Battery Safety Testing to the Requirements of IEC 62133

Battery safety testing is crucial for medical devices because it ensures patient safety, device reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance. Medical devices often operate in close contact with or inside the human body, making any battery failure, such as overheating, leakage, or explosion, potentially life-threatening. Since many medical devices, like pacemakers, insulin pumps, and defibrillators, are life-critical, their batteries must function reliably without interruptions. Rigorous safety testing is also necessary to comply with stringent regulations set by organizations like the FDA, ISO, or IEC, ensuring devices meet required safety standards for market approval. Additionally, medical devices are used in diverse environments, exposing batteries to temperature fluctuations, humidity, and physical shocks, all of which need to be tested for resilience. Advanced batteries, such as lithium-ion, require careful evaluation to prevent risks like thermal runaway. Testing also helps verify long-term battery performance and identify potential degradation issues, which is critical since these devices often need to function for years. Beyond safety, thorough testing mitigates liability risks for manufacturers, supports trust in the product, and preserves a company’s reputation by preventing costly recalls or failures. Battery safety testing is indispensable for ensuring the safe, reliable, and effective operation of medical devices.

Intertek Solutions

Ensure your device reaches its full potential throughout global markets with the expertise and support of a testing lab that has more than 50 years of involvement in both the medical device and energy storage industries. We can help you select the right battery for your device and provide testing to safety, performance and transportation standards, including IEC 62133.

  • Devices with rechargeable batteries – including products certified to IEC 60601-1 – must comply with IEC 62133
  • Devices with non-rechargeable lithium batteries must comply to IEC 60086-4
  • Devices sold exclusively in North America may use UL 1642/2054, though this will limit your ability to sell your product internationally

It is important to note that lithium batteries have been identified as a Class 9 dangerous good, during transport. To be safely transported (by air, sea, rail or roadways), they must meet the provisions laid out in Standard UN 38.3.

*The Intertek legal entities that provide medical device management system certification services (including ISO 13485 and MDSAP) and Notified Body services (MDR 2017/745 and MDD 93/42/EEC) do not provide any consulting services. Clients who have used other Intertek legal entities’ consulting services are not eligible to receive management system certification services or Notified Body services from Intertek.

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