Guidance on standard compliance and report application for manufacturers of stationary electronic equipment, UPS/EPS and fire emergency power supplies.

Conclusion First

GB 40165-2021 Safety Technical Specification for Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Used in Stationary Electronic Equipment is China’s first mandatory national standard for lithium-ion batteries for stationary applications. It was released on April 30, 2021 and came into force on May 1, 2022, and remains valid. It applies to lithium batteries for stationary IT, audio-video, communication technology, measurement, control and laboratory electronic equipment, and explicitly covers batteries for UPS and EPS. The test report evaluates both cell and battery pack levels, covering electrical safety, environmental safety and battery pack system functional safety. If documents and samples are fully prepared, the whole process from project opening to report issuance generally takes 4 to 8 weeks, subject to the formal written test plan.

1. What is GB 40165 and which products require the test report

GB 40165-2021 was issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China, under the technical administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with China Electronics Standardization Institute as the primary drafting organization. As a mandatory national standard, it specifies safety requirements and test methods for electrical safety, environmental safety and system functional safety of lithium-ion cells and battery packs for stationary electronic equipment.

Quick judgement rule Batteries installed in fixed, non-portable electronic equipment generally fall under GB 40165; batteries for portable electronic products follow GB 31241; batteries for power energy storage power stations are normally assessed per GB/T 36276. The applicable standard shall be determined by the end application and purchaser requirements.

Applicable Products

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Not applicable or assessed under other standards

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Standard Revision Update

According to the National Standards Information Public Service Platform, the revision project of GB 40165 has been approved, with the proposed title Safety Technical Specification for Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Used in Stationary Power Supplies and Similar Systems. It is currently in the drafting phase. Any adjustment to the scope shall be subject to the official released version.

2. Test items covered in GB 40165 report

Testing is performed separately at cell level and battery pack level; test results of one level cannot replace the other. The exact test items and acceptance criteria shall follow the official standard text.

Cell level

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Battery pack level

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Important note: A cell test report cannot substitute battery pack testing. Protection functions and system functional safety requirements must be verified at battery pack level. Purchasers will normally check the test level and standard version; mismatched reports will not be accepted for bidding or delivery.

3. Application workflow, lead time & preparation

1. Confirm standard applicability: Verify the end application is stationary, define cell and battery pack test scope
2. Gap analysis: If existing GB 31241, IEC 62133-2 or other reports are available, compare test items to identify supplementary tests and avoid full retest
3. Prepare documents and samples: Technical specs, BMS protection logic, structural drawings, BOM, marking documents, and production-representative samples
4. Test execution: Cell test first, then battery pack test. Items involving system functional safety usually take longer, priority scheduling is recommended
5. Report issuance: Report compiled and reviewed upon passing; re-test required for non-conformities after design adjustment

Standard Lead Time

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The above is for reference only, subject to the signed written test plan. Product complexity, sample status and lab schedule will affect actual turnaround. For fixed bidding or grid connection deadlines, arrange testing at the product design validation stage.

Document Checklist

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4. Two common pitfalls

• Wrong standard matching: Using GB 31241 reports for stationary batteries or GB 40165 reports for portable batteries will result in invalid reports for bidding and delivery. Confirm the application scenario before submission.
• Incomplete BMS documentation: GB 40165 includes system functional safety requirements for battery packs. Missing protection logic and fault response documents will delay scheduling. Prepare BMS files together with hardware documents.

FAQ

Do stationary lithium batteries need CCC certification?

Under the current mandatory product certification catalogue (category 0915 lithium-ion cells and batteries), CCC certification applies only to lithium-ion batteries for portable electronic products. Stationary lithium batteries are not listed in the catalogue for now. However, GB 40165-2021 is a mandatory national standard. Reports are mainly required for market supervision spot checks, bidding and customer compliance verification. Always refer to the latest catalogue released by SAMR.

What is the difference between GB 40165 and GB 31241?

They are divided by application scenario. GB 31241-2022 applies to lithium-ion batteries for portable electronic products. GB 40165-2021 applies to lithium-ion batteries for stationary electronic equipment including stationary IT, AV, communication, measurement and lab equipment, and explicitly covers UPS and EPS batteries. The standard is determined by end use and purchaser requirements.

Does GB 40165 apply to lithium batteries for UPS and EPS?

Yes. The standard explicitly covers lithium-ion cells and batteries for uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and emergency power supplies (EPS). Centralized fire emergency lighting power supplies with lithium batteries are generally assessed against GB 40165 in the industry. Final acceptance rules depend on the purchaser and relevant industry specifications.

What documents are needed for GB 40165 testing?

Generally: cell & battery pack specifications, BMS protection logic description, structural and insulation drawings, BOM and component certificates, nameplate and warning label drafts. Samples must be identical to mass production units, quantity confirmed in the test plan. Incomplete documents will delay project scheduling.

Will GB 40165 be updated? Are existing reports still valid?

The revision project is approved and under drafting, with the proposed new title for stationary power supplies and similar systems. Validity of existing reports depends on requirements from purchasers, regulators or certification bodies. Confirm acceptance with the report recipient before compliance submission.