battery systems for UPS and DC plant (telecom room) 1

[eddie11]

Hi
I have 2 battery safety questions if some kind person can provide his/her opinon.

1) Do VRLAs-based UPS and DC power systems require eye stations also?

I am wondering about a telecom datacenter application with a 30KVA UPS with VRLA batteries. Someone came through recently and dinged us as being in code viloation for not having eye rinse stations, acid resistant gloves, PPE procedures, acid spill procedures, and acid resistant cover for the hydrometer when taking specific gravity readings.

I thought all of these things are not needed with VRLA???


2) Then, I have a 48VDC wet cell DC plant in another site that has all that stuff, but does not have hydrogen detection. Is that always mandatory?

Any comments are appreciated. Thanks!! I do not have an expert of my own to consult so I want to get a little better educated before I re-engage with the critics.

 

[safetydan]

Even though VRLA batteries are sealed, they are still capable of releasing the chemicals stored within. I would agree with your auditor that you should have the approprate PPE and procedures.

As for you other facility, you should not need H2 detection as long as you have ventilation to the area. Your ventilation should be at the top of the room because of the nature of H2. Also, H2 detection would depend on the size of the system. If you have a small system >100 batteries, you shouldn't need an H2 sniffer, because of the small amount of H2 that is produced. Just make sure the area is ventilated.

 

[eddie11]

regarding the UPS VRLA batteries and whether the site must have PPE on-hand, I was told by one of the guys that he found a code requiring the PPE for any battery maintenance, but it seems it could be argued that since the UPS maintenance is contracted out, as long as the sealed batteries are only maintained by contractors and those contractors bring in sufficient portable PPE when they do the maintenance, then everything's OK.

 

[safetydan]

If you contract out the maintenance of the batteries, then you must ensure that your contractors are following the proper safety procedures. Just because you contract out hazardous work, it doesn't mean that you transfer all liability.

 

[psslrw]

psslrw

VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) is a type of battery that is sealed and is legal to ship without the class II requirements. However, if the jar is also of the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) design then the need for spill protection is non-existent as this design has so little liquid that it represents no appreciable spill hazard. You will find that most current day designs incorporate the AGM design. This allows more watt/density in a smaller package which represents lower manufacturing costs. Since the VRLA design does not require class II shipping requirements you would have no reason to take any additional precautions. The real threat is overcharging and rupture of the seals. This would release small amounts of anhydrous H2SO4 (Dry Power Sulfuric Acid) into the air. Upon contact with moisture it would return to acid and would represent a respiratory and surface contact (skin & eye) threat. Flushing with clean cool water is the normal response at the low exposure levels. If the jars are flame-retardant then the exposure is reduced even further. In a non-restiricted area the jars should be contained in a qualified battery cabinet. This cabinet would eliminate the need for any type of protection as it would constructed for proper containment of all potential hazards.

 

[stevenal]

From IEEE 1188, IEEE Recommended Practice for
Maintenance, Testing, and
Replacement of Valve-Regulated
Lead-Acid (VRLA) Batteries for
Stationary Applications

4.1 Protective equipment
The following protective equipment shall be available to personnel who perform battery maintenance work:
a) Goggles and face shields
b) Acid-resistant gloves
c) Protective aprons
d) Portable or stationary water facilities for rinsing eyes and skin in case of contact with electrolyte
e) Class C Þre extinguisher
f) Bicarbonate of soda, mixed 0.1 kg to 1 L (1 lb to 1 gal) of water, to neutralize acid spillage
g) Adequately insulated tools