Primary Lithium Battery IEC 60086-4:2025 Testing

In 2025, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) officially released the IEC 60086-4:2025 standard, replacing the previous fifth edition from 2019. This update provides the latest global basis for safety testing and compliance of primary lithium batteries.

As critical power sources widely used in remote controls, medical devices, military equipment and other fields, the safety of primary lithium batteries is of paramount importance. The upgraded standard introduces significant revisions across terminology, testing methods and packaging requirements—changes that battery manufacturers and exporters must pay close attention to.

What is IEC 60086-4?

IEC 60086-4 is a technical document within the IEC 60086 series that focuses specifically on the safety performance of primary lithium batteries. It outlines:

- Scope: All non-rechargeable lithium batteries (Primary Lithium Batteries)

- Purpose: To ensure safe operation under normal use and reasonably foreseeable misuse conditions

- Test Coverage:

  - Short circuit

  - Over-discharge

  - Drop test

  - Overheating

  - Crushing

  - Impact

  - Child-resistant packaging

Nine Major Updates in the 2025 Edition

Compared to the 2019 version, the sixth edition (2025) introduces the following key updates:

1. Added definitions for leakage and venting, with clear testing and judgment criteria 

2. Revised over-discharge test methods to better reflect real-world usage 

3. Updated marking requirements to strengthen product identification and warning symbols 

4. Updated child-resistant packaging test standards, raising the safety threshold 

5. Annex F (Drop Test) is now mandatory instead of informative 

6. New Annex G: Additional misuse protection measures for non-user-replaceable batteries 

7. Incorporated content from the 2020 interpretation document (ISH1:2020) 

8. Reorganized Chapter 3 terminology by function for improved clarity 

9. Impact test exemption threshold reduced from 12 kg to 4.482 kg, aligning with IEC 62281

Who Should Pay Attention to IEC 60086-4:2025?

- Manufacturers of primary lithium batteries 

- Battery suppliers for medical, security, remote control and military devices 

- Producers of consumer electronics with built-in primary lithium batteries 

- Battery brands exporting to Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea and other markets 

- Companies needing UN38.3 transport compliance or IEC standard adaptation 

Our Services Include

- Comprehensive safety testing for IEC 60086-4:2025 

- UN38.3 transport testing and MSDS reports 

- Related testing for IEC 62133, IEC 62281 

- Packaging structure evaluation and child-resistant packaging tests 

- English reports, technical support documents and corrective action recommendations