Battery Backup Safety Warning

Members, during recent Loss Control visits, we have identified a practice that we want to discuss. The practice consists of “automotive (car)” batteries being used for battery backups for servers, telephone systems, security systems, and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) systems. Although these systems specify sealed lead-acid 12-volt batteries, automotive batteries are not a substitute. Automotive batteries are designed for short bursts of high current (engine starting), not for sustained, controlled backup power. This type of battery is not truly sealed for indoor use and lacks the appropriate safety certifications for standby/UPS environments.

These installations are typically located inside closets or server rooms, which may not be adequately ventilated. In both instances, the vendor installed them as an “affordable way to get a fairly long runtime during a power outage.” Lead-acid batteries can explode due to the buildup of hydrogen and oxygen gas during charging, which creates a highly flammable atmosphere. These explosions, often triggered by sparks or open flames, can cause the casing to burst, spraying sulfuric acid and causing severe injuries or fire.

TPS does not believe this is Best Practice to install and use this type of battery due to the aforementioned issues. The proper battery backup system can often be purchased for approximately the same price as this setup. The approved backup systems have truly “sealed” batteries and are designed for this type of application and location.