EN IEC 62902:2019

Secondary cells and batteries - Marking symbols for identification of their chemistry

This document specifies methods for the clear identification of secondary cells, batteries, battery modules and monoblocs according to their chemistry (electrochemical storage technology). The markings described in this document are applicable for secondary cells, batteries, battery modules and monoblocs with a volume of more than 900 cm3. The marking of the chemistry is useful for the installation, operation and decommissioning phases of battery life. Many recycling processes are chemistry specific, thus undesired events can occur when a battery which is not of the appropriate chemistry enters a given recycling process. In order to ensure safe handling during sorting and recycling processes, therefore, the battery is marked so as to identify its chemistry. This document defines the conditions of utilization of the markings indicating the chemistry of these secondary batteries. The details of markings and their application are defined in this document. NOTE Nothing in this document precludes the marking of batteries with recycling and chemistry symbols required by state, federal, national or regional laws or regulations or with a seal under license by a national recycling program.

Sekundärbatterien - Symbole für die Kennzeichnung zur Identifikation ihrer Chemie

Batteries d'accumulateurs - Symboles de marquage pour l'identification de leur caractéristique chimique

Le présent document spécifie les méthodes permettant d'identifier clairement les batteries d'accumulateurs, batteries, modules de batteries et monoblocs selon leur caractéristique chimique (technologie de stockage électrochimique). Les marquages décrits dans le présent document s'appliquent aux accumulateurs, batteries, modules de batteries et monoblocs ayant un volume supérieur à 900 cm3. Le marquage de la caractéristique chimique sert à l'installation, au fonctionnement et à la mise hors service de la batterie. Dans la mesure où de nombreux procédés de recyclage dépendent de la caractéristique chimique, des événements non désirés peuvent se produire lorsqu'une batterie dont la caractéristique chimique n'est pas appropriée est soumise à un procédé de recyclage donné. Par conséquent, afin d'assurer une manipulation sûre pendant les processus de tri et de recyclage, il est nécessaire de marquer la batterie afin d'identifier sa composition chimique. Le présent document définit les conditions d'utilisation des marquages indiquant la caractéristique chimique des batteries d'accumulateurs. Les détails des marquages et leur application sont définis dans le présent document. NOTE Le présent document n'exclut pas le marquage des batteries avec les symboles de recyclage et de caractéristiques chimiques exigés par les réglementations ou lois étatiques, fédérales, nationales ou régionales, ou avec un seau sous licence par un programme de recyclage national.

Sekundarne celice in baterije: Simboli za označevanje za identifikacijo kemične sestave

Ta dokument določa metode za jasno identifikacijo sekundarnih celic, baterij, baterijskih modulov in monoblokov glede na njihovo kemijsko sestavo (tehnologija elektrokemičnega shranjevanja).
Oznake, opisane v tem dokumentu, se uporabljajo za sekundarne celice, baterije, baterijske module in monobloke, katerih prostornina presega 900 cm3.
Oznaka kemijske sestave je uporabna za faze montaže, delovanja in razgradnje baterije.
Številni postopki recikliranja so specifični glede na kemijsko sestavo, zato lahko pride do neželenih dogodkov, če v dani postopek recikliranja vstopi baterija, ki ni ustrezne kemijske sestave. Za namen zagotavljanja varnosti ravnanja med postopki razvrščanja in recikliranja je baterija označena tako, da je mogoče prepoznati njeno kemijsko sestavo.
Ta dokument določa pogoje uporabe oznak, ki označujejo kemijsko sestavo teh sekundarnih baterij.
Podrobnosti o oznakah in njihovi uporabi so navedene v tem dokumentu.
OPOMBA: Nobena navedba v tem dokumentu ne nasprotuje označevanju baterij s simboli za recikliranje in kemijsko sestavo, ki jih zahtevajo državni, zvezni, nacionalni ali regionalni zakoni ali drugi predpisi, ali s pečatom pod licenco nacionalnega programa za recikliranje.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Apr-2019
• Withdrawal Date: 11-Mar-2022
• ICS: 29.220.20 - Acid secondary cells and batteries
• ICS: 29.220.30 - Alkaline secondary cells and batteries
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 21X - Secondary cells and batteries
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 21 - IEC_TC_21
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 05-Apr-2019
• Completion Date: 05-Apr-2019
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 62902:2019 - Secondary cells and batteries - Marking symbols for identification of their chemistry

