IEC 60095-4:2021

Overview

IEC 60095-4:2021 (Edition 3.0) is the international standard that specifies the main dimensions and associated labelling/marking rules for lead‑acid starter batteries used for starting, lighting and ignition in heavy vehicles (heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, buses and agricultural trucks). The document defines a set of 12 “preferred types” of starter batteries - four for Europe (A, B, C, D2), four for North America (4D, 8D, 31T, 31A) and four for East Asia (E41, F51, G51, H52) - and provides global dimensional requirements to aid interchangeability and manufacturing consistency.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and types: Dimensional requirements for 12 preferred heavy‑vehicle battery types covering Europe, North America and East Asia.
• Terminal dimensions and polarity marking: Positive terminal marking is mandatory (symbol “+” on the terminal or lid); negative marking (“–” or “NEG”) is optional. Symbols follow IEC 60417 graphical standards. Terminal geometry and taper dimensions are illustrated in the standard (see Figure 3).
• Labelling and marking: Batteries must be marked in accordance with IEC 60095‑1. Polarity symbols may be indented or embossed to 0.4 mm ± 0.1 mm. Character heights and placement rules are specified.
• Plastic material identification: Injection‑moulded components shall be marked per ISO 11469 and ISO 1043‑1 (e.g., >PP< or >PP/PE