UN38.3 refers to Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, which is specially formulated by the United Nations for the transport of dangerous goods. It requires that lithium batteries must pass altitude simulation, high and low temperature cycles, vibration tests, impact tests, 55°C external short circuit, impact tests, overcharge tests, and forced discharge tests before transportation to ensure the safety of lithium battery transportation. If the lithium battery is not installed with the equipment and each package contains more than 24 battery cells or 12 batteries, it must also pass a 1.2-meter free drop test.

At present, Xingyuan Electronics has launched UN38.3 testing services in strict accordance with the requirements of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, and can provide companies with fast and preferential UN38.3 testing services and authoritative and professional UN38.3 test reports .

What is UN38.3?

UN38.3 is Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, referred to as UN38.3.

Why apply for UN38.3?

As mobile phones, laptops and other items containing lithium batteries are dangerous during transportation, Air China Cargo Co., Ltd. has published the operating specifications for rechargeable lithium batteries transported as non-dangerous goods. The specifications clearly state that each type of primary cell and battery must be tested and proven to comply with Section 38.3 of Part 3 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, i.e. UN38.3.

UN38.3 certified product range

1. Various lead-acid batteries (such as automobile starting lead-acid batteries, fixed lead-acid batteries, small valve-regulated sealed lead-acid batteries, etc.) ;

2. Various power secondary batteries (such as power vehicle batteries, electric road vehicle batteries, power tool batteries, hybrid vehicle batteries, etc.) ;

3. Various mobile phone batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, etc.) ;

4. Various small secondary batteries (such as laptop batteries, digital camera batteries, video camera batteries, various cylindrical batteries, wireless communication batteries, portable DVD batteries, CD and MP3 player batteries, etc.) ;

5. Various primary batteries (such as alkaline zinc-manganese batteries, lithium-manganese batteries, etc.) .

UN38.3 test items

T.1 Altitude simulation test :  under the conditions of pressure ≤11.6kPa and temperature 20±5℃, store for more than 6 hours without leakage, exhaust, disintegration, rupture or combustion.

T.2 Thermal test :  Conduct high and low temperature impact tests at 72±2℃ and -40±2℃, store at extreme temperature for ≥6h, high and low temperature conversion time ≤30min, impact 10 times, store at room temperature (20±5℃) for 24h, and the total test time is at least one week

T.3 Vibration test :  Complete one reciprocating logarithmic swept frequency sinusoidal vibration from 7Hz to 200Hz within 15min, and complete 12 vibrations in three-dimensional directions within 3h;

The logarithmic frequency sweep is: starting from 7 Hz, maintaining a maximum acceleration of 1gn until the frequency reaches 18 Hz. Then the amplitude is maintained at 0.8mm

(total deflection 1.6 mm) and increase the frequency until the maximum acceleration reaches 8 gn (frequency is about 50 Hz). Maintain the maximum acceleration at 8 gn until the frequency is increased to 200 Hz.

T.4 Shock test :  150g, 6ms or 50g, 11ms half-sine shock, 3 times in each installation direction, a total of 18 times;

T.5 External short circuit test :  short circuit at 55±2℃, external resistance <0.1Ω, the short circuit time lasts until the battery temperature returns to 55±2℃ for 1 hour.

T.6 Collision test :  A 9.1kg weight is dropped from a height of 61±2.5cm onto a battery with a 15.8mm round rod placed on it, and the battery surface temperature is detected.

T.7 Overcharge test :  Overcharge the battery for 24 hours at 2 times the maximum continuous charging current and 2 times the maximum charging voltage.

T.8 Forced discharge test :  The battery is connected in series with a 12V DC power supply and forced to discharge at the maximum discharge current.

Test pass criteria

(a) In Tests T.1 to T.6, no disintegration or fire occurred.

(b) In tests T.1, T.2 and T.5, the effluent is not toxic, flammable or corrosive.

1> No exhaust or leakage was observed during visual observation.

2> No degassing or leakage occurs that would cause a weight loss exceeding that shown in Table 38.3.4.7.1.

(c) In Tests T.3 and T.6, the effluent is not toxic or corrosive.

1> No exhaust or leakage was observed during visual observation.

2> No degassing or leakage occurs that would cause a weight loss exceeding that shown in Table 38.3.4.7.1.

Steps to apply for UN38.3 at Xingyuan Electronics :

Step 1: Application

1.  Determine customer information

A.  From which city the customer's products are exported by air ;

B. Whether the customer's product is shipped alone or in conjunction with other products . 

2. Fill in the UN38.3 application form

3. Provide battery specifications

4. Provide 30 samples

Step 2: Quotation

The test time and corresponding fees will be determined based on the information provided .

Step 3: Pay

After the applicant confirms the quotation, he/she shall sign the application form and service agreement and pay the full project fee.

Step 4: Testing

The laboratory conducts a full set of tests on the applied products according to relevant testing standards .

Step 5: Test passed, report completed

Step 6: Project completed, DGM certificate issued

UN38.3 new version (Rev.5) released and its content introduction

    The United Nations "Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods: Manual of Tests and Criteria" Rev.5 was released on December 31, 2009, which will replace the current version Rev.4-2003. According to relevant information, some countries and regions' transportation regulatory authorities have begun to use this new version, but some regions will start to implement it on January 1, 2011. In the new version of the "Manual of Tests and Criteria", Section 38.3 has relatively large changes in the testing requirements for lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries.

Changes

Compared with the original version of UN38.3 Rev.4-2003, the main changes in the new version are as follows:

1. There are significant changes in the definition of large batteries and cells:

The Rev.4 version defines a large battery as a battery with a total anode lithium content greater than 500g when fully charged. A large cell is a cell with anode lithium content or lithium equivalent content greater than 12g when fully charged.

The new version Rev.5 defines large batteries as lithium metal or lithium ion batteries with a total weight greater than 12kg. Large cells are defined as: for lithium metal cells, cells with anode lithium content greater than 12g when fully charged; for lithium ion cells, cells with a rated watt-hour greater than 150Wh.

2. The definition of lithium equivalent content in the original version has been cancelled in the new version Rev.5. For lithium-ion batteries and cells, the rated watt-hour data is used instead. The rated watt-hour is defined as the product of the rated capacity and the rated voltage of the battery (cell).

3. Compared with the Rev.4 version, the test items, test methods, judgment criteria and other contents contained in the new version Rev.5 have not changed, but the number and status of batteries or cells required for each test item have changed significantly, as shown in the following table:

Although the new version has relatively large changes in the number of test samples and battery status, since the test plan and method have not changed, and the main test process has not changed, there will be no obvious changes in the test cycle when the new version is implemented.

The current IATA (International Air Transport Association) version 54 DGR rules stipulate that the prerequisite for air transport of lithium batteries must comply with the testing requirements of UN38.3, but the DGR rules do not specify the version of UN38.3. In China, the "MH/T 1020-2009 Lithium Battery Air Transport Specifications" formulated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in March 2009, although the UN38.3 version is Rev.4, it only states that this version is cited, and does not specify the UN38.3 version that needs to be met when introducing the specific specifications. EBO also contacted the relevant personnel of the Transport Department of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Aviation Safety Technology Center to communicate about when the new version of UN38.3 will be adopted. The relevant personnel of the Civil Aviation Administration of China all stated that under the condition of the release of the new version, the testing and evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the new version first.