The Australian Government has introduced four new mandatory safety and information standards for button batteries and consumer products containing button batteries. These new mandatory standards have been introduced to reduce the risk of death and injury associated with the use of button and coin batteries. The requirements of the mandatory standards are applicable to both button cell and coin cell batteries. The new standards were published in December 2020 and mandatory compliance is required by June 2022.
What are the button battery standards for Australia?
The four new standards are broken into two categories one for supplying batteries and one for products that contain these types of batteries. Both having subsections dealing with the physical changes required to packaging and construction of products and one with the supplied information and warnings.
– Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard
– Consumer Goods (Products Containing Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard
– Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Safety Standard
– Consumer Goods (Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard
In this article, we will discuss the product containing button or coin batteries. And cover mainly the Australian mandatory safety compliance testing aspect. For more information relating to the information aspect and supplying of batteries please visit:
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/standards/button-coin-batteries
What types of batteries are considered to be button batteries?
- a small, single-cell battery with a diameter greater than the battery’s height.
What types of products are affected by the Australian button battery safety law?
Most products sold under the Australian consumer law will be required to comply, there are some exemptions notably hearing aids. Additionally, if the product meets all the following criteria; professional equipment for trades, professions, or industries that are not sold for the general public and is not intended to be used around children. The new mandatory requirements do not apply to products supplied prior to June 2022. However, all manufacturers and distributors should be active in complying as soon as possible.
What are the design and construction requirements for products containing button/coin batteries?
In this article, we will discuss the product containing button or coin batteries. And cover mainly the mandatory safety compliance testing aspect.
Key safety requirements for coin/button consumer product design and construction are restricting access to coin/button batteries from children. This is achieved by using multiple mechanisms, including:
- A secure battery compartment where the opening mechanism is resistant by young children
- The batteries held secure are not released during reasonably foreseeable use and misuse conditions
- If the battery compartment or cover is secured by screws, these screws must be retained within the cover.
- For consumer goods with a non-replaceable button, which is accessible by the consumer must meet section 6.4 of UL 4200A (Standard for Products Incorporating Button or Coin Cell Batteries of Lithium Technologies).
How to get products containing button/coin batteries product safety tested?
To demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this safety standard, suppliers of consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries may choose to comply with the set of compliance tests that are referenced in either:
- one of the product-specific industry standards — that is, industry standards that apply vertically to a specific product category, that may include;
- AS/NZS 62368.1:2018 or IEC 62368‑1:2018 Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment‑Part 1: Safety requirements
- AS/NZS 62115:2018 or IEC 62115:2017 Electric toys—Safety
- AS/NZS 8124.1:2019 or ISO 8124.1:2019 Safety of Toys Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties
- AS/NZS 60065:2018 Audio, video, and similar electronic apparatus‑Safety requirements
- AS/NZS 60598.1:2017 Luminaires Part 1: General requirements and tests
- a non-product specific industry-standard — UL 4200A UL Standard for Safety for Products Incorporating Button or Coin Cell Batteries of Lithium Technologies, as published by UL Standards, an industry-standard that applies horizontally to products that contain button/coin batteries. However, some testing may still reference one of the above product-specific standards.
On request by a regulator, a supplier must nominate the set of compliance tests that the supplier has relied upon to demonstrate compliance with this safety standard.
What types of additional button battery safety testing is required?
The above tests require in some cases some specialised calibrated equipment that allow the following testing:
- Environmental conditioning such as temperature
- Impact testing
- Manipulation using specific test probes
- Crush testing
- Force testing
- Drop testing
EMC Technologies product safety testing for products containing button batteries
Please contact us now to find out more about how we can help with your Australian mandatory product compliance. Australian mandatory compliance may also include the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) scheme, Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS), and other product-specific standards as listed on the Product Safety Australia website.
We only covered the testing aspect for products containing button/coin batteries for more information regarding the warnings and safety information required under the Button/Coin Batteries) Information Standard(s) visit the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Product Safety Australia website.