EN IEC 62619 Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes - Safety Requirements for Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries for Use in Industrial Applications

The standard “EN IEC 62619 Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acidic electrolytes – Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications ”, which is based on a European standard and was later published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), describes the requirements and test methods for the safe operation of secondary lithium cells and batteries used in industrial applications, including stationary applications.

Where an IEC standard exists that specifies test conditions and requirements for cells used in specific applications and conflicts with this standard, the former takes precedence (e.g. the IEC 62660 series of standards for road vehicles takes precedence).

Some examples of applications using cells and batteries within the scope of this standard are:

• Fixed applications: telecom, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), electrical energy storage system, grid switching, emergency power and similar applications.
• Motive applications: forklift, golf cart, automated guided vehicle (AGV), railway vehicles and marine vehicles, excluding road vehicles.

Since this standard covers batteries for various industrial applications, it includes requirements that are common and minimum for various applications.

Electrical safety is only included as part of the risk analysis for item “Battery system safety (considering functional safety)”. In terms of the details of addressing electrical safety, the end-use application standard requirements need to be taken into account.

This standard applies to cells and batteries. If the cell is divided into smaller units, the smaller unit may be tested as representative of the cell. The manufacturer shall clearly state the unit under test. The manufacturer may add functions found in the final cell to the unit under test.

This standard addresses first-life cells and batteries. Reuse, repurposing, second-life use or similar is not considered by this standard.

Test methods defined within this standard include:

• Reasonably foreseeable abuse
  • External short circuit test (cell or cell block)
  • Impact test (cell or cell block)
  • Drop test (cell or cell block and battery system)
  • Thermal abuse testing (cell or cell block)
  • Overcharge test (cell or cell block)
  • Forced discharge test (cell or cell block)
• Considerations for internal short circuiting - Design consideration
  • Internal short circuit test (cell)
  • Spreading test (battery system)

The EN IEC 62619 standard is designed specifically for industrial applications, including:

• Energy storage systems: Large-scale batteries that store electricity, commonly used in renewable energy installations such as solar and wind energy systems.
• Electric vehicles: Industrial electric vehicles such as forklifts, electric trucks, and other heavy-duty machinery.
• Backup power systems: Batteries used in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to provide backup power during outages.

The main reason why this standard is so important is that it is focused on ensuring safety and reliability. The main focus of this standard is to ensure the safety and reliability of lithium batteries in industrial environments. The standard includes strict safety requirements to prevent problems such as overheating, fire, and electrical faults. This is crucial to protecting users, technicians, and equipment from potential hazards.

Additionally, this standard requires extensive testing procedures to verify battery safety and performance. These tests evaluate a variety of factors, including:

• Short circuit conditions
• Overcharge protection
• Thermal stability
• Mechanical shock and vibration resistance

These tests ensure that batteries can withstand harsh conditions and continue to operate safely and reliably.

This standard also requires clear documentation and marking for the safe handling, operation and maintenance of lithium-ion batteries. Proper labeling and documentation helps users understand how to handle and dispose of batteries safely, reduces the risk of accidents and ensures compliance with safety regulations.

While the primary focus of the EN IEC 62619 standard is safety and performance, it also encourages manufacturers and users to consider the environmental impact of lithium batteries. This includes following best practices for recycling and disposal in accordance with local regulations. By encouraging environmentally responsible practices, the standard helps reduce the ecological footprint of industrial battery use.

In short, this standard plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and reliability of lithium batteries used in industrial applications.

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also test services in accordance with the standard “EN IEC 62619 Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications”.