Battery Power - Fall 2016 - 14

Company Profiles Battery Regulations: Where We Stand and Where We Go From Here Rich Byczek, Global Technical Lead * Intertek With the various country regulations involved in today's battery market, along with the lack of a globally harmonized standard for batteries, manufacturers may ask, "What is required of my products?" or "What standards must we comply with to bring them to the market?" To provide guidance on the regulatory landscape of Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (RESS), we examine the standards currently in place, and the steps being taken to develop a globally harmonized standard to address the quality and safety of cells, batteries and battery powered products. UN 38.3 To ensure the safety of lithium-ion batteries and the surrounding environment during transport, UN 38.3, Edition 5.2 specifies the testing requirements which must be performed, prior to any transportation, whether that would be by air, rail, water or ground. These tests work to ensure that the batteries do not have an adverse reaction to various conditions they may experience during transport. Although aimed at the safe transportation of lithium-ion batteries, UN 38.3 is separate from electrical safety regulations and is instead part of the Dangerous Goods Regulations. A Sixth Revised Edition of the standard will go into effect on January 1, 2017. While UN 38.3 is globally harmonized, there are nuances in certain markets that should be taken into account. China, for instance, uses different enforcement of the standards with different acceptance at different ports and airports, along with issuing annual certificates of "airworthiness" and "seaworthiness" for li-ion batteries being transported in such a manner. Small Batteries For small batteries, IEC 62133 has been adopted in both the US and Canada (as CSA E62133), however UL 1642 and UL 2054 still exist. It should be noted that the current CB Scheme does not accept UL 2054 as a valid battery standard, so if a product is going to be distributed in the international market, it is strongly recommended to follow IEC 62133. If seeking entry into the US and Canada, either UL 2054 OR IEC 61233 would apply. There are also gaps between the IEC and UL standards and how they aim to mitigate known risks. For instance, there are minor details in the test parameters, which could be easily harmonized. On the other hand, fault conditions, though mandated in the US standards, are not part of international requirements. Additionally, there are also variations in the temperature and forced internal short circuit testing conducted to mitigate such risks. Energy Storage/Large Format In the emerging world of energy storage and large format batteries, there are many new applications which require 14 Battery Power * Fall 2016 modified testing and evaluation. These types of batteries rely heavily on risk assessment and functional safety, as opposed to more prescriptive pass/fail criteria. UL 1973 and IEC 62619 are currently on a path to harmonization for such products, however there is less harmonization in the grid connected/ AC portions of energy storage and large format batteries. Transportation Applications Recent developments in the self-balancing scooter industry, such as hoverboards, are subject to different regulations than other more traditional battery powered products, which is driving the development of standards unique to such products. These on-road vehicle batteries are subject to industry self-regulation, with very little government regulation on the batteries themselves. UL 2272 is the new standard for the drive train, battery and charger systems for hoverboards, to assess the known risks associated with the devices. Electronic vehicles, as is the case with other battery operated products currently have competing standards in UN ECE R100 and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Summary While many of the committees which develop these standards are comprised of the same individuals, there is some differentiation in the stakeholders, which impacts the process of battery standards being implemented. This, along with the question of how to modify existing requirements to meet the changing end product requirements has created challenges in developing a globally harmonized standard. IEC 62133 2nd Edition does represent a first step towards global harmonization as it establishes a standard for "The safety of Secondary Cells And Batteries Containing Alkaline Or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes - Safety Requirements For Portable Sealed Secondary Cells, And For Batteries Made From Them, For Use In Portable Applications." A second edition of the standard is currently in effect and is already harmonized with UL 62133 in the US market, as well as CSA E62133 for the Canadian market. To ensure that your cells, batteries and battery powered products are always tested and certified to the latest standards, it is important to stay apprised of regulatory updates and changes so that your products stay at the cutting edge of the industry and reach the market with speed and efficiency. www.BatteryPowerOnline.com http://www.BatteryPowerOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Battery Power - Fall 2016