IEC 60086-5:2021

Primary batteries - Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte

IEC 60086-5:2021 is available as IEC 60086-5:2021 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.
IEC 60086-5:2021 specifies tests and requirements for primary batteries with aqueous electrolyte to ensure their safe operation under intended use and reasonably foreseeable misuse.
The contents of the corrigendum of June 2022 have been included in this copy.

Piles électriques - Partie 5: Sécurité des piles à électrolyte aqueux

IEC 60086-5:2021 est disponible sous forme de IEC 60086-5:2021 RLV qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'édition précédente.
L'IEC 60086-5:2021 spécifie les essais et exigences pour les piles à électrolyte aqueux afin d'assurer leur fonctionnement sûr dans les conditions d'utilisation prévue et en cas de mauvais usage raisonnablement prévisible.
Le contenu du corrigendum de juin 2022 a été pris en considération dans cet exemplaire.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Sep-2021
• ICS: 29.220.10 - Primary cells and batteries
• Technical Committee: TC 35 - Primary cells and batteries
• Drafting Committee: MT 16 - TC 35/MT 16
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 27-Aug-2021
• Completion Date: 30-Sep-2021

Relations

• Corrected By: IEC 60086-5:2021/COR1:2022 - Corrigendum 1 - Primary batteries - Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 60086-5:2016 - Primary batteries - Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60086-5
®

Edition 5.0 2021-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside


Primary batteries –
Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte

Piles électriques –
Partie 5: Sécurité des piles à électrolyte aqueux

IEC 60086-5:2021-09(en-fr)

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IEC 60086-5

®


Edition 5.0 2021-09




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD




NORME



INTERNATIONALE
colour

inside










Primary batteries –

Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte




Piles électriques –

Partie 5: Sécurité des piles à électrolyte aqueux
















INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE


INTERNATIONALE




ICS 29.220.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-1007-4




Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

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® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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– 2 – IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Requirements for safety . 10
4.1 Design . 10
4.1.1 General . 10
4.1.2 Venting . 10
4.2 Quality plan . 10
5 Sampling . 10
5.1 General . 10
5.2 Sampling for type testing . 11
5.3 Validity of testing . 11
6 Testing and requirements . 11
6.1 General . 11
6.1.1 Applicable safety tests . 11
6.1.2 Cautionary notice. 12
6.1.3 Ambient temperature . 12
6.2 Evaluation of test criteria . 13
6.2.1 Explosion . 13
6.2.2 Fire . 13
6.2.3 Leakage . 13
6.2.4 Venting . 13
6.3 Intended use . 13
6.3.1 Intended use tests and requirements . 13
6.3.2 Intended use test procedures . 13
6.4 Reasonably foreseeable misuse . 16
6.4.1 Reasonably foreseeable misuse tests and requirements . 16
6.4.2 Reasonably foreseeable misuse test procedures . 16
7 Information for safety . 18
7.1 Precautions during handling of batteries . 18
7.2 Packaging . 20
7.3 Handling of battery cartons . 20
7.4 Display and storage . 20
7.5 Transportation . 21
7.6 Disposal . 21
8 Instructions for use . 21
9 Marking and packaging . 22
9.1 General batteries . 22
9.2 Swallowable button cells . 22
9.3 Safety pictograms . 22
Annex A (informative) Additional information on display and storage . 24
Annex B (informative) Battery compartment design guidelines . 25
B.1 Background. 25

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IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
B.1.1 General . 25
B.1.2 Battery failures resulting from poor battery compartment design . 25
B.1.3 Potential hazards resulting from battery reversal . 25
B.1.4 Potential hazards resulting from a short circuit . 25
B.2 General guidance for appliance design . 26
B.2.1 Key battery factors to be first considered . 26
B.2.2 Other important factors to consider . 26
B.3 Specific measures against reversed installation . 27
B.3.1 General . 27
B.3.2 Design of the positive contact . 27
B.3.3 Design of the negative contact . 27
B.3.4 Design with respect to battery orientation . 28
B.3.5 Dimensional considerations . 28
B.4 Specific measures to prevent short-circuiting of batteries . 31
B.4.1 Measures to prevent short-circuiting due to battery jacket damage . 31
B.4.2 Measures to prevent external short circuit of a battery caused when
coiled spring contacts are employed for battery connection . 31
B.5 Special considerations regarding recessed negative contacts . 33
B.6 Waterproof and non-vented devices . 34
B.7 Other design considerations . 34
Annex C (informative) Safety pictograms . 36
C.1 General . 36
C.2 Pictograms . 36
C.3 Recommendations for use. 38
Annex D (informative) Use of the KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN safety sign . 39
D.1 General . 39
D.2 Safety sign . 39
D.3 Best practices for marking the packaging . 39
Annex E (informative) Child resistant packaging . 40
E.1 General . 40
E.1.1 General . 40
E.1.2 Applicability . 40
E.1.3 Packaging design . 40
E.2 Packaging tests . 40
E.2.1 General . 40
E.2.2 Test items . 40
E.2.3 Test procedure . 42
E.2.4 Criteria . 42
Bibliography . 44

