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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Per IEEE 450, the following protective equipment shall be worn by
personnel who perform battery maintenance work or made avail-
able to such personnel:
a) Safety glasses with side shields, or goggles, or face shield as
appropriate. (Consult application specific requirements).
b) Acid resistant & electrically insulated gloves, appropriate for
the installation.
c) Protective aprons and safety shoes
d) Portable or stationary water facilities in the battery vicinity for
rinsing eyes and skin in case of contact with acid electrolyte.
e) Bicarbonate of soda solution mixed 100 grams bicarbonate
soda to 1 liter of water, to neutralize acid spillage.
Note: The removal and /or neutralization of an acid spill may
result in production of hazardous waste. The user should
comply with appropriate government regulations concerning
disposal of such hazardous waste.
f) Class C fire extinguisher.
g) Adequately insulated tools (as defined by ASTM F1505
“Standard Specification for Insulated and Insulating Hand
Tools”).
h) Barrier to prevent the spread of acid spills are
extremely important when moving cells such as during installa-
tion or removal activities. See IEEE 1578 for
information on barriers.
i) Lifting devices of adequate capacity, as required.
PROCEDURES
The following safety procedures should be followed during installa-
tion: (Always wear safety glasses or face shield when working
on or near batteries.)
1. These batteries contain sulfuric acid which can cause severe
burns. Sulfuric acid is harmful to the skin and eyes. Flush af-
fected area with water immediately and consult
a physician if splashed in the eyes. Consult MSDS for
additional precautions and first aid measures.
2. Prohibit smoking and open flames, and avoid arcing in the
immediate vicinity of the battery.
3. Do not wear metallic objects, such as jewelry, while working on
batteries. Do not store un-insulated tools in pockets or tool belt
while working in vicinity of battery.
4. Keep the top of the battery dry and clear of tools and other for-
eign objects.
5. Provide adequate ventilation per IEEE standards and / or local
codes and follow recommended charging voltages.
6. Extinguishing media: Class ABC extinguisher.
Note: CO
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may be used but not directly on the cells due to
thermal shock and potential cracking of cases.
7. Inspect all flooring and lifting equipment
for functional adequacy.
8. Adequately secure battery racks to the floor.
9. Connect support structures to ground system in
accordance with applicable codes.
10. The below IEEE Standards contain additional
information. Other standards may be relevant to your
specific application.
IEEE 450 – Recommended Practice for Maintenance, Testing,
of Vented Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications
IEEE 937 – Recommended Practice for Installation
& Maintenance of Lead-Acid Batteries for Photovoltaic
(PV) Systems
IEEE 1013 – Recommended Practice for Sizing Lead-Acid
Batteries for Stand-Alone Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
IEEE 1526 – Recommended Practice for Testing the
Performance of Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems
IEEE 1578 – IEEE Recommended Practice for Stationary
Battery Electrolyte Spill Containment and Management
IEEE 1660 – Guide for Application and Management of
Stationary Batteries Used in Cycling Service
HAZARDOUS ELEMENTS
Sulfuric Acid: The electrolyte in a lead-acid storage battery is a
diluted solution of sulfuric acid and water. Although the acid
content in the solution is only about 37%, it is still a strong
corrosive agent and can burn skin and eyes and create holes in
many types of fabric. (See Protective Equipment.)
Explosive Gases: When a lead-acid battery is being charged, it
produces an explosive mixture of hydrogen and oxygen gases.
Make sure that all vent caps are unclogged and securely at-
tached so that any gas is safely vented from the battery. Never
smoke, use an open flame or create an arc or sparks on or
near a battery without first eliminating explosive gases from
the cells you’re working on.
Electricity: An electric shock hazard exists for persons who come
in contact with live parts of batteries when the voltage is over
50 volts. The higher the voltage, the greater the electric shock
hazard. In addition, metallic objects coming in contact with ex-
posed cell connectors will cause a short and can become very
hot. Even shorts involving a single cell can become hot enough
to cause severe burns.
Weight: These batteries are of significant weight. Serious injury can
occur if batteries are not handled carefully during installation,
removal or transport. Use proper lifting equipment and tech-
niques at all times.
Only trained and authorized personnel should install, repair or charge batteries.
When used properly, a lead-acid renewable energy battery is a safe, dependable source of electrical power.
However, if proper care and safety precautions aren’t exercised when handling a battery, it can be an extremely
dangerous piece of equipment.
There are four hazardous elements in a lead-acid battery: sulfuric acid, explosive gases, electricity,
and weight.
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