UPS Battery Certifications: UL1973, IEC62619 & UN38.3 Explained

In mission-critical environments—whether it’s a data center, telecom network, industrial facility, or smart building—UPS battery systems are essential for ensuring stable and continuous power. But beyond performance and lifespan, one of the most crucial aspects of selecting and deploying UPS batteries is compliance with international safety and reliability standards.

Among the most recognized certifications are UL1973, IEC62619 (under the CB Scheme), and UN38.3. These certifications are pivotal to ensuring battery reliability, safety, and smooth global deployment—especially for industrial lithium battery systems increasingly used in modern UPS solutions.

So what exactly do these standards mean, and why should they matter to UPS project managers, engineers, and decision-makers? Let’s break it down.

UL1973: Safety Standard for Stationary and Energy Storage Batteries

Scope

UL1973 is a safety standard developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). It applies to batteries used in stationary applications, including energy storage systems (ESS), emergency power supplies, industrial equipment, and UPS systems. Essentially, it ensures that batteries designed to stay in one place are safe, reliable, and able to handle normal and abnormal operating conditions.

Key Areas Covered

UL1973 focuses on several critical aspects of battery safety:

● Electric shock and fire protection: Ensures the battery design prevents electric shock and minimizes the risk of fire.

● Mechanical strength: Batteries must withstand shocks, drops, vibrations, and collisions without failure.

● Abnormal charging safety: Protects against hazards from overcharging, over-discharging, or unexpected voltage/current fluctuations.

● System-level integration and enclosure testing: Confirms that the battery functions safely when installed in the full system, including its housing or cabinet.

Why It Matters for UPS Projects

UL1973 certification is important because it provides confidence that a battery will operate safely and reliably in commercial or industrial UPS systems:

● Compliance requirement: Many commercial and industrial UPS installations in North America require UL1973-certified batteries.

● Audit readiness: Data centers, smart buildings, and other critical facilities often need UL1973 certification for safety inspections.

● Risk reduction: The certification reduces the risk of fire and ensures long-term stability in fixed, stationary deployments.

IEC62619 + CB Scheme: Global Safety Standard for Industrial Lithium Batteries

Scope

IEC62619 is an internationally recognized safety standard designed specifically for large-format industrial lithium-ion batteries. It applies to applications such as UPS systems, energy storage systems, telecom backup, and other industrial power equipment. This standard ensures that both individual battery cells and complete battery packs are safe, reliable, and able to withstand electrical, mechanical, and environmental stresses.

Why CB Scheme Matters

The CB Scheme (Certification Body Scheme) allows battery manufacturers to have their products tested once and have the results recognized in over 50 countries worldwide. This offers several advantages:

● Global acceptance: Reduces the need for repeated testing in different countries.

● Faster market entry: Speeds up deployment for international UPS projects.

● Reliability assurance: Confirms that the battery meets the required safety and performance standards according to IEC regulations.

UN38.3: Mandatory Certification for Safe Lithium Battery Transport

Scope

UN38.3 is a mandatory international safety standard for transporting lithium batteries by air, sea, rail, or road. Batteries that do not meet UN38.3 requirements cannot be legally shipped, making this certification essential for global UPS battery projects and industrial deployments.

Key Tests Included

●  UN38.3 ensures that batteries can safely withstand the stresses of transportation. Key tests include:Altitude simulation: Verifies battery performance under low-pressure conditions during air transport.

● Thermal shock and cycling: Tests battery stability under extreme temperature changes.

● Vibration and mechanical impact: Ensures batteries can survive bumps, drops, and vibrations during shipping.

● External short circuit: Confirms safety in case of accidental electrical contact.

● Overcharge and forced discharge: Checks battery resilience to abnormal electrical conditions.

Why It's Critical in UPS Deployment

● Regulatory compliance: Required by IATA (air), IMO (sea), and various national transport laws.

● Safe logistics: Minimizes the risk of accidents and ensures batteries arrive without damage.

● Prototype considerations: Even test or prototype batteries require special approvals if UN38.3 is not met, which can delay projects.

In short, UN38.3 certification guarantees that your UPS batteries can be safely and legally transported anywhere in the world, ensuring smooth project deployment and supply chain reliability.

IEC60068: Ensuring Battery Reliability in Real-World Environments

Scope

IEC60068 is a series of international test standards that evaluate how batteries perform under real-world environmental stresses. It covers a wide range of conditions, including:

● Temperature extremes (heat and cold)

● Humidity

● Vibration and mechanical shock

● Dust and salt spray

These tests ensure that industrial and UPS batteries can survive harsh conditions while maintaining reliable performance.

Why It Matters for UPS Batteries

● Harsh environment suitability: Confirms that batteries can operate safely in industrial plants, outdoor telecom cabinets, or remote installations.

● Critical for telecom and outdoor deployments: Ideal for UPS systems in telecom towers, desert locations, or cold climates.

● Stable performance range: Ensures batteries work reliably across a wide temperature range, from -20°C to 60°C and beyond, preventing unexpected failures.

IEC60068 provides confidence that UPS batteries will continue to perform reliably even in the most challenging environments, making it an essential certification for industrial and outdoor projects.

Certification Overview

Why These Certifications Matter for UPS Battery Projects

Whether you are deploying a new UPS system or upgrading an existing one, ensuring your batteries comply with recognized certifications provides multiple benefits:

1.  Compliance with regulations

Certified batteries meet both local and international safety and performance standards, helping your project pass inspections and audits.

2.  Reduced safety and operational risks

Certified batteries are tested for electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses, minimizing the risk of failures, fires, or accidents over their entire lifecycle.

3.  Smooth logistics and shipping

Certifications like UN38.3 ensure that batteries can be legally and safely transported worldwide, avoiding delays at customs or during delivery.

4.  Enhanced trust and credibility

Using certified batteries shows professionalism and reliability, building confidence among end customers, project stakeholders, and partners.

In short, choosing a UPS battery with proper certifications is not just a technical decision—it’s also a strategic business choice that ensures safety, reliability, and project success.

Looking for a Certified UPS Lithium Battery System?

Our UPS lithium battery solutions are fully certified with UL1973, IEC62619 (CB Scheme), UN38.3, and IEC60068, ensuring long-term safety, global compliance, and reliable performance in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Whether for data centers, telecom sites, or industrial backup, we support full documentation and on-site technical integration.