The electrolyte in a CCB VRLA battery is an immobilized dilute solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water (H2O). The sulfuric acid is considered a hazardous material. The specific gravity of pure sulfuric acid is 1.835 and the percent sulfuric acid in the electrolyte determines the electrolyte specific gravity (SG).
The electrolyte in the CCB VRLA battery is immobilized in either a gelled form or is completely absorbed in an absorbent separator; it is not free to flow from the batteries in the event of mechanical damage to the container. Consequently spill containment should not be required.
The current regulation makes no clear distinction between immobilized and liquid electrolyte batteries and as a result, if the total weight of sulfuric acid exceeds 500 pounds it must be reported annually. Typically this requirement impacts facilities such as large telecommunications sites, large computer centers, power generation and distribution centers and similar sites utilizing in excess of 39 kilowatt hours of battery system.
Typically the stationary lead acid battery electrolyte has a specific gravity within the range of 1.215 to 1.320 depending on the design. The CCB VRLA batteries have an electrolyte specific gravity in the range of 1.280 to 1.300, depending on the model.