Relations

• Replaced By: EN IEC 62902:2025 - Secondary cells and batteries - Marking symbols for identification of their chemistry
• Effective Date: 05-Apr-2022

Overview

EN IEC 62902:2019 (CLC) specifies standardized marking symbols for identification of battery chemistry on secondary cells, batteries, battery modules and monoblocs. The standard is intended for units with a volume greater than 900 cm³ and defines the symbols, colours, layout and durability requirements needed to identify electrochemical storage technologies (chemistries) such as lead‑acid, nickel‑cadmium (NiCd), nickel‑metal hydride (NiMH), lithium‑ion (Li‑ion) and lithium metal. Clear chemistry marking supports safe installation, operation, decommissioning and chemistry‑specific recycling processes.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability
  • Applies to secondary cells, batteries, battery modules and monoblocs > 900 cm³.
  • Intended to improve safety during handling, sorting and recycling.
• Defined chemistry symbols
  • Standardized symbols for common chemistries (lead‑acid, NiCd, NiMH, Li‑ion, lithium metal).
• Marking design and layout
  • Rules on symbol design, character style and placement on the battery.
  • Options for markings with or without an accompanying recycling symbol.
• Colour and background
  • Guidance on background colours for contrast and legibility to aid fast visual identification.
• Dimensions and sizing
  • Requirements for symbol and marking sizes to ensure visibility across battery sizes (details specified in the standard).
• Durability and testing
  • Durability tests against water, recommended cleaning agents, electrolytes and neutralizing solutions to ensure long‑term legibility.
• Normative references
  • Cross‑references to related IEC/EN documents (e.g., IEC 60896 series and ISO graphical symbol standards such as ISO 7000).

Applications

• Manufacturers and OEMs
  • Implement standardized chemistry markings on new batteries, modules and packs for product compliance and safer supply chains.
• Installers and system integrators
  • Use markings to verify chemistry during commissioning and maintenance of battery energy storage systems (BESS), UPS, telecom and EV applications.
• Recyclers and waste handlers
  • Rapid identification reduces the risk of incorrect recycling processes and associated safety incidents.
• Regulators and test laboratories
  • Reference for conformity checks, labelling audits and durability testing of battery markings.
• End users and service technicians
  • Improve safety during decommissioning and replacement operations by quick visual identification of battery chemistry.

Related Standards

• EN/IEC 60896 (stationary lead‑acid test/requirements)
• ISO 7000 (graphical symbols for use on equipment) - recycling symbol design reference

EN IEC 62902:2019 provides a practical, safety‑focused framework for consistent battery chemistry labelling that supports lifecycle management, regulatory compliance and efficient recycling workflows.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2019
Sekundarne celice in baterije: Simboli za označevanje za identifikacijo kemične
sestave
Secondary cells and batteries - Marking symbols for identification of their chemistry
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62902:2019
ICS:
01.080.20 Grafični simboli za posebno Graphical symbols for use on
opremo specific equipment
29.220.01 Galvanski členi in baterije na Galvanic cells and batteries
splošno in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 62902

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2019
ICS 29.220.20; 29.220.30
English Version
Secondary cells and batteries - Marking symbols for
identification of their chemistry
(IEC 62902:2019)
Batteries d'accumulateurs - Symboles de marquage pour Sekundär-Batterien - Symbole für die Kennzeichnung zur
l'identification de leur caractéristique chimique Identifikation ihrer Chemie
(IEC 62902:2019) (IEC 62902:2019)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2019-03-12. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62902:2019 E
European foreword
The text of document 21/990/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62902, prepared by IEC/TC 21 "Secondary
cells and batteries" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2019-12-12
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2022-03-12
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62902:2019 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated:
IEC 60622 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60622
IEC 61056 (series) NOTE Harmonized as EN 61056 (series)
IEC 61951-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61951-1
IEC 61951-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61951-2
IEC 61960-3 NOTE Harmonized as EN 61960-3
IEC 62620:2014 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62620:2015 (not modified)
IEC 62675 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62675

Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60896-21 2004 Stationary lead-acid batteries - Part 21: Valve EN 60896-21 2004
regulated types - Methods of test
IEC 60896-22 2004 Stationary lead-acid batteries - Part 22: Valve EN 60896-22 2004
regulated types - Requirements
ISO 7000 -  Graphical symbols for use on equipment - - -
Registered symbols
IEC 62902 ®
Edition 1.0 2019-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Secondary cells and batteries – Marking symbols for identification of their

chemistry
Batteries d'accumulateurs – Symboles de marquage pour l'identification de leur

caractéristique chimique
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 29.220.20; 29.220.30 ISBN 978-2-8322-6544-4

– 2 – IEC 62902:2019 © IEC 2019
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Application of markings . 9
4.1 General . 9
4.2 Marking of electrochemical battery systems . 9
4.3 Application of the markings on the battery . 9
5 Markings. 10
5.1 Markings without recycling symbol . 10
5.1.1 General . 10
5.1.2 Lead acid batteries . 10
5.1.3 Nickel cadmium batteries . 10
5.1.4 Nickel metal hydride batteries . 10
5.1.5 Lithium ion batteries . 10
5.1.6 Lithium metal batteries . 10
5.2 Optional markings with recycling symbol . 11
5.2.1 General . 11
5.2.2 Lead acid batteries . 11
5.2.3 Nickel cadmium batteries . 11
5.2.4 Nickel metal hydride batteries . 11
5.2.5 Lithium ion batteries . 12
5.2.6 Lithium metal batteries . 12
5.3 Background colours . 12
5.4 Design of markings and symbols . 12
5.4.1 General . 12
5.4.2 Dimensions for symbols . 13
5.4.3 Dimensions for markings without recycling symbol . 13
5.4.4 Dimensions for markings with recycling symbol . 14
5.4.5 Design of the recycling symbol in accordance with ISO 7000-
1135:2004-01 . 15
5.4.6 Design of the letters (characters) . 15
6 Durability of markings with respect to chemical agents . 15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Test procedure . 16
6.2.2 Test with water and recommended cleaning agents . 16
6.2.3 Test with electrolyte . 16
6.2.4 Test with neutralizing solutions . 16
6.3 Criteria . 16
Annex A (informative) Colours for background . 17
A.1 General . 17
A.2 Colour definition for background . 17
Bibliography . 18

Figure 1 – Example of marking for lead acid batteries . 10
Figure 2 – Example of marking for nickel cadmium batteries . 10

IEC 62902:2019 © IEC 2019 – 3 –
Figure 3 – Example of marking for nickel metal hydride batteries . 10
Figure 4 – Example of marking for lithium ion batteries . 10
Figure 5 – Example of marking for lithium metal batteries . 10
Figure 6 – Example of marking with recycling symbol for lead acid batteries . 11
Figure 7 – Example of marking with recycling symbol for nickel cadmium batteries . 11
Figure 8 – Example of marking with recycling symbol for nickel metal hydride batteries . 11
Figure 9 – Example of marking with recycling symbol for lithium ion batteries . 12
Figure 10 – Example of marking with recycling symbol for lithium metal batteries . 12
Figure 11 – Size of marking without recycling symbol . 13
Figure 12 – Size of marking with recycling symbol . 14
Figure 13 – Design of recycling symbol . 15
Figure 14 – Design of letters . 15

Table 1 – List of dimensions for symbols . 13
Table 2 – Test matrix for durability test of markings . 16
Table A.1 – Colour references . 17

– 4 – IEC 62902:2019 © IEC 2019
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SECONDARY CELLS AND BATTERIES –
MARKING SYMBOLS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR CHEMISTRY

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
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with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
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services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 62902 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 21:
Secondary cells and batteries.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
21/990/FDIS 21/994/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

IEC 62902:2019 © IEC 2019 – 5 –
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.
– 6 – IEC 62902:2019 © IEC 2019
SECONDARY CELLS AND BATTERIES –
MARKING SYMBOLS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR CHEMISTRY

1 Scope
This document specifies methods for the clear identification of secondary cells, batteries,
battery modules and monoblocs according to their chemistry (electrochemical storage
technology).
The markings described in this document are applicable for secondary cells, batteries, battery
modules and monoblocs with a volume of more than 900 cm .
The marking of the chemistry is useful for the installation, operation and decommissioning
phases of battery life.
Many recycling processes are chemistry specific, thus undesired events can occur when a
battery which is not of the appropriate chemistry
...