Lithium-Ion Batteries To Face Tougher Safety Rules In Japan and Possibly Globally

15 August 2007

The Nikkei reports that four Japanese industrial organizations, together comprising more than 100 affiliated firms, will ally this year to create new safety standards and testing requirements for all lithium-ion batteries sold in Japan.

The Battery Association of Japan, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, the Communications and Information Network Association of Japan, and the Camera & Imaging Products Association will craft the new regulations in the wake of a series of problems with battery packs for cell phones and laptops.

Currently, li-ion safety requirements in Japan are under the Japanese Industrial Standards, which stipulate how safety tests should be conducted. JIS certification is optional.

With production-stage flaws having been cited, the associations saw a need for member firms to share defect information as well as product improvement expertise in order to address the problem.

With the organizations’ help, safety tests will be toughened and submitted for use as the new JIS. Tests will specifically include administering a strong shock to fully charged batteries in extreme conditions of hot and cold, as well as short-circuiting by deliberately inserting minute metallic shavings—the source of the problem with the Sony batteries. The tests will be used to confirm that the batteries will not overheat or ignite.

Under the new standards, firms will stop supplying their batteries if their products fail the tests.

The Nikkei also reports that the new lithium-ion battery standards could become the international norm.

The standards will apply to batteries made abroad and used domestically. The Battery Association of Japan will urge overseas standards associations and other groups to adopt the new rules.