Introduction
Stationary battery systems have a high potential for electrical risk but with proper forethought and the implementation of simple design features, we can reduce that risk. This paper discusses simple but often overlooked or misapplied methods of improving the safety of stationary battery systems, or Prevention through Design, (PtD), applied to stationary battery systems. Stationary battery systems are traditionally used in telecommunications, industrial control systems, switchgear systems, (MCC, substation, and generating station), and UPS applications. The batteries in these systems are on constant float charge and only discharge in an emergency or unusual event. These DC systems are typically designed in accordance with IEEE standards 484, 1106, 1187, 1184, 1375, and 946, and maintained in accordance with IEEE standards 450, 1106, 1184, and 1188. This paper does not address cyclic applications such as photovoltaic systems or Bulk Energy Storage Systems, (BESS), although designers of these systems may find some of the items discussed in the paper desirable for their systems.