UN38.3 certification

Batteries, as per the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria, pose inherent risks during use and transport. For batteries to be transported by air, a UN38.3 test report is required. UN38.3 is a battery safety performance test report, applicable during air transport and normal daily use and storage. UN38.3 testing (battery safety performance testing) has become a mandatory test report for transporting lithium batteries. We conduct comprehensive safety performance tests on various battery models according to domestic and international standards, ensuring product quality and safety for battery manufacturers, meeting various standards, and improving export earnings.

Currently, NTEK (Beijing Testing & Certification Center) offers UN38.3 testing in strict accordance with the requirements of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria. NTEK's UN38.3 Certification Center provides fast, affordable, and high-quality UN38.3 testing and authoritative, qualified, and professional UN38.3 test reports for battery manufacturers.

What is UN38.3?

UN38.3 is Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, often abbreviated as UN38.3.

UN38.3 Certification Requirements

UN38.3 refers to Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, which mandates that lithium batteries must pass altitude simulation, high and low temperature cycling, vibration testing, shock testing, 55°C external short circuit testing, impact testing, overcharge testing, and forced discharge testing before being transported to ensure safe transport. If the lithium batteries are not installed with the equipment, and each package contains more than 24 battery cells or 12 batteries, a 1.2-meter free-fall test is also required.

Why apply for UN38.3?

Because lithium batteries in mobile phones, laptops, and other devices pose certain risks during transport, Air China Cargo has published operational guidelines for transporting rechargeable lithium batteries as non-dangerous goods. These guidelines clearly state that each type of primary battery and secondary battery must be tested and proven to comply with Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, i.e., UN38.3.

UN38.3 Certification Product Scope

1. Various lead-acid batteries (e.g., automotive starting lead-acid batteries, stationary lead-acid batteries, small valve-regulated sealed lead-acid batteries, etc.);

2. Various power secondary batteries (e.g., batteries for electric vehicles, electric road vehicles, power tools, hybrid vehicles, etc.);

3. Various mobile phone batteries (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, etc.);

4. Various small secondary batteries (e.g., laptop batteries, digital camera batteries, camcorder batteries, various cylindrical batteries, wireless communication batteries, portable DVD batteries, CD and MP3 player batteries, etc.);

5. Various primary batteries (e.g., alkaline zinc-manganese batteries, lithium-manganese batteries, etc.).

UN38.3 Test Items

T.1 Altitude Simulation Test: Under conditions of pressure ≤11.6kPa and temperature 20±5℃, after storage for more than 6 hours, there should be no leakage, venting, disintegration, rupture, or combustion.

T.2 Thermal Test: High and low temperature shock tests are conducted at 72±2℃ and -40±2℃. Storage time at the extreme temperatures must be ≥6 hours, and the high/low temperature transition time ≤30 minutes. Ten shock cycles are performed, followed by 24 hours at room temperature (20±5℃). The total test duration is at least one week.

T.3 Vibration Test: One reciprocating logarithmic frequency sweep sinusoidal vibration is completed from 7Hz to 200Hz within 15 minutes, and 12 vibrations in three directions are completed within 3 hours.

The logarithmic frequency sweep is as follows: Starting from 7Hz, maintain a maximum acceleration of 1gn until the frequency reaches 18Hz. Then, maintain the amplitude at 0.8 mm (total offset 1.6 mm) and increase the frequency until the maximum acceleration reaches 8gn (frequency approximately 50Hz). Maintain the maximum acceleration at 8gn until the frequency increases to 200Hz.

T.4 Impact Test: 150g, 6ms or 50g, 11ms half-sine impact, 3 times in each installation direction, for a total of 18 times;

T.5 External Short Circuit Test: Short circuit at 55±2℃ and external resistance <0.1Ω, short circuit duration lasting until 1 hour after the battery temperature returns to 55±2℃.

T.6 Collision Test: A 9.1kg weight is dropped from a height of 61±2.5cm onto a battery with a 15.8mm round rod, and the battery surface temperature is measured.

