Canadian Regulatory Compliance for

Stationary Battery Systems

North American Update

ComplianceKnowledgeCenter.com

What is Compliance?
In general:
compliance means conforming to a rule, such as:
a specification, policy, standard or law.

For End Users:

Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations aspire to achieve
to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant
laws, codes and regulations.

Areas of Code Compliance for

Standby Power Battery Rooms
Safety Regulations:
Eye Wash & Personal
Safety Equipment

Fire Code :
Battery Electrolyte
Spill Containment &
Neutralization
Building Code:
Seismic Battery
Racking Requirements

Dangers in a Battery Room

Regulated Materials
Sulfuric Acid
Lead

0
3

Hazards

Chemical (Toxic & Corrosive)

Electrical
Explosive Gas
Seismic

2
W

Is Compliance Making You Crazy?

Areas of Battery Room Compliance

HazMat Spill
Cleanup Kit

Personal Safety
Equipment

Ventilation
Eyewash or
Shower
Hydrogen Gas
Monitor
Terminal
Insulation &
Barriers

Signage

Aisle Mats

Spill Containment &

Neutralization
Battery Rack Seismic
Certification

What are Standards?

A published specification that establishes a common language
Contains technical information or other precise criteria to follow
Designed to be used as:
A Guideline, Rule, or Definition
Best Practice
Can be Adopted as an Enforceable Code

Institutes that Create Standards

CSA Canadian Standards Association

Ulc Underwriters Laboratories of Canada
IEEE Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers
NFPA National Fire Protection Association

Standards Organizations
CSA (Canadian Standards Association)
Electrical Safety: Z462-08 Section 6.3 Battery and Battery Rooms (Electrical Safety, PPE)

ICC (International Code Council)

International Fire Code 608 (Spill Containment, Signage, Thermal Runaway, Spill
Kits, Gas Monitoring)

NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association)

NFPA 1 Article 52 (Spill Containment, Signage, Thermal Runaway, Spill Kits, Gas Monitoring)
NFPA 70E Electrical Safety in the Workplace, Article 320 (Training, Terminal Covers,
Ventilation, Spill Control, PPE)

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)

IEEE 1578 Recommended Practice for Stationary Battery Electrolyte Spill Containment
and Management (Spill Containment)
IEEE 484 Recommended Practice for Installation Design and Installation of Vented
Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications (PPE, Spill Containment, Ventilation)
IEEE 1187 Recommended Practice for Installation Design and Installation of ValveRegulated Lead-Acid Batteries for Stationary Applications (PPE, Spill Containment,
Ventilation)
IEEE 1657 Recommended Practice for Personnel Qualifications for Installation and
Maintenance of Stationary Batteries (Training, PPE)

What are Codes?

Codes are Laws which are Adopted by All levels of Government
Sources of Codes:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
ICC International Code Council
International Building Code (IBC)
California Building Code (CBC)
International Fire Code (IFC)

NFPA National Fire Protection Association

National Electrical Code (NEC, NFPA 70)
Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1)

Enforceable by Law Mandatory Requirement

Authority Having Jurisdiction
Building Inspector
Fire Inspector
OSHA Inspector

Codes Considered in Designing

Standby Power Systems
Model Codes
International Building Code
2012 current version, previous 2009 & 2006 versions
NEW Battery Rack Seismic Testing Requirements
tri-axial shake table tested and certified

National Electrical Code

NFPA 70
Uniform Fire Code
NFPA Chapter 52
Still recognized in certain areas
International Fire Code
2012 Section 608, current version

Canadian Regulations
Ministry of the Environment
Clean Water Act
Environmental Protection Act

NFC (The National Fire Code of Canada)

OH5 Hazardous Substances Containment

Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations

49 CFR Hazardous Materials Regulations (Transportation, Training, Spill
Containment, Signage)
Canada Occupational Health And Safety Regulations
SOR/86-304 Warning of Hazardous Substances 10.13 (Signage, Eyewash,
Training)
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Ontario Regulation 67/93 - Health Care And Residential Facilities (Signage & PPE)
Ontario Health and Safety Reg 851 (Shower/Eyewash)
R.S.O. 1990, Chapter O.1 (MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheets)

Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997

Ontario Regulation 213/07 - Fire Code (Spill Containment)

2012 International Fire Code (IFC) Section 608

Stationary Storage Battery Systems

608.1 Scope

Stationary storage battery systems having an

electrolyte capacity of more than 50 gallons (189 L)
for flooded lead-acid, nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) and
valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA)

Verify with AHJ

Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)?

