IEC 62619:2022

Overview

IEC 62619:2022 - "Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non‑acid electrolytes - Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries, for use in industrial applications" - is an IEC International Standard that specifies requirements and type tests to ensure the safe operation of secondary lithium cells and batteries in industrial and stationary applications. It covers cells, modules, battery packs and battery systems used in telecom, UPS, electrical energy storage systems (ESS), utility switching, emergency power and motive applications such as forklifts, AGVs, railway and marine vehicles (road vehicles are covered by other standards such as the IEC 62660 series).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Type testing and sample sizes: Defines test regimes and sample sizes for type approval and verification.
• Reasonably foreseeable misuse tests: External short‑circuit, impact, drop, thermal abuse, overcharge and forced discharge tests to evaluate abuse tolerance.
• Internal short‑circuit and propagation: Design evaluation for internal short circuits and propagation tests (including a new laser‑irradiation procedure) to assess thermal runaway spread within battery systems.
• Battery system safety and BMS: Requirements for Battery Management Systems (BMS) including overcharge control (voltage/current), overheating control, and system lock functions.
• Design and mechanical safety: Requirements for assembly, insulation, wiring, venting, moving parts, hazardous live parts and overall battery system design.
• Operating region and charging/discharging limits: Guidance (normative Annex A) on safe operating regions, charging temperatures and voltages for cells and packs.
• EMC, marking, packaging and transport: Electromagnetic compatibility requirements plus information for safety, marking, and transport and packaging guidance (Annex D).
• Quality and documentation: Requirements for quality plans and safety information to accompany products.

Practical applications - who uses this standard

• Battery manufacturers and cell designers - for product design, type testing and safety validation.
• Battery pack integrators and system OEMs - to ensure battery systems meet industrial safety and BMS requirements.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform standardized abuse and propagation tests.
• System integrators and facility owners (telecom, data centers, ESS operators, material handling fleets) - for procurement specifications and compliance checks.
• Safety and compliance engineers - to prepare safety cases, risk assessments and documentation for regulatory or quality systems.

Related standards

• IEC 62660 series (road vehicles) - takes precedence where conflicts exist for road‑vehicle applications.
• Normative references cited within IEC 62619 should be consulted for specific test setups and measurement tolerances.

IEC 62619:2022 is essential for ensuring safe industrial deployment of lithium‑ion battery technology, reducing risk of thermal runaway propagation, and aligning design and testing practices with international safety expectations.