Battery Technology for Data Centers and Network Rooms: U.S. Fire Safety Codes Related to Lead Acid Batteries

Fire safety regulations and their application to UPS battery installations are reviewed. In some cases, fire codes do not clearly recognize improvements in battery safety resulting from changing battery technology. Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries are frequently deployed within data centers and network rooms without the need for the elaborate safety systems that are required for vented (flooded) lead-acid batteries. Proper interpretation of the fire codes is essential in the design and implementation of data centers and network rooms