Focus: Fire-Life Safety / Column

Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Battery-charging room

Brad Keyes discusses regulations for battery-charging rooms

By Brad Keyes / Special to Healthcare Facilities Today


Q: Are there any Life Safety Code requirements for a battery-charging room, such as HVAC pressurization and air changes per hour (ACH) rates? These rooms are where I charge my EVS floor machines.

A: I guess it would depend on how the room is interpreted in regards to its function. According to the 2014 FGI Guidelines, which references the ASHRAE 170 table, a janitor’s closet must be negative, have 10 ACH, the air in the room must be exhausted to the outdoors, you cannot have a room HVAC that recirculates air, and there is no design requirements for humidity and temperature.

If the room is a hazardous material storage (which sounds more like it), the room would have to meet the same requirements as listed above, with the added requirement that there is 2 ACH of outdoor air.

But those are for new construction. For existing conditions, you would have to comply with the FGI or AIA requirements in effect at the time of the design of the room.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.



September 11, 2019


Topic Area: Regulations, Codes & Standards


Recent Posts

Designing for Access: Addressing Pharmacy Deserts with Flexible Solutions

Design is an increasingly important consideration for closing the gap in pharmaceutical access.


Baylor Scott & White Health Set to Open New Texas Medical CenterĀ 

The new 40-acre campus will offer communal green spaces, more than two miles of trails, health and wellness events and activities for everyone to enjoy.


The Future of Backup Power Systems in Healthcare Facilities

Manufacturers discuss what trends are shaping the future of backup power systems in healthcare.


Infection Control is Key to Ongoing Measles Outbreak

Infection control is essential to protecting both patients and staff from contracting measles.


Kaiser Permanente to Open New Parker Medical Offices

It also announced it's in the early stages of planning a rebuild and expansion of its Westminster Medical Offices.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.