Many regulatory bodies and government departments require lithium batteries to be certified to UN38.3 before being transported. This is because of the impact that temperature and other conditions can have on the stability of lithium batteries, so it’s crucial that batteries are certified. We explain UN38.3 in detail below.
What is UN38.3?
UN38.3 is the United Nations standard that lithium batteries must meet if they are to be certified as safe to transport. While lithium batteries have safeguards built into withstand the environmental and physical hazards they may encounter during transportation, UN38.3 acts as a rubber stamp and shows that batteries are safe to move from one location to another. Many regulatory bodies – including the US Department of Transportation – require lithium batteries to be UN38.3 certified before shipping.
As you might imagine, the testing process for UN38.3 certification is rigorous. To be deemed safe, the test must be performed by an approved independent lab. At the end of the test, the batteries must show no signs of leak, rupture, or fire hazard. In fact, there are several tests performed as part of the UN38.3 certification process, as we explain below.
The UN38.3 Tests
- Altitude simulation – low-pressure testing simulates unpressurised airplane cargo space at a height of 15,000 metres.
- Thermal testing – during exposure to extreme temperatures, the lab checks if a battery and its cell remain sealed.
- Vibration testing – This test simulates the vibrations that batteries experience during transportation and ascertains a battery’s ability to withstand shock.
- External short circuit – Here, the test checks if a battery can withstand prolonged external short circuit conditions.
- Impact & crush – During transport, batteries may suffer mechanical abuse that could create an internal short circuit, which is why this test is important.
- Overcharge – Finally, a test is conducted to evaluate the battery’s ability to withstand overcharge conditions.
Why is the UN38.3 certificate important?
UN83.3 certification is important because it ensures all lithium batteries that are transported are safe. Lithium can be affected by things like altitude, high and low pressure, and other environmental considerations that are at play during transportation. If batteries aren’t tested before leaving the warehouse, they could become damaged in transit.
The requirement to check the safety of batteries lies with the seller, but not every company adheres to the regulation. At AceOn we recognise the importance of safety when it comes to producing and transporting lithium batteries and we work with a partner that specialises in UN83.3 certification.
To find out more about our testing process, feel free to contact our Telford office on 01952 293 388 and we’d be delighted to answer any questions that you have.
