FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to storage enclosure for storage of batteries, particularly
to a fire resistant storage enclosure for storage of batteries.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Batteries are of several types. Most of the batteries, used to provide power backup in
residential or commercial buildings are lead-acid batteries. Such batteries contain lead
and sulfuric acid and so there is a risk associated with the storage of such batteries.
Such batteries pose a threat to the fire safety of the building, and are known to
explode in some cases. Some problems also arise due to leakage of battery acid. Thus,
proper storage of batteries is essential in order to reduce risks to human health and
environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an embodiment ofthe invention there is provided a storage enclosure for
storing batteries, having fire resistant characteristics, comprising:
- an enclosure defined by fire resistant a flat ceiling, a floor and a
plurality ofwalls;
- gas detecting means;
- heat and smoke detecting means;
- fire extinguishing means; and
- ventilation means.
According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a storage
enclosure for storing batteries, wherein the floor and a plurality of walls are coated
with acid resistant coating.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a storage
enclosure for storing batteries, wherein the walls and floor are coated with acid
resistant coating up to the height of batteries within the enclosure.
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According to yet another embodiment of the invention storage enclosure is fitted with
gas detecting means for detection of level of gas concentration inside the enclosure.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided at least one heat and
smoke detector device inside the storage enclosure to detect the fire or any smoke
inside the room.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the fire extinguishing means comprises a
Modular Cylinder for automatically releasing a fire retardant material upon detection
of fire is provided inside the storage.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided ventilation opening
C means and plurality of exhaust means for maintaining the safe level of gases inside
the storage enclosure, wherein exhaust means comprised of at least two exhaust fans
or other suitable means. One exhaust fan work continuously and other will start or
stop working according to level of concentration of gas inside the enclosure.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the storage enclosure further
comprises a plurality of manual sprinklers on the ceiling of the enclosure; the
sprinklers being manually operable in case of fire.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Discussed below are some representative embodiments of the present invention. The
invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative
devices and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in this section in
connection with the embodiments and methods. The invention according to its various
aspects is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the appended claims read
in view ofthis specification, and appropriate equivalents.
It is to be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular
forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise. The terms "room" "storage enclosure" and "storage enclosure" are used
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interchangeably throughout the description, and refer to "an area within a building
enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling".
The room or storage enclosure for storage of batteries requires certain kind of inherent
resistance due to the fire risk associated with the same. The room or storage enclosure
described herein for storage or batteries or similar articles comprises several safety
apparatuses which work in a synchronized manner to prevent fire and to curb the
problems arising in case an accidental fire breaks out.
The internal surface of the storage enclosure should be acid proof and to achieve this
requirement a suitable lining for making room acid resistance should be required. The
constructional material for the storage enclosure should also have high fire resistance
~ in order to avoid spreading of fire at the time of any fire hazard.
The room may be of any size and shape and should have a provision for proper
ventilation at the bottom of room in order to continuously remove hazardous fumes
generated by the batteries.
The preferred embodiment is depicted in figure 1 which is described herein below:
A storage enclosure or room (1 00) which is primarily made up of fire resistant brick,
stone or other suitable material having high fire resistance, comprising a ceiling, floor
and a plurality of walls. The internal surface of the wall should be uniformly coated
with acid resistant coating (1 02) to avoid any reaction of fumes generated by stored or
working batteries (1 08).
As stored or functional batteries tend to release gases and fumes, the level of these
discharged gases and fumes can reach hazardous levels. Thus, a detection device is
required to monitor the level of gas in comparison to the prescribed limits. The
preferred embodiment is reflecting an installation of at least one hydrogen sensor
(I 06), which is continuously monitoring the level of gas.
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A fire and smoke detector ( 104) is also placed at an appropriate location inside the
storage enclosure to detect any fire or smoke in order to activate an alarm in case the
smoke concentration increases above the prescribed limits.
There is also a provision of multiple level of fire extinguisher which can be installed
within the room and outside the room. A modular ABC type fire extinguisher (105) is
installed inside the room at appropriate place in order to automatically suppress the
fires. The modular cylinder has a mixture of ABC dry powder and dry nitrogen stored
under pressure. It has a glass bulb which shatters as soon as the temperature reaches a
predefined value, thereby allowing the contents to be released as a mist which spreads
throughout the room. This helps cut off the oxygen supply to the fire so as to
extinguish it. A plurality ofmanual sprinklers (107) are provided at suitable locations
on the ceiling of the storage enclosure for getting additional defense against fire
hazard.
The provision of ventilation is also required for such type of storage enclosure or
enclosure in order to minimize the concentration of gas inside the room. Thus, a
ventilation opening (110) is provided near the bottom of the room and an exhaust fan
( 111) is provided to continuously take out air from inside the room to the outer
environment. The exhaust fan may be in two in number whereas one fan should
continuously take out the air from inside room and second fan start operating when
the gas preferably hydrogen concentration go beyond 1 % and switch off when
concentration of said gas come below 1%. The said fan is getting signal from gas
sensor (106). The size of ventilation opening can be decided by a equation 28 x 0.5 x
n xI, whereas n is number of cells and I is value of current.
Additional fire extinguishers may also be provided in close proximity of the storage
enclosure which may be of C02 type and ABC type of fire extinguishers ( 1 09), in
order to enable any skilled person to manually control the fire hazard from spreading.
It may also be noted that electrical fittings like lighting devices (101) inside the room
and exhaust fan (Ill) for ventilation should also be fire resistant in order to avoid any
further means for propagating fire.
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It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to
the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the
underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should,
therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

We Claim:
1. A storage enclosure for storing batteries, having fire resistant characteristics,
comprising:
- an enclosure defined by a fire resistant flat ceiling, a floor, and a
plurality ofwalls;
- gas detecting means;
- heat and smoke detecting means;
- fire extinguishing means; and
- ventilation means.
2. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the walls and floor are
coated with acid resistant coating.
3. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the walls and floor are
coated with acid resistant coating up to the height of batteries within the
enclosure.
4. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein the gas detecting means
is installed to detect the gas concentration inside the enclosure.
5. The storage enclosure as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat and smoke
detector device (1 04) is installed for detecting any fire or smoke inside the
enclosure.
6. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim 1 to 5, wherein fire extinguishing
means comprises a Modular Cylinder (I 05) for automatically releasing a fire
retardant material upon detection of fire.
7. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim l to 6, wherein the ventilation means
comprises:
a plurality ofventilation openings (110); and,
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a plurality of exhaust means (111).
8. The storage enclosure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exhaust means
comprises at least two exhaust fans or other suitable means; one exhaust fan
working continuously and the other being configured to start or stop working
according to level of concentration of gas inside the enclosure.
9. The storage enclosure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further
comprising a plurality of manual sprinklers (1 07) on the ceiling of the enclosure;
the sprinklers being manually operable in case of fire.
10. The storage enclosure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein all the
electrical fittings provided inside the storage enclosure are fire resistant.