Battery Rooms

  1. The spark generating parts have a distance to batteries of at least 0.5 m. this is valid for vented and valve regulated battery.
  2. Hand lamps are only allowed without switches and protective glass.
  3. The insulation against earth is > 1 Mohm.
  4. Heaters with naked flame or glowing parts (glowing elements) are forbidden.
  5. The battery room temperature should be between + 5 degree and + 25 degree.
  6. Battery rooms have to be vented in a way that the gas (Hydrogen and Oxygen) evolved with Charging and discharging is diluted so that explosions are impossible.
  7. Earth connection of the racks or housings (i. e. cabinets) if they of are made of metal. Theearthing is not allowed if there is a protection between the battery and the rack orcabinet. This insulation must withstand 4000 V for one minute.
  8. Touch protection must be provided for all active parts at voltages > 60 V DC withInsulation,covers or shrouds and distance.
  9. Battery room must be dry and have to have a height of 2 m above the operating floors.
  10. For vented batteries the floor surface must be electrolyte resistant.

Battery Room Ventilation

The way of air circulation should be as shown below.

If the air in and air out the same side the room volume be greater than 2.5Times of the calculated air volume.

For calculation of the hourly to exchange air volume Q the following formula is valid:

Q = 0.05 x n x I [m3/h]

n = number of cells

I = value for the current from Table

Calculation Example:

Given: 220 V battery, 400 Ah, vented type, Antimony (Sb) < 3 % (LA) in FLOAT-service

Q = 0.05 x n x I [m3/h] Ired = f1 x f2 x I

Ired = reduced current (f1 and f2 see operating instruction of battery

Q = 0.05 x 100 x 4 x 0.5 f1 = 0.5 if Sb in Pb? is < 3 % ,IU ?charging up to 2.4 VPC

F2 = 0.5 if the cell is valve regulated or a catalytic plug is used

I = current (Table) in the example 1 A / 100 Ah

N = number of cells, the example 110

Q = 11 m3/h

With natural ventilation (air convection) the minimum inlet and outlet area is calculated as follows:

A 3 28 x Q [cm2]

(Air convection speed 3 0.1 m/s)

From this the minimum area for outlet to hourly the calculated air volume of

The example is:

A = 28 x 11 m3/h = 308 cm2

For mechanical ventilation the fan must be working during charging operation. If the

charging? is done above the gassing voltage of 2.4 VPC for lead battered the fan must

run at leas for one hour after end of charging.

If batter are assembled in cabinets and used working areas it is required that the tree

air volume of the working area is 3 2.5 times air volume Q. Otherwise a mechanical

ventilation is required.

Battery installation

  1. Batteries must be secured against dropping items and dirt.
  2. It is necessary to have an insulation or a distance of at least 10mm 3 24 V potential difference to avoid parasitic currents.
  3. The course width between rows is equal to 1.5 times the cell depth (replacement) but minimum 3 500 mm.
  4. The minimum distance for > 120 V between active part is 1.5 m or insulation, insulated cover etc.
  5. The distance to the wall for racks and cabinets is 3 100 mm for a better placement of connection and better access for cleaning.
  6. Batteries must be assailable easy that service with normal insulated tools can be made.