Why should separate facilities be used for storing and servicing nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries?

Separate facilities should be used for storing and servicing nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries primarily due to the potential for fumes from one type of battery to contaminate the other. Nickel-cadmium batteries can release caustic fumes, especially if they are overcharged or damaged, while lead-acid batteries can emit hydrogen gas, particularly during charging. Mixing the two types in the same facility increases the risk of chemical reactions and accumulation of harmful gases, which could lead to safety hazards such as fires, explosions, or toxic exposure.

Ensuring that these batteries are stored and serviced in distinct areas helps mitigate these risks and ensures that proper handling protocols are observed for each type. Additionally, the environmental concerns, different chemical compositions, and voltage outputs of the batteries further necessitate their separation, but the immediate concern ties back to the potential contamination and safety issues arising from the fumes each type can produce.