This recommended practice is limited to maintenance, test schedules, and testing procedures that can be used to optimize the life and performance of valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries for stationary applications. It also provides guidance to determine when batteries should be replaced. There are other maintenance/test procedures and replacement techniques used within the industry (especially for smaller VRLA batteries) that are equally as effective but are beyond the scope of this recommended practice. The user must consider their particular application and recent developments in the state-of-the-art when using this recommended practice. Users are cautioned to be aware of the wide variance of practices that exist in the industry for this new technology. The portions of this recommended practice that specifically relate to personnel safety are mandatory instructions and are designated by the word shall; all other portions are recommended practices and are designated by the word should. This recommended practice does not include any other component of the dc system, nor surveillance and testing of the de system, even though the battery is part of that system. Sizing, installation, qualification, selection criteria, other battery types, and application are also beyond the scope of this recommended practice.