The Applied Technical Services Family of Companies (FoC) performs UL 1989 standby battery testing and certification to help manufacturers identify a product’s potential safety hazards during operation. Prototype testing in a controlled and safe lab environment can help manufacturers make critical business decisions regarding the battery and battery enclosure’s design and development.
Standby batteries provide backup energy when the main source is unavailable so critical systems can continue to provide reliable power. The UL standard covers lead-acid and nickel cadmium batteries used in a variety of applications, such as backup power for data centers and telecommunications.
How ATS Supports the Battery Industry
Battery testing experts from the ATS FoC can help clients with the following:
- Developing a plan for battery certification
- Understanding the testing requirements for certification
- Strategy development support
- Testing and evaluating a battery prototype
- Monitoring battery performance in the field
Testing the Battery Enclosure
Mechanical Testing
UL 1989 establishes the criteria for multiple tests to ensure the rigidity of the battery enclosure. Battery enclosure tests provide insight on how well the product withstands wear and tear without permanent damage or failure. During these tests, our experts subject the enclosure to various mechanical forces aligning with the most rigorous operating conditions, such as:
- Ball Impact
- Crush
- Drop Impact
- Rod Pressure
Temperature Testing
A battery enclosure may also encounter elevated temperatures during operation. As many enclosures contain plastics, an oven conditioning test determines the enclosure’s resistance to high temperatures without melting, cracking, leaking electrolytes, catching fire, or exploding.
Electrical Testing
In addition to external issues, battery enclosures must withstand internal electrical problems. For instance, overcharge testing involves deliberately overcharging the battery. ATS FoC experts use this test to study the battery’s reaction to overcharging. Typically, overcharging can lead to battery degradation and aging, but high voltage rates can potentially cause thermal runaway. We can perform a discharge test to evaluate battery performance and limits while discharging at a very high rate.
Testing Emergency Lighting and Uninterrupted Power Supply
UL 1989 also includes testing for uninterrupted power supply (UPS) batteries and emergency lighting and power batteries. Due to the liquid electrolytes, aqueous batteries contain a high risk of explosion if pressure and gas build up without relief. To maintain battery safety, manufacturers may design products with vents or valves to expel some of the pressure.
Our experts can test the pressure relief designs to ensure the safe operation of aqueous batteries. The pressure relief valve and vent cap test can confirm the design safely relieves the internal pressure and gases. We can also test if the flame arrestor effectively protects the battery enclosure from fire and prevents the hazardous gases from returning to the battery once released.
Finally, we can provide a capacity test for emergency power and lighting to determine if the battery conforms to the manufacturer’s rating.
Safe Testing Labs
The ATS FoC is proud to deliver safe and professional testing in our ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs. To ensure the safety of all personnel, our experts can conduct high-risk tests on batteries in our especially outfitted Hazard Containment Room (HCR), featuring ventilation, explosion containment, and firefighting systems.
We invest in powerful and innovative technology to deliver rigorous tests that take products to their limits. Our equipment can reach extreme temperatures and subject products to high energies, such as:
- +/- 1040 ampere (A)
- 300 kilowatts (kW)
- -68 ˚C to 120 ˚C
- 750 volts or voltage (V)
About Us
The ATS Family of Companies provides consulting engineering, calibration, inspection, and testing services from locations nationwide. Our staff consists of scientists and engineers who bring decades of experience to every service. We work closely with clients from a wide range of industries to align testing and analysis with business goals, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. ATS maintains multiple several ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditations and is an ISO 9001:2015-registered company.
Click here to learn more about our certifications.
Contact Us
Call +1 (888) 287-5227 or fill out the form on this page to schedule UL 1989 testing at our qualified labs. Keep your standby battery on with the ATS FoC on your side.
