ASTM F3353-19

• Abstract:

  SCOPE; 1.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide standard methods for the safe use of Li-ion batteries onboard vessels. The guidelines in this document were developed primarily for larger Li-ion marine battery installations, such as for propulsion or ships service electrical power. The guidelines may not be appropriate for smaller battery packages such as those for computers, packaged uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units, and tools. ; 1.2 Advances in energy storage technology have enabled new possibilities in shipboard power systems. Currently, lead acid batteries comprise the vast majority of shipboard power storage installations due to their low cost and predictable performance. Li-ion batteries are very energy dense, are becoming less expensive and make all-electric or hybrid-electric power systems possible on some types of vessels. There are many unique safety concerns related to Li-ion battery installations which are addressed here. Battery technology is rapidly developing and users should be aware of additional safety practices unique to each particular battery chemistry. ; 1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. ; 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. ; 1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Feb-2019
• ICS: 29.220.20 - Acid secondary cells and batteries
• Technical Committee: F25 - Ships and Marine Technology
• Drafting Committee: F25.10 - Electrical

Overview

ASTM F3353-19: Standard Guide for Shipboard Use of Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries is an international standard developed by ASTM. Its purpose is to provide recognized safety guidelines and practices for the use, installation, and maintenance of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries aboard vessels. This guide is focused on larger Li-ion marine battery installations, such as those used for ship propulsion systems or service electrical power, helping shipbuilders, operators, and marine engineers to address the unique risks associated with this advanced energy storage technology.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability

  • Recommendations for large Li-ion marine battery installations, excluding smaller packages like computers or handheld tools.
  • Emphasis on the differences between Li-ion and traditional lead-acid batteries, particularly in terms of energy density and safety considerations.

• Safety Assessment and Risk Management

  • Guidance for conducting comprehensive safety assessments, including hazard identification and mitigation.
  • Qualitative Failure Analysis (QFA) procedures to evaluate failure modes and risks specific to marine environments.

• Battery System Design and Installation

  • Importance of dedicated battery spaces, precise structural fire protection, and proper ambient temperature control.
  • Requirements for Battery Management Systems (BMS), including monitoring, isolation capabilities, alarms, and compatibility with battery chargers.

• Fire Safety and Detection

  • Early detection measures for heat and fire, prescribed fire boundaries, smoke and gas detection, and fixed firefighting systems.
  • Recommendations for fire integrity and compartment isolation.

• Operational Monitoring and Maintenance

  • Continuous ambient and internal temperature monitoring, gas detection, and ventilation standards for the battery compartment.
  • Periodic safety test procedures (PSTP) and maintenance schedules to ensure continued safe operation.

• Testing Requirements

  • Batteries and systems must meet relevant internationally recognized testing standards (such as IEC 62619 and UL 1642).
  • Propagation tests to ensure that potential failures do not spread between battery installations.

Applications

ASTM F3353-19 is highly relevant for various stakeholders in the maritime industry, including:

• Vessel Designers and Shipbuilders
  To integrate reliable and safe Li-ion battery systems for all-electric or hybrid propulsion and auxiliary power needs.
• Ship Owners and Operators To adopt best practices for the safe operation, monitoring, and lifecycle management of onboard Li-ion battery systems.
• Marine Engineers and Safety Inspectors To perform risk assessments, system testing, and ensure compliance with relevant safety protocols.
• Battery and System Manufacturers To design and certify products that meet marine-specific requirements, including those for safety, fire protection, and environmental compatibility.

By following ASTM F3353-19, organizations can support the safe adoption of modern, high-density energy storage solutions and optimize ship power systems while minimizing operational risks.

Related Standards

For comprehensive compliance and enhanced safety, consider these associated standards:

• IEC 62619: Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries used in industrial applications.
• UL 1642: Standard for Safety of Lithium Batteries.
• ABS Guide for Use of Lithium Batteries in the Marine and Offshore Industries: Additional requirements for marine battery systems.
• CFR Title 46 Shipping: Applicable US federal regulations regarding marine operations.

These standards complement ASTM F3353-19, providing a holistic approach to the safe integration of lithium-ion batteries in marine environments.

