ABSTRACT:
GR-3020 addresses the safety and performance issues of Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries intended for use as backup power systems in a telecommunications outside plant environment.

The flooded NiCd battery is much more thermally stable than the Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) battery that is already widely deployed. The NiCd battery tolerates changes in temperature and high temperatures much better than the VRLA battery. High temperatures found in warm, sunny climates do not decrease the service life of NiCd batteries nearly as much as VRLA batteries. The failure modes of the flooded NiCd battery should be more gradual and predictable than those of the VRLA battery, and this translates into a more reliable product.

NiCd batteries have a longer service and shelf life than lead-acid batteries, and they have an inherent ruggedness that will allow them to withstand harsh environments. NiCd batteries are made of more expensive materials than just lead, and they cost appreciably more than VRLA batteries, but their longer lives should offset this large initial cost penalty.

GR-3020 includes electrical, chemical, environmental, physical design, quality and reliability, documentation, and testing requirements, and information on auxiliary charging devices. It provides:

• Safety documentation requirements and language to align with the Global Harmonized Standard (GHS) formats and regulations. Proper safety precautions shall be followed for all tests conducted. Use of these test procedures is solely at the user's risk.
• Additional battery safety documentation, which will assist end users with fire-fighting measures and chemical safety issues and reporting.
• Requirements requesting definitive information on battery electrolyte properties at mixtures and concentrations specific to the batteries under review.