Figure 1 – Sampling for tests and number of batteries required . 11
Figure 2 – Temperature cycling procedure . 16
Figure 3 – Circuit diagram for incorrect installation (four batteries in series) . 17
Figure 4 – Circuit diagram for external short circuit . 17
Figure 5 – Circuit diagram for overdischarge . 18
Figure 6 – XYZ axes for free fall . 18
Figure 7 – Ingestion gauge . 19
Figure B.1 – Example of series connection with one battery reversed . 25

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– 4 – IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021
Figure B.2 – Positive contact recessed between ribs. 27
Figure B.3 – Positive contact recessed within surrounding insulation . 27
Figure B.4 – Negative contact U-shaped to ensure no positive (+) battery contact . 27
Figure B.5 – Design with respect to battery orientation . 28
Figure B.6 – Example of the design of a positive contact of an appliance . 30
Figure B.7 – Example of a short circuit where a switch is piercing the battery insulating
jacket . 31
Figure B.8 – Typical example of insulation to prevent short circuit . 31
Figure B.9 – Insertion against spring (to be avoided) . 32
Figure B.10 – Examples showing distorted springs . 32
Figure B.11 – Example of protected insertion . 32
Figure B.12 – Example of negative contacts . 34
Figure B.13 – Example of series connection of batteries with voltage tapping . 35
Figure E.1 – Bending test . 41
Figure E.2 – Torsion test. 41
Figure E.3 – Tearing test . 42
Figure E.4 – Pushing test . 42
Figure E.5 – Maximum packaging opening . 43

Table 1 – Test matrix . 12
Table 2 – Intended use tests and requirements . 13
Table 3 – Shock pulse . 14
Table 4 – Test sequence of the shock test . 14
Table 5 – Test sequence of the vibration test . 15
Table 6 – Reasonably foreseeable misuse tests and requirements. 16
Table 7 – Marking and packaging requirements . 23
Table B.1 – Dimensions of battery terminals and recommended dimensions of the
positive contact of an appliance in Figure B.6 . 29
Table B.2 – Minimum wire diameters . 33
Table B.3 – Dimensions of the negative battery terminal . 34
Table C.1 – Safety pictograms . 36
Table E.1 – Test procedure . 42

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IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

PRIMARY BATTERIES –

Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte

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
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preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely 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
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3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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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.
IEC 60086-5 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 35: Primary cells and batteries. It
is an International Standard.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2016. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) revised information for safety dealing with keeping batteries out of the reach of children;
b) removal of the method to determine the insulation resistance;
c) changes to the test matrix;
d) revision of the over-discharge test;
e) revised definition and note for "button cell" or "button battery" in 3.2;
f) revised method for evaluation of an explosion, moved from 3.6 to 6.2.1.

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– 6 – IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
35/1471/FDIS 35/1472/RVD

Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60086 series, published under the general title Primary batteries,
can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under 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.
NOTE The attention of National Committees is drawn to the fact that equipment manufacturers and testing
organizations may need a transitional period following publication of a new, amended or revised IEC document in
which to make products in accordance with the new requirements and to equip themselves for conducting new or
revised tests.
It is the recommendation of the committee that the content of this document be adopted for implementation nationally
not earlier than 2 years from the date of publication. The transitional period applies specifically to Table 7.

IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document 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.

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IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021 – 7 –
INTRODUCTION
The concept of safety is closely related to safeguarding the integrity of people and property.
This part of IEC 60086 specifies tests and requirements for primary batteries with aqueous
electrolyte and has been prepared in accordance with ISO/IEC guidelines, taking into account
all relevant national and international standards which apply. Also included in this document is
guidance for appliance designers with respect to battery compartments and information
regarding packaging, handling, warehousing and transportation.
Safety is a balance between freedom from risks of harm and other demands to be met by the
product. There can be no absolute safety. Even at the highest level of safety, the product can
only be relatively safe. In this respect, decision-making is based on risk evaluation and safety
judgement.
As safety will pose different problems, it is impossible to provide a set of precise provisions and
recommendations that will apply in every case. However, this document, when followed on a
judicious "use when applicable" basis, will provide reasonably consistent standards for safety.

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– 8 – IEC 60086-5:2021 © IEC 2021
PRIMARY BATTERIES –

Part 5: Safety of batteries with aqueous electrolyte



1 Scope
This part of IEC 60086 specifies tests and requirements for primary batteries with aqueous
electrolyte to ensure their safe operation under intended use and reasonably foreseeable
misuse.
2 Normative references
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.
IEC 60086-1:2015, Primary batteries – Part 1: General
IEC 60086-2:2015, Primary batteries – Part 2: Physical and electrical specifications
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
battery
one or more cells electrically connected by permanent means, fitted in a case, with terminals,
markings and protective devices etc., as necessary for use
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-482:2004, 482-01-04 [1], modified – The definition has been revised.]
3.2
button cell
button battery
small round cell or battery where the overall height is less than the diameter, containing
aqueous electrolyte
Note 1 to entry: See coin (cell or battery), lith
...