Battery Compliance Certification

Battery compliance is the whole set of safety, transport and legislative requirements applied to the cell, module and pack. In automotive, UNECE R100 Part II and the IEC/ISO battery standards are decisive; in transport, UN 38.3; and in the EU market, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, the Batteries Regulation. The Batteries Regulation brings new obligations such as a carbon-footprint declaration, recycled content, durability, and the digital battery passport.

• Cell, module and battery-pack manufacturers
• Electric-vehicle and light-electric-vehicle manufacturers
• Energy storage system (ESS) manufacturers
• Battery importers and those placing batteries on the EU market
• Logistics firms transporting batteries

Mandatory according to scope. UN 38.3 is mandatory without exception for lithium batteries to be transported — transport by air, sea or land cannot take place without this test. In the EU market, the Batteries Regulation's requirements are being phased in and are assessed under the CE mark. For automotive batteries, the R100 requirements also apply under the type-approval framework.

• UN 38.3 transport tests: T1 altitude simulation, T2 thermal test, T3 vibration, T4 shock, T5 external short circuit, T6 impact/crush, T7 overcharge, T8 forced discharge
• UNECE R100 Part II: vibration, thermal shock and cycling, mechanical shock, fire exposure, external short circuit, overcharge and over-discharge, over-temperature protection
• The IEC 62660 and ISO 12405 series: performance and safety tests
• Assessment of thermal-event propagation
• Battery management system functional safety (the link to ISO 26262)
• The EU Batteries Regulation: carbon-footprint declaration, recycled-content ratios, durability and performance requirements
• The digital battery passport and labelling obligations
• Due-diligence obligations: raw-material sourcing
• Producer responsibility, and collection and recycling targets

1. 1Application and Product DescriptionThe product family, model list, technical specifications and target market are determined. The applicable standard and certification route become clear at this step.
2. 2Technical File ReviewDesign documents, the bill of materials, critical-component certificates and the instructions for use are examined.
3. 3Product TestingThe tests the relevant standard requires are carried out. The test report is the fundamental basis for the certification decision.
4. 4Factory AuditIf the scheme requires it, the continuity of manufacturing and factory production control (FPC) are verified on site.
5. 5Issuing the Certificate and MarkingOnce conformity is verified, the certificate is issued; the marking rules for the product and packaging are applied.
6. 6Follow-up AuditsDepending on the scheme, periodic factory audits and/or follow-up testing on samples taken from the market are carried out.

The validity period varies by scheme: some product certificates are indefinite and rely on periodic factory audits, while some schemes (e.g. country market marks) require annual or per-shipment renewal. Every design change to the product requires the certificate to be reviewed.

• The list of product models and variants
• Technical drawings, diagrams and the bill of materials
• Certificates for critical components
• The instructions for use and a sample label
• Existing test reports, if any
• Production-site details

There is no fixed list price; the cost is calculated based on the following variables and provided in writing in the quote.

• The number of models and variants in the product family
• The test scope the applicable standard requires
• Whether a factory audit is required
• The number of target markets and whether each requires separate testing
• Whether existing test reports can be accepted

Product certification is carried out under ISO/IEC 17065; The tests that form the basis for certification are carried out in laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The two scopes are separate. Recognition between accreditation bodies is provided through IAF and ILAC agreements.

The scope under which this scheme can be offered varies according to your product and activity; it is confirmed in writing at the quote stage.

• UNECEVehicle Type Approval
• E-MarkVehicle Homologation
• CoPConformity of Production
• EV ComplianceElectric Vehicle Compliance
• IATF 16949Automotive Quality Management
• VDA 6.1Automotive Quality Management System Audit
• VDA 6.3Process Audit
• VDA 6.5Product Audit