UN38.3 LiPo Batteries

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UN38.3 certification for LiPo batteries is not only a regulatory requirement but also a mark of quality and safety. It ensures that these batteries are safe for transportation and use, reduces risks and liabilities, and facilitates smooth logistics and market access.

UN38.3 LiPo Batteries

What’s LiPo battery UN38.3?

Almost all LiPo batteries need to pass Article 38.3 of the UNITED NATIONS  to ensure the safety of LiPo batteries during the transportation of dangerous goods. Manual and Criteria ST/SG/AC. 10/11/Rev.6, 38.3/Amendment 1

Our company LiPol Battery Co. can help customers to apply the UN38.3 test report. Each test takes one month after you get an official UN38.3 test report published by the third-party testing house (BCTC).

LiPo Battery UN38.3 Test Items

UN/DOT 38.2 Transportation Testing for Lithium polymer Batteries 6th edition was issued in 2011. It includes eight sections.

UN38.3.4.1: LiPo Battery Altitude Simulation

Test lithium-ion cells and batteries shall be stored at an 11.6 kPa or less for at least six hours at an ambient temperature of 20±5℃.

Lithium-ion cells and lithium-ion batteries meet this requirement if there is no mass loss, no leakage, no venting, no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire and if the open circuit voltage of each test cell or LiPo battery after testing is not less than 90% of its voltage immediately before this procedure. The requirement relating to energy is not applicable to test cells and batteries at fully discharged states.

UN38.3.4.2: LiPo Battery Temperature Test

Test lithium-ion cells and lithium-ion batteries are to be stored for at least six hours at a test temperature equal to -72±5℃, followed by storage for at least six hours at a test temperature similar to -40±2℃. The maximum time interval between test temperature extremes is 30 minutes. This procedure is repeated ten times, after which all test cells and batteries are stored for 24 hours at ambient temperature.

Lithium-ion cells and lithium-ion batteries meet this requirement if there is no mass loss, no leakage, no venting, no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire and if the open circuit voltage of each test cell or LiPo battery after testing is not less than 90% of its voltage immediately before this procedure. The requirement relating to voltage is not applicable to test cells and batteries at fully discharged states.

UN38.3.4.3: LiPo Battery Oscillation

Test lithium-ion cells and lithium-ion batteries are firmly secured to the platform of the vibration machine without distorting the cells in such a manner as to faithfully transmit the vibration. The vibration shall be a sinusoidal waveform with a logarithmic sweep between seven Hz and 200 Hz and back to seven Hz traversed in fifteen minutes. This cycle shall be repeated twelve times for a total of 3 hours for each of three mutually perpendicular mounting positions of the cell. One of the directions of vibration must be perpendicular to the terminal face.

The logarithmic wavelength sweep shall differ for cells and batteries with a gross mass of not more than 12 kg(cells and small batteries), and for batteries with a total mass of more than 12 kilograms (large lithium-ion batteries).

For lithium-ion cells and small lithium-ion batteries: from 7 Hz, a peak acceleration of 1 gn is maintained until 18 Hz is reached. The amplitude is then maintained at 0.8mm (1.6mm total excursion), and the frequency increases until a peak acceleration of eight gn occurs ( approximately 50Hz). Peak acceleration of eight gn is then maintained until the frequency increases to 200Hz.

Lithium-ion cells and lithium-ion batteries meet this demand if there is no mass loss, no leakage, no venting, no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire and if the open circuit voltage of each test cell or LiPo battery after testing is not less than 90% of its voltage immediately before this procedure. The requirement relating to voltage is not applicable to test cells and batteries at fully discharged states.

UN38.3.4.4: LiPo Battery Collision

Test lithium-ion cells and batteries shall be secured to the testing machine employing a rigid mount that will support all mounting surfaces of each test LiPo battery. Each lithium-ion cell shall be subjected to a half-sine shock of peak acceleration of one hundred and fifty gn and pulse duration of 6 milliseconds. Alternatively, large cells may be subjected to a half-sine shock of peak acceleration of fifty gn and pulse duration of 11 milliseconds. Each LiPo battery shall be subjected to a half-sine shock of peak acceleration depending on the mass of the LiPo battery. The pulse duration shall be six milliseconds for small lithium-ion batteries and 11 milliseconds for large lithium-ion batteries. The formulas below are provided to calculate the appropriate minimum peak accelerations.

Cells and batteries meet this requirement if there is no mass loss, no leakage, no venting, no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire and if the open circuit voltage of each test cell or LiPo battery after testing is not less than 90% of its voltage immediately before this procedure. The requirement relating to voltage is not applicable to test cells and batteries at fully discharged states.

UN38.3.4.5: LiPo Battery External Short-Circuit

The lithium-ion cell or LiPo battery to be tested shall be temperature stabilized so that its external case temperature reaches 57±4℃. Then the cell or LiPo battery shall be subjected to a short circuit condition with a total external resistance of fewer than 0.1 ohms at 57±4℃. This short circuit condition is continued for at least one hour after the cell or LiPo battery external case temperature has returned to 57±4℃.

Cells and batteries meet this requirement if their external temperature does not exceed 170℃ and there is no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire during the test and within six hours after the test.

