Page 104 - Lindens Handbook of Batteries

CHAPTER 4

BATTERY STANDARDIZATION

Steven Wicelinski

4.1 GENERAL

The standardization of batteries started in 1912, when a committee of the American Electrochemical
Society recommended standard methods of testing dry cells. This eventually led to the first national
publication in 1919, issued as an appendix to a circular from the National Bureau of Standards. It
further evolved into the present American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards
Committee C18 on Portable Cells and Batteries. Since then, other professional societies have devel-
oped battery-related standards. Many battery standards were also issued by international, national,
military, and federal organizations. Manufacturers’ associations, trade associations, and individual
manufacturers have published standards as well. Related application standards published by the
Underwriters Laboratories, the International Electrotechnical Commission, and other organizations
that cover battery-operated equipment may also be of interest.
Tables 4.1a to d list some of the widely known standards for batteries. Standards covering the
safety and regulation of batteries are listed in Table 4.11.

4.2 INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

International standards are rapidly gaining in importance. This has been further accelerated by the
creation of the European Common Market and the 1979 Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
The latter requires the use of international standards for world trade purposes.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the designated organization responsible for
standardization in the fields of electricity, electronics, and related technologies. Promoting international
cooperation on all questions of electrotechnical standardization and related matters is its basic mission.
This organization was founded in 1906 and consists of over 70 national committees that represent more
than 80% of the world’s population and 95% of the world’s production and consumption of electric-
ity. The International Standards Organization (ISO) is responsible for international standards in fields
other than electrical. IEC and ISO are gradually adopting equivalent development and documentation
procedures while ever closer ties are being established between these two international organizations.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the sole U.S. representative of the IEC
through the United States National Committee (USNC). This committee coordinates all IEC
activities in the United States. It also serves as the U.S. interface with emerging regional standards-
developing bodies such as CENELEC, PASC, CANENA, COPANT, ARSO, and other foreign
and national groups. ANSI does not itself develop standards; rather it facilitates development by
establishing consensus among accredited, qualified groups. These standards are published as U.S.
National Standards (see Table 4.1b).

4.1