Validate runtime under specified loads and evaluate safety from the battery cell to the complete backup power system
A battery can meet its rated capacity and still fall short of a data center’s required backup time. The load, temperature, battery condition and the voltage at which an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) stops drawing power all affect the energy available to the critical load.
Intertek provides performance testing, safety evaluations and certification for data center batteries, battery backup systems, UPS equipment and energy storage systems (ESS). We help manufacturers establish the conditions under which their products meet runtime requirements, evaluate protective functions and identify the standards that apply to the intended configuration.
For suppliers moving from electric vehicle batteries into stationary backup power, we can review existing cell and pack evidence and identify the additional evaluation needed for the new application.
Validate runtime at the load the battery must support
Intertek can validate operational time at different temperatures and power loads. A runtime test should define the discharge profile, initial state of charge, battery condition and endpoint. For a constant power load, current rises as battery voltage falls. Voltage limits and protection thresholds therefore matter alongside stored energy.
The table below shows how testing can address performance and safety questions. Specific conditions, samples and acceptance criteria are agreed for the product and application.
| Evaluation area | Test considerations | How engineers use the results |
| Runtime and load performance | Constant power discharge, load changes, temperature and discharge endpoint | Assess backup duration within defined operating limits |
| Capacity and life testing | Capacity, efficiency and cycle life; condition of samples used for runtime tests | Assess available energy and support life and performance claims |
| Environmental testing | Specified temperature and humidity conditions and applicable mechanical stresses | Identify effects on performance, insulation and protective functions |
| Electrical and abuse testing | Overcharge, external short circuit, thermal abuse and applicable fault cases | Evaluate protection against electrical and thermal hazards |
| BMS and functional safety | Protection thresholds, fault detection and relevant hardware and software functions | Assess the reliability of safety controls relied on by the battery design |
| Fire propagation testing | Thermal runaway and propagation behavior using UL 9540A | Provide evidence for fire mitigation and installation review |
Standards and certification for data center batteries
Battery safety, UPS certification, ESS evaluation and installation approval involve different requirements. Intertek helps identify the applicable path early, based on the product architecture, target market and intended installation.
| Reference | Primary focus | How it relates to your project |
| UL 1973 | Stationary battery safety | Evaluation of the battery system and its protective functions |
| UL 1778 | Uninterruptible power systems | Safety evaluation of the UPS and relevant battery configuration |
| UL 9540 | Energy storage systems and equipment | Evaluation of the complete ESS and component interactions |
| UL 9540A | Thermal runaway fire propagation | Testing that characterizes battery fire behavior and informs mitigation decisions |
| NFPA 855 | Stationary ESS installations | ESS installation safety and fire mitigation requirements where applicable |
| NFPA 70 | National Electrical Code | Electrical installation requirements for all electrical equipment |
| UN 38.3 | Lithium battery transportation | Cell and battery testing associated with dangerous goods transportation requirements |
| IEC 62619 | Industrial lithium battery safety | A potential safety evaluation route for applicable industrial and stationary applications, outside of North America |
| IEC 63056 | Lithium batteries used in ESS | Energy storage application-specific safety requirements for IEC 62619 compliant batteries, outside of North America |
Note that the applicable standards and code editions will depend on the equipment, market and jurisdiction. A UPS configuration and a standalone ESS may follow different evaluation paths. Product certification and test reports support the approval process; the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) determines acceptance of the installation.
Evaluate the BMS and its interface with the UPS
Intertek’s capabilities extend from individual cells to modules, battery assemblies and finished products. BMS and functional safety evaluations can help address relevant protective functions. The test plan should also define which interface and fault responses need to be demonstrated with representative equipment. For a UPS or complete ESS, the evaluation boundary must include the applicable end product requirements.
Moving from EV batteries into stationary backup power
An automotive test report may contain useful evidence, but its relevance depends on the design and conditions tested. Long periods at a high state of charge, rapid backup discharge and the UPS operating window can differ from the duty cycle used in an EV program.
Intertek can help identify which results apply and where further testing is needed. Depending on the application, the plan may examine a second discharge after incomplete recharge, performance at temperature limits and runtime using samples with a defined aging history. These conditions should follow the customer’s backup requirements, rather than an assumed universal test sequence.
Useful evidence records the cell and pack configuration, firmware version, test conditions and acceptance criteria. Engineers can use it to assess runtime claims, review protective responses and decide what requires reassessment after a cell substitution, cooling change or firmware revision.
Why Choose Intertek
- Evaluate the battery and the equipment around it. Intertek brings battery testing, UPS and ESS evaluation, electrical safety and functional safety expertise to the project. This breadth helps teams address the interfaces that a cell or pack report alone cannot cover.
- Independent testing and recognized certification. As an OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) with ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, Intertek evaluates and certifies products to applicable safety standards. Our independent test data supports engineering decisions and compliance documentation.
- Dedicated battery fire testing capabilities. Intertek’s Cortland, New York, laboratory supports thermal runaway and fire propagation testing, with evaluations from cells through larger battery assemblies.
- Address requirements beyond the battery. Our global laboratory network supports North American and international evaluation routes. Electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and functional safety may also need to be addressed for the finished product. Our teams can help identify those requirements alongside battery testing.
- Find evidence gaps during development. Preliminary design review can identify questions about product scope, existing test data and protective functions before the final evaluation. That gives engineers an opportunity to address them while the design is still being developed.
Plan your data center battery testing program
Share your battery specifications, electrical architecture, required runtime, load profile, operating conditions and target markets with our team. Existing cell and pack reports, BMS documentation and the intended installation configuration provide a useful starting point.
We can help you define the next steps for performance validation, safety testing and certification of your data center battery or backup power system.
Data Center Battery Testing - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Runtime is measured using a defined discharge profile, temperature, initial state of charge and endpoint. A constant power test is useful when the load must receive a specified power level as battery voltage falls. Testing should account for the operating limits of the intended UPS, relevant system losses and the condition of the battery samples. Load changes or a repeat discharge after incomplete recharge may also be appropriate. The report should state the conditions under which the required duration was achieved.
UL 1973 addresses stationary battery safety, UL 1778 addresses UPS equipment, and UL 9540 addresses complete energy storage systems. UL 9540A evaluates thermal runaway fire propagation; its test report does not replace product certification. NFPA 855 and NFPA 70 inform installation requirements where applicable. UN 38.3 addresses lithium battery transportation, while IEC standards provide the basis for safety evaluation outside of North America. The applicable path depends on the product, installation, market and locally adopted codes.
Yes, some evidence may be relevant, but it needs to be reviewed against the stationary design and applicable requirements. Compare cell and pack configurations, firmware, protection settings and test conditions. Data center backup duty may introduce different standby conditions, discharge demands and UPS interfaces. Changes to cooling, enclosure design or cell selection may also require further evaluation. Automotive certification alone does not establish stationary compliance. Intertek can help identify evidence gaps and scope the additional testing.
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