Ministry of the Environment
Fire Department code
enforcement
CanOHS Inspector
HazMat Inspector
Insurance Carrier inspectors
Loss Prevention
Facility Owners and Managers
Real Estate Professionals

Environmental Compliance Manager

Corporate Health and Safety
Site Security and Human Resources
Environmental Health and Safety
Outside Environmental or Safety
Auditor
Water Quality Inspectors
Fish and Game
Site Safety Manager

Any AHJ can require Spill Containment.

Copyright 2011 EnviroGuard.

All Rights Reserved.

What is Considered a Battery Spill?

Unintentional release of hazardous material.
Common causes:
Installation and Removal
Handling (drops or punctures)
Improper installation or support

Operational

Over-charging / charger failure

Thermal runaway
Battery Explosion (hydrogen)
Jar crack due to plate growth
Seismic events

Maintenance
Water additions (electrolyte overflow)
Jar Crack (punctures or unapproved cleaning fluids)
Source: IEEE

Most spills occur during installation & maintenance. - IEEE

The Problem? Damage to Rack & Floor

Substrate

The Problem? Damage to Environment

Purpose & Terminology for Spill Containment

Spill Control (IFC 608)
Method and materials for the
control of a spill of electrolyte.

Neutralization (IFC 608)

Method and materials for the
neutralization of a release of
electrolyte.

Pillows
Pillows filled with chemicals to
neutralize and absorb spilled
electrolyte.

Barriers

Liner

Full spill control will typically

require 4 high barriers.

Acid resistant liner to contain

and control electrolyte spills.

Type of Neutralization Systems

Reactive Neutralization
Manually Applied
(MUST be Trained to Use)

Passive Neutralization
ALWAYS Ready
(Neutralizes upon Contact)

Importance of ULc for Spill Containment

Tested by globally recognized
lab
a tested & proven means of
containment

Reduces Risk / Liability

Streamlines Fire Permit
Sign-off and Future Inspection

Room or Rack Spill Containment?

Room Containment

Rack Containment

Type of Neutralization Systems

Passive Neutralization
ALWAYS Ready
(Neutralizes upon Contact)

Reactive Neutralization
Manually Applied
(MUST be Trained to Use)

Due Diligence Checklist Site Assessment

Yes

No

Questions
Do you know and understand your safety and health responsibilities?
Do you have definite procedures in place to identify and control hazards?
Have you integrated safety into all aspects of your work?
Do you set objectives for safety and health just as you do for quality, production, and sales?
Have you committed appropriate resources to safety and health?
Have you explained safety and health responsibilities to all employees and made sure that
they understand it?
Have employees been trained to work safely and use proper protective equipment?
Is there a hazard reporting procedure in place that encourages employees to report all unsafe
conditions and unsafe practices to their supervisors?
Are managers, supervisors, and workers held accountable for safety and health just as they
are held accountable for quality?
Is safety a factor when acquiring new equipment or changing a process?
Do you keep records of your program activities and improvements?
Do you keep records of the training each employee has received?
Do your records show that you take disciplinary action when an employee violates safety
procedures?
Do you review your OSH program at least once a year and make improvements as needed?

Required Battery Room Safety Equipment

Requirement

Regulatory

Spill Control

IFC, Ontario Reg 213/07

Neutralization

IFC, Ontario Reg 213/07

Spill Clean-up Kit

IFC, Ontario Reg 213/07

Eyewash Station

Ontario Reg 851

Battery Room Signs

IFC, SOR/86-304, 67/93

Hydrogen Gas Monitoring

IFC

Thermal Runaway Protection

IFC

Battery Terminal Covers

NFPA 70E,

Acid-resistant Aisle Mats

TBD

Smoke Detectors

IFC, NFC

Fire Extinguishers

NFC

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

NFPA 70E, Ontario Reg

67/93

References
BCI (Battery Council International)
http://www.batterycouncil.org

Environment Canada
http://www.ec.gc.ca

Transport Canada
http://www.tc.gc.ca

Province of British Columbia

Environment Management Act, Reg 449/2004, Recycling Regulation
http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/449_2004

Product Stewardship for Lead-Acid Batteries:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling/batt/index.htm

Ontario Ministry of the Environment

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/environment

Canadian Battery Association

http://canadianbatteryassociation.ca/

R1

Thank You
Bill Ryan
Email: BRyan@EnviroGuard.com
Call: 800-206-9884

ComplianceKnowledgeCenter.com

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Richard, 2011-05-27