Battery Charging Room

Don't forget the BSI and RoSPA as sources of info........

Dave - some excellent advice above.

Having just installed a battery charging room for 20 heavy duty batteries which comply with all the recommendations mentioned above - your company proposals are woefully inadequate and dangerous.

You need urgent professional advice and I would express your concerns in writing to your employer as soon as possible.

Jeez!
Give your local council a ring and see if they can help, or maybe contact HSE.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/ask.htm

I hope the person signing off the work for authorisation is ready for a long stay in another type of enclosed space? The only risk of explosion then will be his/her temper when it dawns on them they made a fatal decision.

On the face of it.......ridiculous! No to the 13A supply, and I wouldn't entertain a shower in such close proximity in what could be a confined space after the charging bench/es is/are in place. George's comments should be noted, low and high vents are in order but both should be to the outside of the building and not into another enclosed area.

Presume lighting along with switches are all of a "flash proof" design along with reostats controling charge rate of how many batteries in a confined space as may need to evaluate the air change rate with sufficient vents to allow replacement air in as well as expelled ? (Could get a little cold in winter)

No smoking under that window then - ho hum

Charging lead acid batteries can produce both oxygen and hydrogen in gaseous form. This mixture is explosive, so charging should only be carried out in a suitably ventilated space where gas cannot accumulate. If there is a roof over it there should be no beams that stand down from the underside of the roof, as these would tend to trap any hydrogen rises up to the ceiling. Similarly a flat ceiling should be avoided -- the charging area should be given a sloping roof with a vent at the highest point so that any hydrogen rising to the ceiling will naturally flow out of the vent. Don't also forget that lead is poisonous and that sulphuric acid is dangerous, and that great care must be taken when handling/diluting it.

A proper risk assessment should be done before any work is carried out or plans are implemented. This may need professional advice if (as sounds likely) those concerned do not fully understand all the implications of the chemicals involved.

Wo

My company has decided to progress with a battery charging room for lead acid batteries within the building. The room is approx 9ft x 9ft x 8.4ft. Within this room they have decided to place 13amp sockets all be it (of the external type) and IP rated. They have also placed a deluge shower facility in the same room not 2 feet away from the batteries being charged. My question is this: Is it acceptable to put a deluge shower in the same room as the batteries being charged given the fact that they are 2 feet away from the shower and if there where an explosion the room would be filled with breathable hydrogen gas e.t.c.