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Keywords: ASTM F3353-19, lithium-ion batteries, Li-ion battery safety, marine battery installation, shipboard power systems, ship safety standards, marine engineering, battery management system, fire safety, energy storage, maritime regulations.

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3353 − 19 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
Shipboard Use of Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3353; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 Thepurposeofthisguideistoprovidestandardmethods
2.1 IEC Standards:
for the safe use of Li-ion batteries onboard vessels. The
IEC 62619 (2017) Secondary Cells and Batteries Containing
guidelines in this document were developed primarily for
Alkaline or Other Non-Acid Electrolytes — Safety Re-
larger Li-ion marine battery installations, such as for propul- quirements for Secondary Lithium Cells and Batteries, for
sion or ships service electrical power. The guidelines may not
Use in Industrial Applications
be appropriate for smaller battery packages such as those for
2.2 UL Standards:
computers, packaged uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
UL 1642 Standard for Safety: Lithium Batteries
units, and tools.
2.3 United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):
CFR Title 46 Shipping
1.2 Advances in energy storage technology have enabled
2.4 ABS Standards:
new possibilities in shipboard power systems. Currently, lead
ABS Guide for Use of Lithium Batteries in the Marine and
acid batteries comprise the vast majority of shipboard power
Offshore Industries
storage installations due to their low cost and predictable
performance. Li-ion batteries are very energy dense, are
3. Terminology
becoming less expensive and make all-electric or hybrid-
electric power systems possible on some types of vessels. 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 anode, n—the negative terminal of the battery.
TherearemanyuniquesafetyconcernsrelatedtoLi-ionbattery
installations which are addressed here. Battery technology is
3.1.2 battery management system (BMS), n—a system that
rapidly developing and users should be aware of additional
provides comprehensive battery monitoring, control, and
safety practices unique to each particular battery chemistry.
charging for the battery or battery bank. The BMS also detects
and alarms to indicate potentially dangerous conditions.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.1.3 battery size categories, n—installation sizes are based
standard.
onthetotalenergystoragecapacityofallLi-ionbatteriesinthe
battery system. If multiple storage banks are installed, each
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
installation may be sized separately if it can be shown that a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
failure in one battery bank will not propagate to the other.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
<50 kWh—an installation with less than 50 kWh total
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
energy storage capacity.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
>50 kWh—an installation with greater than 50 kWh total
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
energy storage capacity.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3, rue de
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Varembé, 1st floor, P.O. Box 131, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, https://
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. www.iec.ch.
Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 2600 N.W. Lake Rd., Camas,
WA 98607-8542, http://www.ul.com.
1 4
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
Marine Technology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F25.10 on Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http://
Electrical. www.access.gpo.gov.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2019. Published March 2019. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), ABS Plaza, 1701 City
F3353-19. Plaza Dr., Spring, TX 77389, http://www.eagle.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3353 − 19
3.1.4 capacity, n—the number of ampere-hours which can 3.1.10.3 battery system, n—system comprised of one or
be delivered by a battery on a single charge/discharge. The more cells, modules, or battery packs. It has a battery manage-
battery capacity is determined by a number of factors, includ- ment system (BMS) to maintain the condition of the system.
ing the cutoff voltage, discharge rate, temperature, method of
3.1.10.4 pack nomenclature, n—in accordance with the
charge, and the age and life history of the battery.
basis defined in battery structure (3.1.10.2), the parallel/series
configuration should be defined by the structure of the packs,
3.1.4.1 variations on capacity definitions, n—for various
reasons, a vendor may define a nameplate capacity, which is as this is the structure where faults may influence cells and
modules in a direct manner. The pack design may consist of a
de-rated from the actual (electrochemical) capacity. Careful
