IEC 60086 4:2019 Lithium Battery Safety Testing

1. In the current international and domestic standards, aside from general standards like un38.3, there are few specific standards dedicated to primary lithium batteries (non-rechargeable). IEC/EN 60086-4 is the most commonly used standard specifically for the safety and reliability of primary lithium batteries. This standard specifies the inspection items and requirements for primary lithium batteries to ensure safe operation under expected use and reasonably foreseeable misuse.

2. The inspection items specified in the IEC/EN 60086-4 standard are as follows:

   - Altitude simulation

   - Temperature cycling

   - Vibration

   - Shock

   - External short circuit

   - Impact by a heavy object

   - Crush

   - Forced discharge

   - Abnormal charging

   - Free fall

   - Thermal shock

   - Incorrect installation

   - Overdischarge

3. The test items required by the IEC/EN 60086-4 for primary lithium batteries are relatively conventional, with most tests similar to those for rechargeable lithium batteries under IEC/EN 62133. However, there are also specific tests for primary lithium batteries. For instance, the incorrect installation test is aimed at batteries like CR17345, CR15H270, and similar types with wound structures that may be incorrectly installed and charged. The standard requires a test battery to be connected in series with three additional batteries of the same model that have not been discharged, with the test battery connected in the opposite direction. The total circuit resistance should not exceed 0.1Ω, and the circuit should be connected for 24 hours or until the battery returns to normal temperature. This test simulates the scenario where a single battery is incorrectly installed, requiring that there be no explosion or fire.

4. Compared with commonly known primary batteries (such as dry cells, alkaline batteries, carbon batteries, etc.), lithium primary batteries have the advantages of high energy density, low self-discharge rate, and high seal integrity. However, due to their high energy density and strong seal integrity, lithium primary batteries have slightly lower safety compared to ordinary dry cells, alkaline batteries, and carbon batteries. The energy pressure in primary batteries can be released through gas expansion or leakage, which generally eliminates the risk of explosion.

5. Classification of Lithium Primary Batteries:

   - By shape:

     - Button type

     - Cylindrical type

   - By material:

     - Lithium manganese battery

     - Lithium thionyl chloride battery

   - By structure:

     - Energy type

     - Power type

6. Safety Issues with Button Batteries

   In Australia, children have died from swallowing button batteries, and at least one child is seriously injured every month from swallowing or inserting button/coin batteries, leading to permanent damage in some cases. Millions of consumer products worldwide contain button batteries.

7. Children can access button/coin batteries in various ways, including:

   - Products with unsecured battery compartments

   - Button/coin battery packaging that is not child-resistant

   - Low-quality products that release button/coin batteries when dropped or damaged

   - Loose spare batteries provided in product packaging

   - Spare batteries not kept out of children's reach

   - Improper disposal of used batteries

8. New Regulations

   In December 2020, the Australian government introduced four mandatory safety and information standards to reduce the risk of injury and death to children from accessing button/coin batteries. These standards apply to button batteries and coin batteries as well as products containing them.

9. Implementation

   The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) urges businesses supplying button batteries or products powered by them to comply with the new button battery safety standards by June 22, 2022, before the regulations become legally enforceable. The ACCC also calls on consumers to check for unsafe button battery products at home.

10. New Regulation Contents

   - Mandatory Standards:

     - Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020

     - Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020

     - Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard 2020

     - Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard 2020

   - The policy intent of the Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard is to allow compliance with tests listed in Table 5 of the standard or tests in Appendix E of IEC60086-4:2019 Part 4: Safety of Lithium Batteries. Some stakeholders have indicated drafting issues with the standard, and the ACCC is assessing steps to ensure the standard strictly reflects the policy intent.

11. Test Items:

   - High altitude simulation

   - Thermal shock

   - Vibration

   - Impact

   - External short circuit

   - Impact by heavy object

   - Crush

   - Forced discharge

   - Abnormal charging

   - Free fall

   - Thermal abuse

   - Incorrect installation

   - Overdischarge

   - Marking

12. Duration:

   - 2 weeks

13. Required Documents:

   - Samples

   - Battery specifications

14. All consumer products containing button or coin batteries:

   - Must have clearly marked warnings and labels

   - Must secure the battery

   - Must not release the battery during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse of the product.

Note:

1. This mandatory requirement by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) specifies safety requirements for all consumer products containing button or coin batteries (including storage containers and organizers).

2. It also applies to accessories of consumer products containing button or coin batteries (such as remote controls).

3. Products containing button or coin batteries must meet battery safety requirements and undergo compliance testing.

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