[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR111.15-10]

[Page 223]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
    CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 111--ELECTRIC SYSTEMS--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart 111.15--Storage Batteries and Battery Chargers: Construction and 
                              Installation
 
Sec. 111.15-10  Ventilation.

    (a) General. Each room, locker, and box for storage batteries must 
be arranged or ventilated to prevent accumulation of flammable gas.
    (b) Power ventilation. If power ventilation is required, the 
following must be met:
    (1) The power ventilation system must be separate from ventilation 
systems for other spaces.
    (2) Electric motors must be outside the duct and compartment and:
    (i) Have an explosion-proof motor for a Class I, Division 1, Group B 
location; or
    (ii) Be at least 10 ft. (3 m) from the exhaust end of the duct.
    (3) Each blower must have a non-sparking fan.
    (4) The power ventilation system must be interlocked with the 
battery charger so that the battery cannot be charged without 
ventilation.
    (c) Large battery installations. Each battery room for large battery 
installations must have a power exhaust ventilation system and have 
openings for intake air near the floor that allow the passage of the 
quantity of air that must be expelled. The quantity of the air expelled 
must be at least:

q=3.89(i)(n).

where: q=quantity of expelled air in cubic feet per hour.
i=Maximum charging current during gas formation, or one-fourth of the 
    maximum obtainable charging current of the charging facility, 
    whichever is greater.
n=Number of cells.

    (d) Moderate and small battery installations. Each battery room or 
battery locker for moderate or small battery installations must have 
louvers near the bottom of the room or locker for air, and must be 
ventilated by:
    (1) Ventilation that meets paragraph (c) of this section;
    (2) An exhaust duct:
    (i) That ends in a mechanically ventilated space or in the weather;
    (ii) That extends from the top of the room or locker to at least 3 
ft. (1 m) above the top of the room or locker;
    (iii) That is at an angle of 45 degrees or less from the vertical; 
and
    (iv) That has no appliances, such as flame arresters, that impede 
free passage of air or gas mixtures; or
    (3) A duct from the top of the room or locker to an exhaust 
ventilation duct.
    (e) Deck boxes. Except for a deck box for a small battery 
installation, each deck box must have a duct from the top of the box to 
at least 4 ft. (1.2 m) above the box ending in a gooseneck or mushroom 
head that prevents entrance of water. Holes for air must be on at least 
two parallel sides of each box.
    (f) Weathertight. Each deck box must be weathertight.
    (g) Boxes for small battery installations. Each box for a small 
battery installation must have openings near the top to allow escape of 
gas. If the installation is in a non-environmentally-controlled 
location, the installation must prevent the ingress of water.

[CGD 74-125A, 47 FR 15236, Apr. 8, 1982, as amended by CGD 94-108, 61 FR 
28278, June 4, 1996]