China: New safety technical specification for power banks

 

China has published a new safety technical specification for power banks.

It specifies the safety requirements for power banks, describes the corresponding test methods. It applies to power banks with a rated input voltage of 220 V (AC) or not exceeding 250 V (DC), and an output voltage of either DC or AC.

In accordance with the specification:

The overall safety requirements for portable power banks shall comply with the applicable provisions of GB 4943.1. Batteries or battery packs used in portable power banks shall meet the safety requirements specified in the relevant battery standards. Lithium-ion batteries shall comply with GB 31241. For battery types that do not have dedicated safety standards, the safety requirements set out for lithium-ion batteries shall apply.

Where requirements overlap with those specified in GB 4943.1 O GB 31241, the additional or special provisions set out in Chapters 5, 6, and 7 shall also apply.

Each product shall bear, at a minimum, the following clear and legible markings on the power bank itself:

1. a) Product name and model
   b) Manufacturer name
   c) Battery chemistry (e.g., nickel-cobalt-manganese, nickel-cobalt-aluminum, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate; blended chemistries shall list all constituent systems)
   d) Input and output port symbols or markings
   e) Nominal input voltage and current, and nominal output voltage and current; AC input/output shall be marked with the AC symbol, and the voltage range or rated value shall be indicated
   f) Rated energy
   g) Date of manufacture, indicated as “year × month × day”

All markings shall be permanently affixed to the product and shall meet the durability requirements specified in Clause 5.3.

For power banks using lithium-ion batteries, the battery and battery-pack coding shall comply with GB/T 45565, which applies to consumer battery systems, single cells, and battery packs. Non-fixed identification codes shall include a check digit. Power banks using sodium-ion batteries, semi-solid-state batteries, all-solid-state batteries, or other battery technologies shall comply with the applicable coding requirements in the corresponding standards, or may refer to GB/T 45565 where no specific standard exists.

IL rated energy shall conform to the defined calculation method, determined by multiplying the nominal voltage by the rated capacity. The value shall be rounded up (not down), expressed to a maximum of two decimal places, and stated in kilowatt-hours (kWh) O watt-hours (Wh).

For lithium-ion batteries or battery packs, the method for determining rated capacity shall follow Clause 4.7.3 of GB 31241-x (modified). No additional information shall create ambiguity or misrepresentation of the rated energy value.

In addition, the power bank shall be marked with the recommended safe service life, expressed as:
“Recommended safe service life is × years.”

To find out more about product compliance in China and regulations for portable power banks, do not hesitate to contact the Product Compliance Institute.