Battery Charging and Storage Room Classification

[hae]

Somebody please help me out here:

I am working on a battery room where batteries will be charged ajoining an aircraft hangar for an aircraft repair school. (First of all, article 513 requirements don't apply since aircraft will be and remain unfueled. Article 513.1 Scope) I am trying to figure out if the battery room needs to be classified and if so, what the classification should be and also what the requirements for the charger receptacles will be.

The room will be exhausted in accordance with 480.9(A) since the batteries (ni-cad) will be capable of gassing potentially explosive fumes. This to me seems to make the classification Class I, Division 2 due to Article 500.5(B)(2)(2). Therefore, I would have to use a receptacle and seal meeting the classification requirements of Article501.15(C)(5) for protecting from arcing for powering the battery charger. HOWEVER, the battery charger itself does not have a plug head on it that meets those requirements and so I question the need for the heavy-duty equipment to meet Class I, Div 2 requirements. I realize the head of the battery charger can be replaced, but if the equipment does not have the Class I, Div 2 head on it, why would the room need to be classified??

Help me out.......Thanks

 

[Smart $]

...if the equipment does not have the Class I, Div 2 head on it, why would the room need to be classified??

Many of the battery rooms that I've been associated with, or near, had the charging equipment outside the battery room. Only the batteries, associated wiring, and shelving were in the room itself.

 

[rbalex]

If you are ventilating the room per 480.9(A) there is no need to classifiy the room at all.

 

[infinity]

I agree with Bob, the simplest thing is to design the room with a system that would allow for X number of air changes per hour. I can't remember the number required.