When preparing to export lithium battery products to global markets by air or sea, you will inevitably encounter a critical certification requirement: UN38.3. Behind this seemingly simple code lies an international standard system ensuring the safety of lithium batteries during global transportation.

Understanding and complying with the UN38.3 standard has become an essential prerequisite for lithium battery manufacturers, exporters, and logistics service providers to enter the international market.

UN38.3 Standard: Definition & Origin

UN38.3 refers to the mandatory testing standard for lithium battery transportation safety specified in the United Nations’ Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Manual of Tests and Criteria. The "UN" in the standard number stands for the United Nations, and "38.3" specifically refers to Section 38.3 of the manual, which stipulates a series of safety tests that lithium batteries and battery packs must pass before transportation.

This standard was developed in response to the global increase in lithium battery transportation accidents, with the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods formulating this international norm to unify national safety requirements for lithium battery transportation.

Core Composition & Test Items of the UN38.3 Standard

The UN38.3 standard consists of 8 rigorous tests that fully simulate various extreme conditions lithium batteries may encounter during transportation, ensuring their safety under these circumstances:

T.1 Altitude Simulation Test

Simulates the low-pressure environment of air transport to verify battery safety at an altitude equivalent to 15,000 meters (approximately 11.6kPa).

T.2 Thermal Test

Evaluates battery thermal stability through extreme temperature changes. The test requires batteries to be alternately exposed to 75°C and -40°C environments, simulating severe temperature fluctuations during transportation.

T.3 Vibration Test

Simulates continuous vibration during transportation using a logarithmic sweep vibration from 7Hz to 200Hz within 15 minutes, lasting 3 hours, to test the structural integrity of batteries.

T.4 Shock Test

Simulates sudden impact or collision during transportation using a 150g, 6ms half-sine shock pulse to verify battery safety under mechanical impact.

T.5 External Short Circuit Test

Short-circuits the positive and negative poles of the battery at 55°C±2°C to test the thermal stability and safety of the battery under external short-circuit conditions.

T.6 Impact/Crush Test

Drops a specific weight from a designated height to simulate battery impact or crushing by heavy objects, evaluating its mechanical strength and safety protection capabilities.

T.7 Overcharge Test

Overcharges the battery at twice the maximum continuous charging current for 24 hours to test the battery’s overcharge protection function.

T.8 Forced Discharge Test

Forces the battery to discharge through a series DC power supply to evaluate its safety under forced discharge conditions.

Application Scope & Importance of the UN38.3 Standard

Mandatory Requirement for Air Transport

According to the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), all lithium batteries must be accompanied by a UN38.3 test report before air transportation. This is a basic prerequisite for global airlines and freight forwarders to accept lithium battery shipments.

Foundational Certification for Multimodal Transport

While UN38.3 primarily targets air transport safety, its test results are widely accepted for sea, land, and other transportation modes. The United Nations’ Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods stipulate that lithium batteries must meet UN38.3 safety requirements for all transportation methods.

Universal Foundation for Market Access

Major countries and regions worldwide have formulated their own lithium battery transportation regulations based on the UN38.3 standard. Passing UN38.3 certification provides basic safety certification for products to enter markets in the EU, North America, Asia, and beyond.

Guarantee for Supply Chain Safety

Lithium batteries may face various environmental stresses at every stage of the supply chain. UN38.3 testing ensures products can withstand these challenges and reduces safety risks in the supply chain.

Process to Obtain a UN38.3 Test Report

1. Sample Preparation & Submission

Manufacturers must provide battery samples representative of mass production and necessary technical documentation.

2. Laboratory Testing

Samples are sent to a laboratory qualified for UN38.3 testing to complete all 8 tests in accordance with standard requirements.

3. Report Compilation

Upon passing the tests, the laboratory issues an official UN38.3 test report and summary, including detailed test data and conclusions.

4. Transportation Preparation

Based on the test report, manufacturers can prepare packaging and documents meeting transportation requirements to ensure compliant shipping.

Value of Professional Testing Institutions

As a professional testing institution with multiple internationally recognized qualifications (CNAS L13753, CMA (202019014977), CBTL, etc.), we provide comprehensive UN38.3 testing services for lithium battery enterprises:

Pre-Test Evaluation Service

Before formal testing, our engineering team evaluates product design, identifies potential risks, and provides improvement suggestions to improve the one-time pass rate of formal testing.

Integrated Multi-Standard Testing

We can combine UN38.3 testing with other safety standard tests (e.g., IEC 62133, UL 1642), meeting multiple certification requirements with a single test to significantly reduce enterprise testing costs and time.

Global Market Access Support

Our test reports and certification services are widely recognized by major global markets and transportation agencies, helping enterprises’ products quickly enter international markets.

Continuous Technical Support

We provide full-process technical support from product design to final certification, ensuring enterprises’ products continuously comply with the latest standard requirements.

Our Service Advantages

Professional Qualification Guarantee

We hold comprehensive internationally recognized qualifications, and our test results have high credibility worldwide.

Rich Project Experience

We have provided UN38.3 testing services for lithium battery products in numerous fields such as consumer electronics, new energy vehicles, and energy storage systems, accumulating extensive project experience.

Efficient Service Process

Our optimized testing process and project management system can shorten the standard testing cycle to 2–3 weeks, helping enterprises’ products launch quickly.

Technical Team Support

Our engineering team is well-versed in lithium battery technology and safety standards, providing enterprises with professional technical guidance and problem-solving solutions.

As a globally accepted standard for the safe transportation of lithium batteries, UN38.3 has become an indispensable pass for lithium battery products to enter the international market. With the continuous tightening of global lithium battery safety requirements, complying with UN38.3 is not only a regulatory requirement but also an important reflection of enterprises’ commitment to product safety and quality.

Choosing an experienced professional testing institution ensures an efficient and smooth testing process, providing reliable support for enterprises’ international market expansion.

If you have any questions about the UN38.3 standard or need related testing services, please feel free to contact Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd.! Our professional team will provide you with detailed technical consulting and personalized testing solutions to escort your lithium battery products to safely access global markets.