What is the IEC62133 Certification?

IEC 62133 is one of the most widely recognized international safety standards for rechargeable portable cells and batteries, especially lithium-ion and nickel-based systems used in consumer and industrial electronics. It defines how batteries must be designed and tested to ensure they operate safely in normal use and under reasonably foreseeable misuse, helping to prevent hazards such as overheating, fire, leakage or explosion.

Understanding IEC 62133 certification is essential for manufacturers, importers and product designers who integrate rechargeable batteries into devices like smartphones, laptops, power tools, medical equipment and IoT products. In this article, we will explain what IEC 62133 is, why this certification is so important for product safety and market access, outline its key testing procedures, clarify which products and battery types are covered, and answer the most common questions companies face when working with this standard.

Part 1. What is IEC62133?

IEC 62133 is a globally recognized safety standard for rechargeable portable cells and batteries, including lithium-ion batteries used in modern electronic devices. It defines design and test requirements to ensure that batteries operate safely in normal use and under reasonably foreseeable misuse, helping to reduce risks such as fire, leakage and explosion.

Under IEC 62133, batteries are subjected to a range of mechanical, electrical and environmental tests, including vibration, impact, external short circuit, overcharge, forced discharge and operation at extreme temperatures. Successfully meeting these requirements demonstrates that the battery’s construction, protection circuits and materials provide an adequate level of safety.

Manufacturers obtain IEC 62133 certification to prove to customers, regulators and certification bodies that their battery-powered products meet internationally accepted safety expectations. For many portable electronics, medical devices and industrial instruments, IEC 62133 compliance has become a key prerequisite for market access and for building trust in product safety and reliability.

Part 2. Why is IEC 62133 certification necessary?

IEC 62133 certification is important for the entire battery value chain – from manufacturers and OEMs to end users and regulators.

For battery manufacturers

• Demonstrates a commitment to safety and reliability by designing and building batteries in line with a respected international standard.
• Strengthens brand reputation and trust with OEM customers, test labs and end users.
• Facilitates global market access, as many CB Scheme and national approvals for battery-powered products are based on IEC 62133 test results.
• Reduces legal and commercial risk associated with safety incidents, recalls or non-compliance findings.

For consumers and device users

• Provides assurance that the battery has been evaluated against recognized safety requirements, not just internal factory tests.
• Reduces the risk of accidents such as fire, explosion, leakage or overheating in everyday use and foreseeable misuse.
• Increases confidence in the quality and consistency of electronic devices that rely on rechargeable batteries.

For regulatory bodies and certification organizations

• Supports public safety objectives by establishing clear minimum safety requirements for portable rechargeable cells and batteries.
• Simplifies regulatory compliance and enforcement through standardized test procedures and pass/fail criteria.
• Promotes international harmonization of battery safety requirements, making it easier to align national regulations with a common technical baseline.

Part 3. IEC 62133 technical specifications

IEC 62133 defines key safety-related requirements for the design and testing of portable sealed secondary cells and batteries. Important aspects include:

Electrical performance

• Voltage and capacity
  Cells and batteries must meet their declared voltage and capacity ratings within specified tolerances so that devices receive stable and adequate power.
• Charge and discharge characteristics
  Batteries are evaluated under controlled charge and discharge conditions to verify safe behavior, acceptable temperature rise and correct operation of any protective circuits.
• Cycle life behavior
  The standard considers how the battery behaves over multiple charge–discharge cycles, ensuring that performance remains within acceptable limits without creating safety risks as the battery ages.

Mechanical integrity

• Physical dimensions and construction
  Cells and batteries must meet dimensional and construction requirements so they can be safely integrated into equipment without undue mechanical stress or risk of damage.
• Resistance to handling and vibration
  Mechanical tests such as vibration and impact help confirm that normal handling, transport and installation do not cause internal damage, short circuits or loss of insulation.
• Terminal and connection integrity
  Terminals and connections must be robust enough to maintain reliable electrical contact, resist loosening and avoid accidental short circuits during intended use.

Safety considerations

• Protection against overcharge and incorrect charging
  Batteries must tolerate defined overcharge or incorrect charging conditions without leading to fire, explosion or dangerous leakage. Protection circuits and cell design are evaluated for effectiveness.
• Protection against external short circuit and forced discharge
  IEC 62133 includes tests for external short circuit and, for some chemistries, forced discharge. Batteries must withstand these scenarios without unacceptable temperature rise or violent failure.
• Thermal stability
  Batteries are evaluated over a range of temperatures to ensure safe behavior and to minimize the risk of thermal runaway under the specified test conditions.

Part 4. IEC 62133 testing procedures

IEC 62133 certification involves a structured test program carried out by accredited laboratories. Typical test groups include:

Mechanical tests

• Vibration and impact
  Cells or batteries are subjected to vibration and impact/shock tests to simulate transport and handling. The goal is to confirm that mechanical stresses do not lead to internal short circuits, leakage or structural failure.
• Drop or similar handling tests (where applicable)
  For certain formats, drop or similar tests can be used to represent accidental drops during normal use.

