ASHRAE GUIDELINE 21 : 2012

1. Overview
2. Normative references
3. Definitions, acronyms, and abbreviations
4. Battery safety hazards and considerations
5. Fundamentals
6. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
7. Environmental design
8. Economics
9. Environmental management (operation and maintenance)
Annex A (informative) - Hydrogen generation in lead-acid
        and nickel-cadmium batteries
Annex B (informative) - Heat generation in lead-acid
        batteries
Annex C (informative) - Existing U.S. codes and standards
Annex D (informative) - Explosive and toxic gas allowance
        considerations
Annex E (informative) - Thermal runaway
Annex F (normative) - Hydrogen sulfide gas
Annex G (informative) - Bibliography

Covers the ventilation and thermal management of stationary battery systems as applied to Vented (flooded) lead-acid (VLA), Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) and Nickel-cadmium (NiCd).

This guide discusses the ventilation and thermal management of stationary battery systems as applied to thefollowing:⎯ Vented (flooded) lead-acid (VLA)⎯ Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA)⎯ Nickel-cadmium (NiCd)For each category, both the technology and the design of the battery are described in order to facilitate userunderstanding of the environmental issues associated with each type of technology.The scope of this document includes only stationary batteries under conditions of expected use. Multipleoperating modes are identified.The ventilation practices described in this guide represent the “best practice” based on the informationavailable at the time this document was developed. The user should evaluate these practices against theiroperating experience, operating conditions, number and size of battery systems, manufacturer’srecommendations, resources, and needs in developing an environment that maximizes safety and isconducive to optimum operation of the equipment. These recommendations were developed withoutconsideration of economics, availability of equipment and personnel, or relative importance of theapplication. Design of a ventilation system for a specific battery installation requies consideration of allissues, not just the technical issues considered in this document.