Battery Rooms-Hazardous (Classified) Locations

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faresos

Senior Member
Does battery rooms with chargers consider to be Hazardous (Classified) Locations? Some engineers thinks we need to use explosion proof devices such light fixtures. Any thoughts? , thanks
 

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Well, the only reason it would need to be XP is due to hydrogen out gassing from the batteries being recharged.

Is this even much of an issue with modern battery chargers and modern batteries?
 

faresos

Senior Member
In general no.

For flooded cell battery rooms, put a hydrogen detector connected to an exhaust fan to ensure the levels of hydrogen don't get to hazardous levels.

Thanks for the replies.

I looked through the NEC and could not find anything about the classification of this room. Should we also interlock the light fixtures with the exhaust fan (the light is on only when the fan is on)? if so, what is the best method doing it? Also, if we do this, the fan motor could be running but locked which won't help much on ventilation the area. Any thoughts please? Thanks again
 

ron

Senior Member
Sometimes our HVAC guys have one exhaust fan running 24x7 and a redundant fan starts on a hydrogen alarm. Also on a hydrogen alarm, a beacon in the hallway goes on and is annunciated to the building management system.

The hydrogen alarm setpoint is below the value of ignition concentration.
 

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
If battery rooms needed to be classified routinely, it would have been reflected in Article 480, or somewhere in Chapter 5. It isn't in either. If it does need to be classified, it would be for some other reason than the presence of the batteries.
 

rbalex

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Mission Viejo, CA
Occupation
Professional Electrical Engineer
... Proper ventillation design will solve the outgassing problem without the need to classify the building.
I agree and Section 480.9(A) addresses the issue. As a general statement, an installation consistent with Art 480 does not need to be classified and one not consistent with the Article could explode even if it were classified.
 
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