QUESTION OF THE DAY: UN Test 38.3 for lithium cells and lithium batteries - validity of the certificate
QUESTION OF THE DAY UN Test 38.3 for lithium-cells and lithium batteries - validity of the certificate Since 01.01.2020 every manufacturer and subsequent supplier of lithium cells and lithium batteries must be able to present a test summary for the tested lithium-cells and lithium-batteries on request. Only for prototypes and small series up to 100 pieces the UN test 38.3 of the United Nations is not yet necessary, here a proof is sufficient that the lithium-cells and lithium-batteries were manufactured according to a quality management program. For the transport of prototypes and small series up to 100 pieces, an actuation of the competent authority of the country of departure is necessary, e.g. in Germany the Luftfahrtbundesamt or the BAM. But how long is the certificate of the UN 38.3 test valid? Our answer:
QUESTION OF THE DAY
UN Test 38.3 for lithium cells and lithium batteries - validity of the certificate
Since 01.01.2020 every manufacturer and subsequent supplier of lithium cells and lithium batteries must be able to present a test summary for the tested lithium-cells and lithium-batteries on request.
Only for prototypes and small series up to 100 pieces the UN test 38.3 of the United Nations is not yet necessary, here a proof is sufficient that the lithium-cells and lithium-batteries were manufactured according to a quality management program. For the transport of prototypes and small series up to 100 pieces, an actuation of the competent authority of the country of departure is necessary, e.g. in Germany the Luftfahrtbundesamt or the BAM.
But how long is the certificate of the UN 38.3 test valid?
Here is our answer:
Validity UN 38.3 test report
there are only the following requirements for the UN 38.3 test series:
- currently, new tests must be conducted according to the 7th revised edition of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria.
- lithium cells/batteries tested according to the 3rd revised edition 1st amendment can still be manufactured and transported.
- lithium cells/batteries tested under the 3rd revised edition prior to July 1, 2003 may no longer be manufactured. But they may continue to be transported under current transportation regulations.
But then there is China. Here, since January 01, 2020, testing must always be done according to the current edition. And that really means that such a test certificate must always be reissued annually, of course by a test institute in China.
In addition, any company exporting such lithium cells/batteries from China, for example, also needs an authorization for the transport of dangerous goods.
In the rest of the world, the requirements of points 1-3 apply.
You can read more about what exactly is tested in UN Test 38.3 on our website:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series
And more details about the quality management program that applies to the production of EVERY lithium cell and battery, we have summarized here:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/quality-management-program
Our license customers can get a list for test institutes for the UN 38.3 test under DOWNLOAD:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/downloads-guest
Are you also a manufacturer or supplier of lithium cells and lithium batteries? We offer practical checklists for every transport case and your logistics, with references and all necessary transport documents for the modes of transport-road according to ADR, sea according to IMDG Code or air according to ICAO-TI / IATA-DGR:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/checklist?tab=1
Would you like to check with the manufacturer or shipper of a lithium cell and lithium battery whether UN Test 38.3 has been successfully passed and whether production has been carried out in accordance with a quality management program?
Use our free supplier inquiry, which will get all the inquiries you need.
Under DOWNLOADS you can find them for cells as well as for batteries in German and English:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/downloads-guest
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/contact/consulting
Would you like to become a license customer and use all the advantages of our portal and our consultants?
Here is a summary of our services:
Advantages of the license to use the Lithium Battery Service Portal
In addition to the always up-to-date checklist articles as working instructions and common knowledge base, we offer you:
- at least two online seminars on the subject of innovations/changes in transport regulations and others as required.
- the newsletter service, which informs you about innovations/changes
- inquiries, which we can answer within 15 minutes, are free of charge for you throughout the year
- no later than the beginning of December of a current year, you will receive access to the checklist articles that apply to the new year, so that you can adapt your processes accordingly.
Costs complete checklist package
From 01.01. to 31.12. of a year the use of our Lithium Battery Service Portal in one language with access to all checklist articles on the modes of transport costs
Road transport according to ADR,
Maritime transport according to IMDG Code and
Air transport according to ICAO TI and IATA DGR
EUR 750,-- (plus VAT).
With this, all employees of a company (legal identity), which the contact person names us, will receive their own personalized access until 31.12. of each current year and all employees can use the benefits listed above.
As we are now already in mid-February, the current price for the license to use the Lithium Battery Service Portal for all carriers until 31.12.2021 is now 1/12 cheaper i.e. currently costs
EUR 687,50 (plus VAT).
We also offer company group discounts.
Here our offers:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/
Are you still unsure and would you like to test our service?
We offer the possibility to test our portal and its checklist articles for four weeks free of charge.
The test access ends automatically after four weeks without you having to do anything.
During this time, you can download the checklist articles for your transport variants and use them to review your in-house work instructions and processes. Together with you, you will have a common knowledge base for all employees.
Contact us for the free trial access:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/contact/consulting
