Forward[This introduction is not a part of IEEE Std 1189-1996@ IEEE Guide for Selection of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Batteries for Stationary Applications.]Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries are playing an ever-increasing role in control and power systems@ for stationary reserve use in electric utilities@ telecommunications@ and uninterruptible power systems. In many cases@ VRLA batteries are being substituted for vented lead-acid batteries. Their use is also expanding into many other applications where their unique characteristics appear attractive. Both gelled electrolyte and absorbed electrolyte VRLA designs@ covering a range of sizes and capacities@ are now available for use in many traditional and nontraditional battery applications. This guide fulfills the need within the industry to provide common understanding on VRLA cells and is applicable to all installations and battery sizes. At the time this guide was completed@ the VRLA Battery Selection Working Group had the following membership: Jose A. Marrero @ Chair Wallace B. Bates?Robert R. Beavers?Jack H. BellackRichard T. Bolgeo William P. Cantor Jay L. Chamberlin Joseph A. Cristino Eddie Davis Peter J. Demar Ramesh Desai David O. Feder Robert J. Fletcher Kyle D. Floyd Jim G. Godby John W. Gourdier Richard A. Greco Paul E. Hellen Mark J. Hlavac Bruce G. Horowitz Wayne E. Johnson Harold J. Kelly@ Jr. Sharad C. Khamamkar Alan L. Lamb Glenn E. Latimer Daniel S. Levin Gary J. Markle James A. McDowall Joe F. Montalbano Ame O. Nilsson Donald Ogden Bansi Patel Tom T. Ruhlmann William T. Rutledge Saba N. Saba Amiya Samanta Victor Sokolski Edward C. Stallings James E. Staudacher Frank L. Tarantino Kurt W. Uhlir Lesley Varga Stephen L. Vechy Graham Walker Michael C. Weeks Walter A. Wylie The following persons were on the Standards Coordinating Committee 29 (SCC29) balloting committee that approved this guide for submission to the IEEE Standards Board: Robert R. Beavers Jack H. Bellack Richard T. Bolgeo Terry Bostian William P. Cantor Jay L. Chamberlin Thomas G. Croda Peter J. Demar Joseph S. Dudor (Deceased) Harold E. Epstein David O. Feder Kyle D. Floyd Jim G. Godby Jerry C. Gordon Richard A. Greco Paul E. Hellen R.M. Herritty Glenn E. Latimer Daniel S. Levin Demetrios N. Logothetis Gary J. Markle Jose A. Marrero James A. McDowall Marco W. Migliaro Arne O. Nilsson Zbig Noworolski Bansi Patel Saba N. Saba Robert Soileau Edward C. Stallings Martin M. Stanton Frank L. Tarantino Kurt W. Uhlir Isaac H. Vaneman Stephen L. Vechy Graham Walker When the IEEE Standards Board approved this guide on 31 July 1996@ it had the following membership: Donald C. Loughry @ Chair Richard J. Holleman @ Vice Chair Andrew G. Salem @ Secretary Gilles A. Baril Clyde R. Camp Joseph A. Cannatelli Stephen L. Diamond Harold E. Epstein Donald C. Fleckenstein Jay Forster* Donald N. Heirman Jose R. Ramos Ben C. Johnson E.G. Al Kiener Joseph L. Koepfinger* Lawrence V. McCall L. Brace McClung Marco W. Migliaro Mary Lou Padgett John W. Pope Arthur K. Reilly Ronald H. Reimer Gary S. Robinson Ingo Rusch John S. Ryan Chee Kiow Tan Leonard L. Tripp Howard L. Wolfman *Member EmeritusAlso included are the following nonvoting IEEE Standards Board liaisons: Satish K. Aggarwal Alan H. Cookson Chester C. Taylor Valerie E. Zelenty IEEE Standards Project EditorScopeThis guide describes methods for selecting the appropriate type of valve-regulated@ immobilized-electrolyte@ recombinant lead-acid battery for any of a variety of potential stationary float applications. Installation@ maintenance@ sizing@ and consideration of battery types other than valve-regulated lead-acid batteries@ are beyond the scope of this guide. Design of the dc system and sizing of the dc battery charger(s) are also beyond the scope of this guide.