UPS battery fires have become a growing concern across a range of sectors, from data centres and healthcare facilities to commercial buildings and industrial sites. While these incidents remain relatively uncommon, they highlight an important reality: UPS batteries require ongoing attention throughout their service life.
For facilities managers, recent battery-related fire events reinforce the importance of proactive UPS battery maintenance, regular testing, and clear replacement strategies.
Why UPS Battery Fires Occur
Most UPS battery fires are not caused by the UPS system itself. In many cases, the root cause lies within the battery installation, battery condition, or maintenance history.
Common contributing factors include:
- Ageing UPS batteries operating beyond their recommended lifespan
- Thermal runaway caused by overheating or internal battery faults
- Poor ventilation around battery cabinets
- Undetected battery deterioration
- Loose connections creating excessive heat
- Inadequate maintenance and testing procedures
Many battery faults develop gradually, often showing early warning signs long before they become a safety risk.
Recent Incidents Reinforce the Importance of UPS Battery Management
Recent events have demonstrated why facilities managers should pay close attention to the condition of their UPS batteries and wider critical power infrastructure.
In January 2026, a battery room fire at Global Switch’s London data centre was reportedly linked to the failure of a lead-acid battery within a battery string. While the incident was contained without customer disruption, it highlighted how a fault within a single battery can escalate into a significant safety event if conditions allow.
The Heathrow power outage of 2025 also raised important questions around infrastructure resilience, maintenance practices, and contingency planning. Although the outage was not caused by a UPS battery failure, the incident demonstrated how faults within critical electrical systems can lead to major operational disruption when preventative maintenance and risk management measures fall short.
For facilities managers, both incidents serve as a reminder that critical power assets require ongoing monitoring, testing, and maintenance throughout their operational life.
The Critical Role of UPS Battery Maintenance
Routine UPS battery maintenance remains one of the most effective ways to reduce both operational and safety risks.
A structured ups maintenance programme helps identify:
- Weak or failing battery cells
- Rising internal resistance
- Connection issues
- Temperature abnormalities
- Battery degradation trends
By addressing these issues early, facilities managers can reduce the likelihood of unexpected failures while extending the reliability of their UPS system.
Regular maintenance also supports compliance requirements and provides documented evidence that critical power infrastructure is being managed responsibly.
Why UPS Battery Testing Matters
Visual inspections alone cannot reveal the true condition of a UPS battery.
Professional UPS battery testing provides valuable performance data that helps determine whether batteries can continue operating safely and effectively.
Testing may include:
- Battery impedance testing
- Discharge testing
- Voltage analysis
- Thermal inspections
- Capacity assessments
These tests help identify batteries approaching end of life before they become a risk to critical operations or site safety.
Planning UPS Battery Replacement Before Failure
One of the key lessons from recent incidents is that delaying UPS battery replacement can significantly increase risk.
Every battery has a finite service life. Waiting until a battery fails often results in unplanned downtime, emergency call-outs, and increased safety concerns.
Facilities managers should maintain accurate battery age records and work with experienced UPS engineers to develop a planned replacement schedule based on manufacturer recommendations, operating conditions, and testing results.
Protecting Critical Infrastructure Through Proactive UPS Battery Management
The lessons from the Global Switch battery room fire and the Heathrow outage are clear. Critical power systems should never be left to operate on a run-to-failure basis. Regular UPS battery maintenance, UPS battery testing, and planned UPS battery replacement programmes help organisations identify potential issues early, reduce safety risks, and maintain confidence that backup power will perform when it is needed most.
UPS batteries play a vital role in maintaining business continuity, but they require ongoing care to remain safe and reliable. A proactive approach helps reduce risk, improve system reliability, and ensure critical facilities remain protected when power interruptions occur.
Need Support with UPS Battery Maintenance?
If you’re responsible for critical power infrastructure and want confidence in the condition of your UPS batteries, contact Uninterrupted Power Solutions.
Our team provides UPS battery maintenance, UPS battery testing, UPS battery replacement, and tailored maintenance programmes designed to keep your systems operating safely and reliably.
