What are the safety requirements related to batteries & Battery rooms?

Employers must consider exposure to these hazards when developing safe work practices and selecting personal protective equipment (PPE). That is where Article 320, Safety Requirements Related to Batteries and Battery Rooms comes in.

Do you need documentation before entering a battery room?

It is a requirement to have all the documentation in place prior to authorized personnel entering a battery room to perform a specific work task on a battery system under normal operating conditions. However, it is likely the employee will need to enter the battery room to deal with a battery system that is not operating normally.

Is working on a battery considered energized electrical work?

Working on a battery should always considered energized electrical work. NFPA 70E ®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, Chapter 3 covers special electrical equipment in the workplace and modifies the general requirements of Chapter 1.

Are battery storage systems dangerous?

There has been a fair amount of news about battery storage systems being involved in fire and explosion incidents around the world. Do not forget that these are not the only safety issues when dealing with batteries. Battery systems pose unique electrical safety hazards.

What happens if you send an employee into a battery room?

Sending an employee who is trained only for the normal operating conditions into a battery room under thermal runaway, for example, is knowingly exposing an unqualified person to risk of injury. The employer is responsible for protecting their employees from known or recognized hazards in the workplace.

Can a battery be placed in an ESWC?

The system’s output may be able to be placed into an electrically safe work condition (ESWC), however there is essentially no way to place an operating battery or cell into an ESWC. Someone must still work on or maintain the battery system. Working on a battery should always considered energized electrical work.