UN 38.3: Ensuring safety of lithium-ion batteries during transportation

A breadth of testing services to ensure the safety of Li-Ion batteries during transportation and consumer use.

Nearly all lithium and lithium-ion batteries are required to pass section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (UN Transportation Testing). Intertek can test for conformance to the UN 38.3 Transportation Testing requirements and help manufacturers avoid costly delays in getting their product to market. To be safely transported (by air, sea, rail or roadways), Li-Ion batteries and cells must meet the requirements laid out by Standard UN 38.3. This standard applies to batteries transported either on their own or installed in a device. It?also?applies to all points in the battery’s transportation process: from sub-suppliers to end-product manufacturer; manufacturer to distributor; in or out of the product; in the field; during product returns or with non-original packaging. It is important for manufacturers to be familiar with these requirements as the use of lithium and Li-Ion batteries becomes more prevalent. UN 38.3 has been adopted by regulators and competent authorities around the world, making it a requirement for global market access. The prevailing UN standard?requires a rigorous series of tests performed by an approved independent testing laboratory like Intertek to ensure the batteries and cells do not rupture, leak, disassemble, or catch fire during transport. It is important to note that lithium batteries have been identified as a Class 9 dangerous good during transport, as a result of a potential fire hazard. In order to mitigate the risks associated with these batteries, Intertek offers testing and validation of lithium-ion batteries and Li-Ion powered devices. From electric vehicles to personal electronics to renewable energy, Intertek offers Total Quality Assurance in battery testing and certification services, ensuring energy storage technologies meet performance, reliability and safety criteria.?

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Ankit Seth

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+91-9560300550