UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system battery rooms are dedicated, restricted areas that store backup energy sources that keep equipment running when a facility’s main power system fails.
These battery rooms are critical for facilities that need to sustain an organization’s operations, such as keeping life-saving hospital equipment up and running or avoiding accidents from heavy-duty machinery breakdowns in manufacturing plants.
UPS battery rooms, while resourceful, pose a number of safety hazards. This requires facilities to have extensive code-mandated safety measures in place to prevent fires, chemical spills, toxic gas releases, and wasted white space (the restricted battery room). One measure for optimizing battery room space while also meeting compliance standards is slim-profile shielding rails.
In this article, we’ll touch on the importance of slim-profile shielding rails in UPS battery rooms. We’ll also dive into each of the benefits of roll-formed shielding rails for your facility.
Traditional solutions like full battery cabinets, wire-mesh partitions, press-brake panels, or extruded-aluminum frames each solve a slice of the problem. Cabinets maximize containment but add depth and weight, partitions restrict access without providing EMI continuity, and multi-piece bent panels can struggle with straightness over long runs.
Slim steel shielding rails provide close-in linear guarding at the rack/bank edge and can be engineered for electrical bonding — all in a compact footprint. Understanding the trade-offs can help you decide which option is right for your UPS room.
|
Option |
Best for |
Where it falls short vs. shielding rails |
When rails are the better fit |
|
Battery cabinets/ enclosures |
Maximum containment, OEM‑matched look |
Depth/weight, reduced open access & airflow |
You need open aisles, periodic service, and conductive guarding without full cabinetry |
|
Wire‑mesh cages /partitions |
Room‑level access control, fast reconfiguration |
Security barrier only; no EMI continuity; not close‑in guarding |
You want protection at the rack/bank edge while preserving clearances |
|
Press‑brake guards/panels |
Short runs, simple bends |
More joints and hardware; straightness over long lengths |
Long, slim profiles with repeat features and consistent fit |
|
Extruded‑aluminum rails/frames |
Modular builds, lightweight |
EMI continuity often needs add‑ons; secondary ops for features |
Steel rail with integrated features and bonding points |
|
EMI gaskets & honeycomb vents |
Seam/vent attenuation |
Not physical guarding; adds components |
One part that combines guarding + optional EMI features along a run |
|
Terminal covers/shrouds |
Battery‑level touch safety |
Not structural; no linear guarding or EMI continuity |
Room‑edge protection that complements local covers |
Shielding rails are designed for linear protection along rack edges and battery banks. They deter incidental contact, dropped tools, and tampering, while keeping airflow open and aisles clear.
This is protection where it’s needed most, without the bulk of cabinets or the gaps of wire-mesh cages. Their slim design also helps reduce wasted “white space” in high-density layouts.
Roll-forming integrates multiple functions into one precise profile:
Tamper-evident bends discourage and reveal unauthorized access, while integrated stiffeners increase durability so rails resist bending or prying. In-line labeling with part numbers or trace codes is added during roll-forming, streamlining audits and supporting ISO 9001 quality systems.
The result is one continuous, straight component — fewer brackets, fewer fasteners, and fewer surprises during installation.
Because they’re conductive steel profiles, shielding rails can include integrated grounding points for direct connection to the facility's grounding network. For environments with EMI/RFI concerns, shielding features can be built directly into the rail, eliminating bolt-on parts that take up space and complicate maintenance.
With electrical performance addressed, the next constraint is usually the tight physical envelope of UPS rooms.
Slim-profile rails support dense layouts by eliminating the extra depth and hardware that come with multi-component guarding. Tight tolerances keep aisles within plan, clearance-friendly profiles preserve authorized access, and the “all-in-one” nature of roll-formed rails reduces the need for secondary guards. Space efficiency, however, can’t come at the expense of safety or code expectations — so alignment with the relevant standards is essential.
Through roll-formed, fire-resistant metal battery shielding rails, you can rest assured knowing you’ll have all measures in place to keep UPS room operations running smoothly.
Regular inspections, proper training, and custom manufacturing will help mission-critical facilities sustain operations without sacrificing safety.
UPS rooms must meet strict safety and design codes:
NFPA 855: Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems (fire protection; design, installation, operation, and maintenance).
Rails are engineered to support layouts that align with guarding, access, bonding/grounding, and labeling requirements, while keeping systems serviceable. Paired with a comprehensive electrical safety program, they form part of a layered compliance strategy.
These rails protect live battery rooms from dropped metal tools or incidental human contact that may lead to arc flashes or even an electrical explosion. Arc flashes can damage equipment, injure personnel, or even shut down operations altogether.
Thermal runaway, for lithium-ion batteries in particular, occurs when a battery overheats at an uncontrollable pace. This “runaway” battery can catch fire, spreading to other batteries nearby and leading to explosions and widespread damage.
Slim-profile battery shields help protect against this risk because they can be manufactured from fire-resistant metals, like stainless steel, which prevents or slows widespread damage to other connected batteries.
Roll-formed battery shields are ready to install upon delivery, avoiding time-consuming on-site fabrication, reducing the transition time between installations. They’re prepared for bolt-in placement, helping improve lead times and reduce human error.
By combining guarding, grounding, EMI protection, and traceability into a single slim profile, roll-formed shielding rails help maintain safety and efficiency without sacrificing space. Coupled with inspections, training, and a code-aware layout, they keep mission-critical systems running smoothly.
Discover how Dahlstrom’s roll-forming solutions help UPS rooms stay compliant, efficient, and space-conscious.