This recommended practice provides maintenance, test schedules, and testing procedures that can be used to optimize the life and performance of nickel-cadmium batteries designed for continuous-float applications. It also provides guidance for determining when these batteries should be replaced. Sizing, installation, qualification, other battery types, and application are beyond the scope of this recommended practice. This recommended practice does not include any other component of the dc system, nor does it include surveillance and testing of the dc system, even though the battery is part of that system. Preoperational and periodic dc system tests of chargers and other dc components may require that the battery be connected to the system. Details for these tests will depend on the requirements of the dc system and are beyond the scope of this recommended practice.