T.7 Overcharge Test: The battery is overcharged for 24 hours at twice the maximum continuous charging current and twice the maximum charging voltage.

T.8 Forced Discharge Test: The battery is connected in series with a 12V DC power supply and forced to discharge at the maximum discharge current.

Criteria for Passing the Tests:

(a) No disintegration or fire occurred during tests T.1 to T.6.

(b) In tests T.1, T.2, and T.5, the effluent is not a toxic, flammable, or corrosive substance.

1> No venting or leakage is visually observed.

2> No venting or leakage occurs that results in a weight loss exceeding that shown in Table 38.3.4.7.1.

(c) In tests T.3 and T.6, the effluent is not a toxic or corrosive substance.

1> No venting or leakage is visually observed.

2> No venting or leakage occurs that results in a weight loss exceeding that shown in Table 38.3.4.7.1.

Steps for applying for UN38.3 at North Surveying and Mapping Center:

Step 1: Application

1. Determine Customer Information

A. From which city will the customer's products be exported by air?

B. Is the customer's product shipped alone or as part of a package with other products?

2. Complete the UN38.3 application form

3. Provide the battery specification sheet

4. Provide 30 samples

Step Two: Quotation

Determine the testing time and corresponding fees based on the provided information.

Step Three: Payment

After confirming the quotation, the applicant signs the application form and service agreement and pays the full project fee.

Step Four: Testing

The laboratory conducts a full set of tests on the applied product according to relevant testing standards.

Step Five: Tests passed, report completed

Step Six: Project completed, DGM certificate issued

UN38.3 New Version (Rev.5) Release and Content Introduction

The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria (Rev.5) was released on December 31, 2009, replacing the current version Rev.4-2003. According to relevant reports, some national and regional transportation regulatory authorities have already begun using the new version, while others will implement it on January 1, 2011. In the new version of the *Test and Standards Manual*, Section 38.3, concerning the testing requirements for lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries, has undergone significant changes.

Changes

Compared to the original version of UN38.3, Rev.4-2003, the main changes in the new version are as follows:

1. Significant changes in the definitions of large batteries and cells:

Rev.4 defined a large battery as a battery with a total anode lithium content greater than 500g when fully charged. A large cell was defined as a cell with an anode lithium content or lithium equivalent content greater than 12g when fully charged.

The new version, Rev.5, defines a large battery as a lithium metal or lithium-ion battery with a total weight greater than 12kg. A large cell is defined as: for lithium metal cells, a cell with an anode lithium content greater than 12g when fully charged; for lithium-ion cells, a cell with a rated watt-hours greater than 150Wh. 2. The definition of lithium equivalent content in the new version (Rev.5) has been removed. For lithium-ion batteries and cells, rated watt-hours are now used instead, defined as the product of the battery's (cell's) rated capacity and rated voltage.

3. Compared to Rev.4, the test items, methods, and judgment criteria in Rev.5 remain unchanged. However, the required number and condition of batteries or cells for each test item have changed significantly, as shown in the table below.

Although the new version has made significant changes to the number of test samples and battery conditions, the test scheme and methods remain unchanged, and the main test procedures are also the same. Therefore, the implementation of the new version will not result in a significant change in the test cycle.

Currently, IATA (International Air Transport Association) DGR (Distribution Regulation) version 54 stipulates that the prerequisite for the air transport of lithium batteries is compliance with the testing requirements of UN38.3, but the DGR does not specify a version of UN38.3. In China, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) formulated the "MH/T 1020-2009 Specification for Air Transport of Lithium Batteries" in March 2009. Although it referenced UN38.3 version Rev.4, it only stated that it referenced that version and did not specify the required UN38.3 version in the detailed specification description. EBO contacted relevant personnel from the CAAC's Transportation Department and Aviation Safety Technology Center to discuss when the new version of UN38.3 would be adopted. CAAC officials indicated that, provided the new version is released, testing and evaluation would be prioritized according to the new version.