1. What is the CB Scheme? One Certificate for Global Market Access

The IECEE CB Scheme is an international certification mutual recognition system operated by the International Electrotechnical Commission for Conformity Testing and Certification of Electrical Equipment (IECEE). Its core principle is one test, multiple country recognition.

Products only need to complete testing and obtain a CB Test Certificate at one IECEE accredited CB laboratory. The certificate can be directly converted into national certifications among more than 40 member countries worldwide without repeated testing, greatly cutting certification costs and lead time.

For portable energy storage power station exporters, CB certification acts as a universal global market passport. Especially for European, North American and Asian mainstream markets, a CB certificate based on IEC 62619:2022 can be quickly converted into CE, UL, KC and other local certifications.

2. IEC 62619:2022 — Core Standard for Portable Energy Storage CB Certification

2.1 Standard Overview

IEC 62619:2022 full name:Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes — Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for industrial applications.

Issued by the IEC, this standard specially specifies safety requirements for industrial lithium-ion cells and battery packs.

Applicable Energy Storage Products

• Outdoor portable energy storage power stations (camping, emergency backup, outdoor operation)
• Household, commercial and industrial energy storage battery systems
• Lithium-ion battery packs for UPS uninterruptible power supplies
• Other industrial-grade lithium-ion cells and battery packs

2.2 Six Core Test Items

IEC 62619:2022 defines systematic safety testing procedures:

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Besides above tests, manufacturers must provide complete BMS battery management system functional documentation to verify logical design of overvoltage, overcurrent and overtemperature protection.

3. Advantages of CB Certificate Conversion: One Certificate Enables Global Layout

3.1 Avoid Repeated Testing & Shorten Lead Time

In traditional certification mode, exporting to multiple countries requires separate CE, UL, KC applications with independent sampling and testing each time.

The CB Scheme adopts unified IEC international standards. After obtaining a CB certificate, country conversion only needs supplementary national difference tests, bringing obvious benefits:

• Cost saving: Reduce duplicate testing costs by 30%–50%
• Certification cycle: Conversion only takes 2–4 weeks, much faster than new application
• Sample saving: No need to prepare multiple batches of test samples

3.2 CB Scheme Member Countries Coverage

Covers over 50 countries and regions globally:

• Europe: Germany, France, Italy, UK, Netherlands, Sweden (CB + difference test for CE conversion)
• Americas: USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil (CB + difference test for UL/CSA conversion)
• Asia: Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
• Africa: South Africa

For export-oriented portable energy storage manufacturers, CB certification is the most cost-effective solution to enter above markets.

4. CB Certification Process for Portable Energy Storage Power Station

Four main stages:

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The whole process normally takes 6–10 weeks, depending on product complexity, rectification situation and laboratory schedule. Early standard communication at R&D stage is recommended to avoid repeated testing caused by design changes.

5. Value of Professional Testing Institution

Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology

Choosing a qualified and experienced third-party lab is critical for smooth CB certification. Professional advantages:

• IECEE (TL777) accredited laboratory qualification; test reports directly accepted for CB application
• Full IEC 62619:2022 test capability covering short circuit, overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent, thermal abuse, vibration and shock
• One-stop CB conversion consulting for KC, SAA, SII and other national certifications
• Rich experience in portable energy storage structure characteristics, BMS logic and global market regulations

Focusing on compliance, we help energy storage enterprises obtain global market access with lower cost and shorter cycle.

6. FAQ

Q1: Difference between CB and CE? Is both mandatory for Europe export?A1: CB is an IEC-based test certificate, not a market access mark. CE is mandatory EU market access marking. Portable energy storage products sold in EU must comply with LVD, EMC and other directives. A valid IEC 62619:2022 CB certificate simplifies CE testing, while final CE Declaration of Conformity and CE marking are still required.

Q2: What are major updates from IEC 62619:2017 to 2022 version?A2: The 2022 version adds overcurrent protection requirements, strengthens BMS functional verification, upgrades mechanical vibration/shock judgment criteria, and refines thermal runaway propagation assessment guidance. Old 2017 CB certificates may need supplementary testing for certain countries.

Q3: Validity period of CB certificate & renewal rulesA3: CB certificate has no fixed expiry date; validity depends on standard version. Once IEC 62619 is revised, member countries may require supplementary tests or certificate renewal. Substantial product changes (cell model, BMS solution) will also invalidate the original CB certificate.

Q4: Can CB replace UL certification for USA export?A4: Cannot directly replace. CB follows IEC standards while UL adopts US local standards with different test rules. However, CB test reports can be used as technical reference to exempt or simplify partial UL items. It is recommended to adopt CB + UL difference testing for cost optimization.

Q5: Is UN38.3 mandatory together with CB certification?A5: Yes. CB (IEC 62619) focuses on in-service product safety for destination market use; UN38.3 is transportation safety certification for cross-border shipment. Portable energy storage exporters generally need both: CB + converted national certifications plus UN38.3 transport test. The two systems are complementary and can be processed simultaneously.

7. Summary & Suggestions

For portable energy storage power station global export, CB certification based on IEC 62619:2022 is the most efficient solution. One CB certificate covers over 50 member countries and can be quickly converted into CE, UL, KC and other local approvals, effectively avoiding redundant testing.

Key recommendations for enterprises:

• Communicate with testing institute during R&D phase to ensure BMS design complies with IEC 62619:2022
• Arrange UN38.3 transport safety testing in parallel to avoid shipment delays
• Track IEC standard updates and evaluate impact on existing certificates timely
• Select IECEE accredited labs with professional energy storage experience to improve one-pass certification rate