Abstract: A temperature sensitive coating for application on a surface is provided. The temperature sensitive coating comprises an indicator component. The indicator component includes a carrier and a releasable compound that is held by the carrier. The releasable compound is in a gas state at a critical release temperature, and is released from the carrier at a temperature that is at or above the critical release temperature. A method of coating a surface of an energy storage system, and a method of detecting the approach of thermal runaway of an energy storage system, are also provided. The method includes coating a surface with the temperature sensitive coating, providing a gas sensor in the vicinity of the surface that is capable of detecting the presence of the releasable compound, monitoring the output of the sensor, and signaling an alarm when the sensor output indicates the presence of the releasable compound.