review of the cell ratings, battery design, etc., should be made single series string of cells, multiple parallel strings consisting
to ensure that the assessed/controlled/accessible capacity is ofsingleserialstringsofcells,orserialstringsofmultiplecells
consistent with the installed capacity. connected in parallel. For example, a single serial string of 30
cells with no cells in parallel, would be defined as a “1P30S”
3.1.5 cathode, n—the positive terminal of the battery.
pack. A pack consisting of groups of five cells in parallel and
3.1.6 cell, n—an electrochemical device, composed of posi-
30 of these parallel cell groups would be defined as a “5P30S”
tive and negative electrodes and electrolyte, which is capable
pack. A pack consisting of five individual series strings of 30
of storing electrical energy.
cells each, would be defined as a “30S5P” pack.
3.1.7 electrolyte, n—the solution in which the battery elec-
3.1.11 state of charge (SOC), n—the ratio of the amount of
trodes are immersed. This is typically composed of an organic
capacity remaining in a battery to the full charge capacity.This
solvent and dissolved lithium salt. The electrolyte may be
may be determined by voltage measurements, energy flow (for
flammable depending on the particular composition of the
example,coulombcounting)orothermethodologies.Intheory,
battery.
a battery at 25 % state of charge has 25 % capacity remaining
(runtime or energy output) versus what it provides from fully
3.1.8 lithium-ion(Li-ion),n—afamilyofbatterychemistries
charged. Consistent with variations on capacity definitions
whichcontainmetalliclithium,alithiumalloy,oralithiumion,
(3.1.4.1), the state of charge reported of a battery may be
andmayconsistofasingleelectrochemicalcellortwoormore
different from the ratio of installed electrochemically active
cells connected in series, parallel, or both, that convert chemi-
material.
calenergyintoelectricalenergybyanirreversibleorreversible
chemical reaction. This guide does not differentiate between
3.1.12 state of health (SOH), n—the ratio of the present
the several unique chemistries that make up the family of
health of the battery compared to a new battery. Capacity and
Li-ion batteries. Special attention should be paid to the
powercapabilityareparametersusuallyassociatedwithbattery
electrolyte fluid, as it is typically flammable.
health. For example, if actual battery capacity has degraded to
80 % of the nameplate capacity, the SOH would be considered
3.1.9 module, n—a group of cells connected together in a
80 %. The state of health parameter is often proprietary in
series or parallel configuration, or both, with or without
nature, and may align to a variety of characteristics, including
protective devices and monitoring circuitry.
impedance (power capability or voltage drop), accessible
3.1.10 pack, n—energy storage device that is comprised of
capacity in the correct electrochemically active voltage range,
one or more cells or modules electrically connected. It has a
etc.
monitoring circuitry that provides information to a battery
system.
4. Summary of Guide
3.1.10.1 battery nomenclature, n—a battery may share the
4.1 Li-ion batteries comprise a wide range of unique battery
nomenclature of the pack, if only a single pack is utilized
chemistries and physical characteristics. Vessel designers, sys-
within a system. If multiple packs are utilized in parallel, to
tem integrators, and onboard operators should take particular
meet a common requirement, it should be depicted as the
note of recommendations and operating requirements pre-
integer number of packs. For example, a large system could be
scribed by the battery manufacturer.The use of Li-ion batteries
composed of ten each, 5P30S packs. It should be clearly
in applications outside of the intended purpose can present
defined in terms of number of packs, electrical configuration of
significant hazards (for example, using a high-power battery
the packs, and how the packs are isolated from each other in
for a high-energy application).
terms of electrical architecture.
3.1.10.2 battery structure, n—typically, batteries are defined 5. Testing Requirements
in terms of their series and parallel cell configurations. Packs
5.1 Battery Testing—Li-ion batteries should be tested to
are increased in series to add end-to-end voltage; they are
either UL 1642 or IEC 62619 (2017). The tests in Table 1
increased in parallel to add total energy content at a given
should be carried out on a representative battery and certified
potential. Batteries are built from modules and packs, and for
by the manufacturer or a third-party testing facility.
the purpose of this guidance, a “battery” may consist of
multiple packs in parallel; separated and segregated by elec- 5.2 System Testing—Li-ion battery systems should be tested
trical systems (for example, individual converters) or physical to IEC 62619 (2017).The tests in Table 2 should be carried out
barriers, or both; but serving a common load, bus, or similar on each battery system design and certified by the system
purpose. designer, installer, manufacturer, or third-party.
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