For energy storage battery manufacturers, brands, and exporters, global market access compliance has evolved from a “technical threshold” to a business lifeline. Countries and regions enforce complex, constantly updated mandatory requirements for safety, environmental protection, and transportation. Mastering these certifications efficiently is the first step to successful global expansion and avoiding severe financial losses.

01 Why Energy Storage Battery Certification Is Critical

Energy storage batteries feature high energy density, large capacity, and high voltage. Along with their benefits come risks of overheating, fire, and explosion. Regulators worldwide impose stricter controls than for consumer batteries.

• International Transport:UN38.3 (UN Manual of Tests and Criteria) is mandatory for all lithium batteries shipped by air, sea, or land. Carriers can refuse non-certified batteries.

• EU Market:The EU New Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 took effect in August 2024, setting the world’s strictest rules for carbon footprint and battery passports.From 2026, industrial batteries >2kWh require a unique digital battery passport with chemistry, manufacturing, and carbon footprint data.

• US Market:UL certifications have become the de facto safety standard. New York, Chicago, and other states enforce “no UL = no sale,” with increased penalties in 2026.

• China Market:New CCC rules take effect on August 15, 2025, using a model of:Type Test + Initial Factory Inspection + Post‑Certification Supervision.

02 Global Energy Storage Certification Overview

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03 Deep Dive: IEC 62619 – Global Core Standard

IEC 62619: Secondary cells and batteries for industrial applications – Safety requirementsThe most widely adopted international safety standard for energy storage batteries.

Scope

• Stationary storage: telecom, home/C&I storage, UPS, grid storage
• Industrial power: forklifts, AGVs, rail vehicles, off‑highway vehicles

Core Test Categories

• Electrical Safety: overcharge, over-discharge, external short circuit, abnormal charge
• Mechanical Safety: shock, vibration, crush, drop
• Environmental Safety: thermal abuse, temperature cycling, low pressure
• System Safety: thermal propagation test, BMS functional safety (the most challenging part)

IEC 62133 vs IEC 62619

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04 EU Market Access: EN IEC 62619 + New Battery Regulation

Full EU compliance requires:

• EN IEC 62619: core safety for CE marking
• UN38.3: mandatory transport certification
• CE (LVD + EMC): low voltage & EMC compliance
• RoHS / REACH: hazardous substance restrictions
• New Battery Regulation:
  • Carbon footprint declaration
  • Digital battery passport (for >2kWh batteries)
  • Recycled content documentation

Germany Special Requirement:Grid-connected storage needs VDE-AR-E 2510-50 for grid connection approval.

05 North America: UL 1973 + UL 9540A

• UL 1973: Safety standard for stationary energy storage systems (cell, pack, and system level).
• UL 9540A: Thermal runaway propagation test – one of the strictest in North America.Triggers thermal runaway in one cell and verifies no fire/explosion spreads.

California SB 1215 (from 1 Jan 2026):Recycling fees for embedded batteries (including some storage products).

06 Transport Safety: UN38.3

8 Mandatory Tests

1. T1 – Altitude simulation
2. T2 – Temperature cycling
3. T3 – Vibration
4. T4 – Shock
5. T5 – External short circuit
6. T6 – Crush
7. T7 – Overcharge
8. T8 – Forced discharge

2026 Key Change

From 1 Jan 2026:All air-shipped lithium batteries (including packed with equipment) must have SoC ≤ 30%.

07 Efficient Certification Process (IEC 62619 Example)

1. PreparationDefine scope → prepare specs, schematics, BOM, BMS diagrams → provide samples.
2. Testing & EvaluationFull compliance test → data analysis → correction & retest if needed.
3. Report & CertificationIssue CNAS/ILAC test report → support global certification conversion.

08 Cost & Timeline Reference

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Suggestion: Reserve 3–6 months for full certification.

09 FAQ

Q: Difference between IEC 62619 and IEC 62133?

A: IEC 62133 is for small portable batteries. IEC 62619 is for high‑energy industrial/storage systems, with much stricter system and thermal propagation requirements.

Q: Can CB certification simplify global approval?

A: Yes. CB covers 54 countries. You can convert CB to CE, UL, PSE, KC, etc., saving 30–50% cost and time.

Q: What else is needed for EU export besides IEC 62619?

A: UN38.3, CE (LVD+EMC), RoHS, REACH, carbon footprint, battery passport (>2kWh), and VDE for German grid projects.

Q: Are certificates permanent?

A: No. Most require annual surveillance.CCC: 5 years; UL: ~3 years; KC: 5 years + annual factory audit.

Q: Can one certificate cover multiple models?

A: Yes, if they form a family: same critical design, cell, BMS, and circuit. Only non‑safety features (appearance, capacity range) differ.

Conclusion

Global safety and environmental standards for energy storage batteries are becoming stricter. Compliance is no longer optional — it is the foundation of market access, brand trust, and user safety.

Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd.holds top international accreditations: CNAS, CMA, IECEE CBTL.We provide:

• Standard interpretation
• Pre-test evaluation
• Formal testing
• One-stop global certification conversion

We help you achieve high first‑pass rates, shorten lead times, and optimize compliance costs.

Contact us for a custom certification plan and quotation based on your product and target markets.