Electrical abuse tests

• External short circuit
  The battery is intentionally short-circuited under controlled conditions. It must not ignite, explode or leak in a hazardous way, and temperature rise must remain within defined limits.
• Overcharge and incorrect charging
  Cells and batteries are charged under conditions outside their normal specification to verify that they respond in a controlled manner and do not fail dangerously.
• Forced discharge (where applicable)
  Some chemistries are tested for forced discharge behavior to confirm that reverse charging or series pack imbalances do not result in unsafe conditions.

Thermal and environmental tests

• Operation at high and low temperatures
  Batteries are tested at elevated and reduced ambient temperatures to evaluate safe performance across the manufacturer’s specified operating range.
• Storage and environmental exposure
  Certain tests examine the effect of prolonged storage or environmental exposure (such as temperature cycling or humidity in some cases) on safety-related behavior.

Safety performance and capacity checks

• Verification of protective functions
  If the battery includes built-in protection devices or electronics (for example, PTCs, protection ICs, fuses), their operation is indirectly evaluated through the abuse tests to ensure they limit fault conditions as intended.
• Capacity and functional testing
  While IEC 62133 is primarily a safety standard and not a performance standard, capacity and discharge behavior are measured as part of confirming that tests are conducted under representative conditions and that results are meaningful.

Part 5. What battery types does IEC 62133 cover?

IEC 62133 is focused on portable sealed secondary cells and batteries with alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes used in portable equipment. In its current structure, it is split into:

• IEC 62133-1: Nickel systems (for example NiMH, NiCd)
• IEC 62133-2: Lithium systems (for example lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer)

Key battery types in scope include:

Lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries
These are widely used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, power tools, medical devices and many other portable products. IEC 62133-2 sets safety requirements for these lithium systems to reduce risks such as overheating, fire and venting.

Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and certain nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries
Nickel-based rechargeable batteries used in portable equipment such as tools, emergency lights, consumer devices and some professional instruments fall under IEC 62133-1. The standard specifies tests and requirements to ensure safe operation and handling.

Other portable sealed secondary alkaline systems
IEC 62133 may also apply to other sealed secondary alkaline systems used in portable applications, provided they meet the scope definition of the standard.

Batteries typically not covered
Lead-acid batteries and most primary (non-rechargeable) chemistries, such as standard alkaline primary cells, are outside the scope of IEC 62133. These are covered by other specific standards and regulations. For portable products using lead-acid or primary batteries, manufacturers should refer to the appropriate IEC, UL or regional standards that apply to those chemistries.

Part 6. FAQs

Is IEC 62133 mandatory?
IEC 62133 itself is not a law, but it is one of the most widely accepted safety standards for portable rechargeable batteries, especially lithium-ion and nickel-based systems. Many certification schemes, OEM customers and market approvals require compliance with IEC 62133 (or its CB Scheme equivalent), so in practice it often becomes a de facto requirement for global market access.

What is the difference between IEC 62133 and UN 38.3?
IEC 62133 is a product safety standard for portable secondary cells and batteries used inside devices. It focuses on safe operation in normal use and foreseeable misuse (short circuit, overcharge, mechanical abuse, temperature, etc.).
UN 38.3 is a transport safety requirement that defines test methods for lithium cells and batteries to ensure they can be shipped safely by air, sea, road and rail. In short:

• IEC 62133: “Is this battery safe to use in a device?”
• UN 38.3: “Is this battery safe to ship as cargo?”

What certificates are required for lithium-ion batteries?
The required certificates depend on the application and target markets, but commonly requested approvals include:

• UN 38.3 – mandatory for international transport of lithium cells and batteries.
• IEC 62133 (CB Scheme / national derivatives) – widely used for product safety in portable devices.
• UL 1642 / UL 2054 / UL 2271 / UL 1973, etc. – often required for North American markets, depending on whether the battery is a cell, pack, mobility pack or stationary application.
  Some applications (medical, IT, energy storage, EV, etc.) may also require additional product-specific standards.

What is the IEC standard for batteries?
The IEC publishes multiple standards for different battery types and applications. For portable rechargeable cells and batteries with alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes, IEC 62133 (parts 1 and 2) is one of the most important safety standards. Other IEC standards address primary batteries, performance testing, traction batteries, stationary batteries and more.

What are some common IEC battery standards?
Frequently referenced IEC battery-related standards include, for example:

• IEC 62133-1 / IEC 62133-2 – Safety of portable sealed secondary cells and batteries (nickel systems / lithium systems).
• IEC 60086 series – Primary batteries (general requirements and specific chemistries).
• IEC 61960 – Secondary lithium cells and batteries for portable applications (performance).
• IEC 61427 – Batteries for renewable energy storage (lead-acid and nickel-based).
• IEC 60896 / IEC 61056 / IEC 60254, etc. – Various standards for stationary, VRLA and traction batteries.

The exact standard to use depends on the chemistry, construction and application of the battery or battery system.