UN38.3.4.6: LiPo Battery Impression

Test Procedure- Crush (applicable to prismatic, punch, coin/button cells and cylindrical cells not more than 18mm in diameter). A cell or component cell is to be crushed between two flat surfaces. The crushing is gradual, with a speed of approximately 1.5cm/s at the first point of contact. The crushing is to be continued until the beginning of the three options below is reached. (a) the applied force reaches 13 kN±0.78 kN;

A prismatic or punch cell shall be crushed by applying force to the widest side. A button/coin cell shall be destroyed by using power on its flat surfaces. For cylindrical cells, the crushing force shall be applied perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Each test cell or component cell is to be subjected to one curse only. The test sample shall be observed for a further six h. The test shall be conducted using test cells or component cells that have not previously been subjected to other tests.

lithium cells and component cells meet this requirement if their external temperature does not exceed 170℃ and there is no disassembly, no rupture, and no fire during the test and within six hours after the test.

UN38.3.4.7: LiPo Battery Overcharge

The charge current shall be twice the manufacturer’s recommended maximum continuous charge current. Tests are to be conducted at ambient temperature. The duration of the test shall be 24 hours. The minimum voltage of the test shall be as follows: When the manufacturer’s recommended charge voltage is not more than 18v, the minimum voltage of the test shall be the lesser of two times the maximum charge voltage go the LiPo battery or 22v.

There is no disassembly and no fire during the test and within seven days after the test.

UN38.3.4.8: LiPo Battery Forced discharge

Each lithium-ion cell shall be forced discharge at ambient temperature by connecting it in series with a 12v D.C. power supply at an initial current equal to the maximum discharge current specified by the manufacturer. The specified discharge current is to be obtained by connecting a resistive load of the appropriate size and rating in series with the test cell. Each cell shall be forced discharged for a time interval (in hours) equal to its related capacity divided by the initial test current) in ampere).

There is no disassembly and no fire during the test and within seven days after the test.

UN38.3 is a set of safety testing standards and regulations established by the United Nations (UN) for lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. These UN38.3 standards are designed to ensure the safe transportation of these batteries, particularly by air, as they are commonly used in various electronic devices and equipment. UN38.3 certification verifies that a lithium battery meets specific safety and performance criteria necessary for transportation.

Key aspects of UN38.3 testing and certification for LiPo batteries include:

Safety Testing: UN38.3 includes a series of tests to assess the safety of lithium batteries. These tests evaluate factors such as overcharging, short-circuiting, crush, impact, vibration, and thermal stability to ensure that the battery can withstand various stress conditions without posing a safety hazard.

Environmental Testing: This category of tests assesses how lithium batteries perform under extreme environmental conditions, including temperature variations, altitude, humidity, and exposure to various environmental factors. It ensures that the battery remains stable and safe during transport.

Mechanical Testing: UN38.3 standards include mechanical tests to evaluate the battery’s resistance to physical damage, such as crushing, puncturing, and shock. The goal is to prevent battery damage that could lead to leakage or fire.

Abuse Testing: These tests simulate extreme abuse scenarios, such as short-circuiting the battery or exposing it to high temperatures. The battery must not catch fire, explode, or release hazardous materials under these conditions.

Electrical Testing: UN38.3 also covers electrical performance testing, ensuring that the battery operates within specified voltage and current limits and that it does not generate excessive heat during charging and discharging.

Documentation and Labeling: Manufacturers must provide appropriate documentation and labeling on the batteries to indicate compliance with UN38.3 requirements. This includes labeling the battery with UN markings and providing safety documentation for transportation authorities.

UN38.3 certification for LiPo batteries is a critical safety measure to ensure these batteries can be safely transported, especially by air. Compliance with UN38.3 standards helps prevent accidents and incidents associated with lithium batteries during transit, contributing to the overall safety of the transportation industry.

Certificated UN38.3 LiPo Batteries

Certified UN38.3 LiPo Batteries offer several significant benefits, primarily related to safety and compliance with international regulations. Here are some of the key advantages:

Safe Transportation: UN38.3 certification ensures that LiPo batteries are safe for transportation by air, land, and sea. This is crucial because LiPo batteries are commonly used in electronic devices and equipment, and safe transport is essential to prevent accidents or incidents during shipping.

Reduced Safety Risks: UN38.3 certification involves rigorous testing to assess the safety of LiPo batteries under various conditions, including overcharging, short-circuiting, crush, impact, vibration, and extreme temperatures. As a result, certified batteries are less likely to pose safety risks such as fires, explosions, or leakage.

Compliance with Regulations: Many countries and regions, including the United States, Europe, and others, have adopted UN38.3 as a standard for safely transporting lithium batteries. UN38.3 certification ensures compliance with these regulations, preventing delays or issues during customs clearance and shipping.

Peace of Mind: For manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers, UN38.3 certification provides peace of mind. Knowing that the LiPo batteries have undergone thorough safety testing and meet international standards can boost confidence in the product’s quality and safety.

Reduced Liability: Using UN38.3-certified LiPo batteries can help reduce liability in accidents or incidents during transportation. Compliance with established safety standards demonstrates a commitment to safety, which can benefit legal and insurance matters.

Smooth Logistics: When shipping products containing LiPo batteries, carriers, and logistics companies often require compliance with UN38.3 standards. Using certified batteries streamlines the shipping process and helps prevent delays or issues related to non-compliance.

Market Access: Some markets and industries may require UN38.3 certification as a prerequisite for doing business. Certified LiPo batteries can open up opportunities to enter or expand into these markets.

Consumer Trust: UN38.3 certification can enhance consumer trust in products that contain LiPo batteries. It signals that the manufacturer prioritizes safety and quality, which can positively influence purchasing decisions.

Global Reach: UN38.3 is recognized internationally, making certified LiPo batteries suitable for global distribution and export.