What standards are used in a battery room?

Common standards in the battery room include those from American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Model codes are standards developed by committees with the intent to be adopted by states and local jurisdictions.

How is battery room compliance interpreted?

Battery room compliance can be interpreted differently depending on your battery type, amount of cells or multi-cell units in a common area, volume of electrolyte and voltage present. Although the code is specific about requirements, the local interpretation can vary depending on the end users experience or awareness.

Does a battery room cover maintenance free or computer room type batteries?

This article does not cover maintenance free or computer room type batteries and battery cabinets in its Battery Room Design Requirements. The main keywords for this article are vented lead acid batteries, battery room safety requirements, Battery Room Ventilation, and unit substations electrical. Batteries can be hazardous to both personnel and equipment.

What are battery room ventilation codes & standards?

Battery room ventilation codes and standards protect workers by limiting the accumulation of hydrogen in the battery room. Hydrogen release is a normal part of the charging process, but trouble arises when the flammable gas becomes concentrated enough to create an explosion risk — which is why safety standards are vitally important.

Do you need documentation for a battery room?

The employer must know, document and train the employee for the assigned task and exposed risks. It is a requirement to have all the documentation in place prior to authorized personnel entering a battery room to perform a specific work task on a battery system under normal operating conditions.

Do you need additional training to enter a battery room?

Additional training is necessary for that “qualified employee” to be qualified to enter a battery room to conduct a specific task. What they are trained for is no different than other training requirements. The employer must know, document and train the employee for the assigned task and exposed risks.