Vented Lead-Acid Batteries

Recommended design practices and procedures for storage, location, mounting, ventilation, instrumentation, preassembly, assembly, and charging of vented lead-acid batteries are provided. Required safety practices are also included. These recommended practices are applicable to all stationary applications. Specific applications, such as emergency lighting units, semiportable equipment, and alternate energy applications, may have other appropriate practices and are beyond the scope of this recommended practice.

Maintenance, test schedules, and testing procedures that can be used to optimize the life and performance of permanently installed, vented lead-acid storage batteries used for standby service are provided. Guidance to determine when batteries should be replaced is also provided. This recommended practice is applicable to standby service stationary applications where a charger maintains the battery fully charged and supplies the dc loads.