batteries in garages [RE-wrenches]

[Jeff Yago]

 "He said the battery terminals had to be at
least 18" above the garage floor because they might
generate a spark where there could possibly be
flammable fumes."

Most building codes require gas hot water heaters to be up on an 18"
high stand or base because testing has shown that leaking gasoline and
related fumes from a car in a closed garage will "layer" across the
floor below 18" in elevation.  Water heaters are elevated now as tests
have shown they will NOT ignite this gas layer at this height even if
the gas vapors are present.

You may argue that if the batteries are protected from physical
shorting of terminals such as dropped tools, a spark is un-likely.
However, he may counter with "what if  a battery terminal is loose and
overheats?".

Most battery boxes we have built for garages have insulated bottoms
and using tall L-16's the terminals are easily higher than 18" so we
never had this problem.   I would place your battery stack or
enclosure up on some form of spacer blocks and leave this possible
inspector fight for something later that will have more of a "stupid"
factor.

Jeff Yago

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