Standards for Locating Sealed Batteries

There is no particular standard which tells us regarding the location of the sealed maintenance free batteries.

As the batteries are sealed with very less chances of gasification to the environment during float and quick charging you could have these batteries int he same room where the UPS is installed.

Generally as good engineering practice if a separate room is available batteries should be kept there.

It is the possibility that one of these batteries may fail and explode. The contents can be very harmful to the equipment. These batteries may say that they are sealed but as the electrolyte is charged and discharged it heats up. Some means to equalize the pressure is there venting to the outside of the battery case.

I would recommend placement in another room.

As per my information, nowadays sealedbatteries are either valve regulated type or are recombination type where the evolved gases are absorbed back into the electrolyte.

Correct me in case I am wrong.

Your correct sealed batteries do return the gases from electrolysis back it to the electrolyte. This does not solve the problem of expansion of the electrolyte due to the heat generated during charge or discharge. Thats what the valve regulates. So you do have some gases escaping. So it comes down to how many batteries in how small of an environment.

ozzb,

Thanks for the insight.

Thank you very much current maarey and ozzb for your reply

How big is your UPS and battery bank. Now a days UPS small size UPS (upto 50~60 KVA) come with batteries installed inside the UPS cabinet. I have not seen large UPS with sealed batteries in seperate room...

You might want to look into Article 480 of the National Electrical Code...

40KVA UPS, 12V 100Ah batteries are in one cabinet installed just beside the UPS which is in the IT server room. Batteries was designed for 30min back up time for servers.

Odyssey Drycell Batteries... part of the EnerSys group...

Will not vent (even under extreme conditions)....Will not explode...

this is why the Military uses this battery

www.enersys.com www.odysseybattery.com

I assume you are talking about Sealed Lead Acid (Gel)batteries, A lot of new IT/UPS installations are utilising the Li-PO4 Lithium batteries due to their superior lifespan for equivalent performance.

I was involved with the Security upgrade for Goulburn Maximum Security Gaol (Jail). The 65Kw UPS and Batteries were provided their own room adjacent to the IT equipment shack. Its job is to hold the Security/IT system alive till the Generators kick in, should there be a power failure.

I don't recall any technical reason why, although the equipment shack was very tight for space.

In most of the IT equipment shacks I've been involved with the UPS Batteries have shared the same room.

Considering that the batteries are usually kept at a float charge for most of their life, and even when recharged after a power out incident they are recharged "gently". I would not consider there would be much to be concerned about. Although as long as the room is not hermetically sealed and there is some regular exchange of air with the outside world any escaping gas would not be allowed to create sufficient concentration to be of any danger.

Most UPS systems have their lead acid batteries replaced at regular intervals to prevent total failure in the event of a cell collapse. In our factory we replace them every 12 months whether they need it or not, though most firms replace them after 2 years. The average service lifespan of the batteries is 3 years. But with these things coming out of China its better to be safe than sorry.

I use the "replaced" batteries to run my nav lights and fish finder in my row boat (no motor) that's my contribution to recycling..

I guess the short answer would be;

Yes its okay to keep the UPS/Batteries in the IT Shack, most people do. As long as you are sensible about it.

Depending on where you live (country, state, council, etc) there probably might be some local regulations, created by a know nothing make work bureaucrat, that everyone ignores.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Pez

I would make a check through the NEC - I am pretty confident there are some standards that should be met.

thanks to all of you guys for your respond

The batteries stated are AGM units which, with Gel types, are VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) cells. No gas escapes at all under normal charge regimes, what little gas is produced is recombined. It is obvious that no gas escapes as there is no means of adding any lost electrolyte.

Two caveats:-

1. the gas recombination produces heat. No much, but enough to upset the charging if the charger has no temp sensor and/or there is no ventilation.
2. "No gas escapes at all under normal charge regimes" BUT, who can guarantee that the charger will not fail unregulated or a cell go short circuit? Under these conditions they will gas the same as a flooded electrolyte battery, which just overnight will cause havoc with the electronics of your IT kit.

Be safe and use a separate room

regards

Chas

Dear collegue !

CR4 was giving continuous error on clicking to "Post" & I gave-up to post.

Sealed batteries can even be installed inside the equipment; You may have seen in small/ UPS units & a lot of Home Appliances.

Regards

Following best practices and IEEE standards are good. You should also check federal, state and local fire codes. NFPA 1 Article 52 and IFC (International Fire Code) 608 covers stationary storage battery systems for both flooded and VRLA (sealed). For VRLA it's okay for the battery system to be in the same room as the systems they support (i.e. UPS). If the room is occupied with personnel, the batteries must be in an non-combustable enclosure to prevent unauthorized access. The code also stipulates the need for thermo runaway control devices.

If the battery system has a total of 50 gal of electrolyte, check the local codes for additional requirements like signage at each door, electrolyte spill control and neutralization, smoke detectors, ventilation and siesmic requirements that must meet the approval of the local authority having jurisdiction.

MD

Thanks for the insight enviro

RMA

Regards.

A Battery made by www.SEALAKE.com, Model FM640A 6V,4AH/20Hr is in front of me.

By /20Hr I understand that the claimed capacity is only if discharged in 20 Hrs

Another marking about recycling is "Pb >0.4%(w/w)

Is the recoverable lead is as low as nearly more than only 0.4 %

How this small quantity of [LEAD] Pb ?

Any clue ?

There is no harm in keeping SMF batteries along with your UPS or Servers. In SMF unlike your tubular batteries there will not gas emission. It may also please be reminded that SMF batteries will give max. performance under controlled temperature condition (@ 27 deg. C) and hopefully this enviornment will be available in your server room.

Thanks men