not. So…does the battery fire/explosion typically take place in ~thirty seconds, or ~ten minutes? Is this new safety gear likely to ever prove useful, or is it just a security blanket? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/2 "2016-10-17T14:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > A small Li-ion fire can be handled like any other combustible fire. For best result use a foam extinguisher, CO2, ABC dry chemical, powdered graphite, copper powder or soda (sodium carbonate). \*\*If the fire occurs in an airplane cabin, the FAA instructs flight attendants to use water or soda pop. Water-based products are most readily available and are appropriate since Li-ion contains very little lithium metal that reacts with water. \*\*Water also cools the adjacent area and prevents the fire from spreading. Research laboratories and factories also use water to extinguish Li-ion battery fires. Halon is also used as fire suppressant, but this agent may not be sufficient to extinguish a large Li-ion fire in the cargo bay of an aircraft. **Bolding mine.** [BU-304a: Safety Concerns with Li-ion - Battery University](http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion) [FAA video from 2010 on extinguishing a lithium ion laptop battery fire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS6KA_Si-m8). [FAA library on lithium batteries](https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/systems/Lithium-Batteries) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/3 "2016-10-17T18:05:54Z")
Effective two days ago the FAA has banned all Note 7s aboard aircraft, period amen. Not turned off, not on your person, not in your carryon, not in your checked bags, not as belly cargo, not on a FedEx or UPS jet. Period amen, no Galaxy Note 7s on aircraft. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/4 "2016-10-17T18:14:31Z")
Normal usage or… ‘[other](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcFA98dvmmA)’…? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/5 "2016-10-17T22:20:43Z")
One, two, three… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PYpTd-r6oe0/hqdefault.jpg "Tootsie Pop "Mr. Owl" Commercial - 15 Second Version") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYpTd-r6oe0) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/6 "2016-10-17T22:49:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Effective two days ago the FAA has banned all Note 7s aboard aircraft, period amen. Not turned off, not on your person, not in your carryon, not in your checked bags, not as belly cargo, not on a FedEx or UPS jet. Period amen, no Galaxy Note 7s on aircraft. What if I have it in a box? Or with a fox? Or in a house, or with a mouse? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-samsung-galaxy-note-7-take-to-burn-up/768824/7 "2016-10-18T01:49:22Z")
As long as you brought green eggs and ham you’re in business. Otherwise it will not travel with a fox. It will not travel in a box. You must leave it in your house. And hope it does not burn your mouse. 😃