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. The maintenance and testing programs described in this recommended practice represent "the best program" based on the information reviewed at the time this document was developed. The user should evaluate these practices against their operating experience, operating conditions, manufacturer's recommendations, resources, and needs in developing a maintenance program for a given application. Some guidance is provided to assist the user in this evaluation. These maintenance and testing recommendations were developed without consideration of economics, availability of testing equipment and personnel, or relative importance of the application. Development of a maintenance and testing program for a specific application requires consideration of all issues, not just the technical issues considered in this document. Stationary cycling applications, such as those found in alternative energy applications, are also beyond the scope of this recommended practice. This recommended practice does not include any other component of the dc system nor surveillance and testing of the entire dc system, even though the battery may be part of that system. Sizing, installation, qualification, selection criteria, and other battery types and applications are also beyond the scope of this recommended practice.