On September 21, 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the United States decided to adopt UL 4200A-2023 (Standard for Safety Products Incorporating Button Batteries or Coin Cell Batteries) as a mandatory consumer product safety rule for consumer products containing button or coin batteries. The relevant requirements were also included in 16 CFR 1263.
The standard UL 4200A: 2023 has officially came into effect on October 23, 2023. 16 CFR 1263 also came into effect on the same day on October 23, 2023. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of the United States will grant a 180 day enfrcement transition period from September 21, 2023 to March 19, 2024. 16CFR 1263 mandatory execution date is March 19, 2024.
UL 4200A-2023 Standard Explanation
1) Scope:
1.1 These requirements cover household type products that incorporate or may use button batteries or coin cell batteries.
1.2 These requirements do not cover products that exclusively use zinc-air battery technologies.
1.2A These requirements do not cover toy products that comply with battery accessibility and labeling requirements of ASTM F963, Safety Standard for Toys.
1.3 These requirements apply to consumer products containing button batteries or coin cells batteries.
They do not apply to products that by virtue of their dedicated purpose and instructions are not intended to be used in locations where they may be accessed by children, such as products for dedicated professional use or commercial use in locations where children are not normally or typically present.
1.4 These requirements are intended to supplement other safety requirements for products that incorporate button batteries or coin cell batteries, and are not intended to supersede specific requirements that are incorporated into other safety standards to mitigate physiological hazards from button batteries or coin cells batteries.
BUTTON/COIN CELL BATTERY – A single cell battery having a diameter of 32 mm (1.25 in) maximum, and diameter greater than its height.
2) Construction:
Products that use button/coin cell batteries shall be designed to minimize the risk of children removing and ingesting or aspirating the batteries. The battery compartment must be fixed so that they require the use of tools or at least two independent and simultaneous hand movements to open, and these two opening movements cannot be combined by one finger in one action. And after performance testing, the battery room door/cover should not be opened and should remain functional. The battery should not be accessible.
3) Performance:
Including Stress relief test, Drop test, Impact test, Crush test, Torque test, Tension test, Compression test, and Secureness test.
4) Markings:
A. Product Markings:
When space on the product is limited, the following symbol can be used, but the meaning of this symbol needs to be explained in the product manual or other printed materials accompanying the product packaging:
B. Packaging Markings:
As an alternative to Figure 7B. 1, Figure 7B. 2 can also be used as an alternative:
C. Permanence of Markings:
The test is conducted by rubbing the marking by hand without appreciable force for 15 s with a piece of cloth soaked with water and at a different place or on a different sample for 15 s with a piece of cloth soaked with the petroleum spirit specified in 7D.3.
D. Instructions:
Instructions and manuals, if provided, shall include all of the applicable markings in Figure 7B.1 or Figure 7B.2 and the statements noted below. If instructions and manuals are not provided, the statements shall be present on the principal display panel or secondary display panel of the consumer product packaging, or if there is no consumer product packaging, the accompanying hang tag or sticker label.
a) The statement “Remove and immediately recycle or dispose of used batteries according to local regulations and keep away from children. Do NOT dispose of batteries in household trash or incinerate.”
b) The statement “Even used batteries may cause severe injury or death.”
c) The statement “Call a local poison control center for treatment information.”
d) A statement indicating the compatible battery type (e.g., LR44, CR2032).
e) A statement indicating the nominal battery voltage.
f) The statement “Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged.”
g) The statement “Do not force discharge, recharge, disassemble, heat above(manufacturer's specified temperature rating) or incinerate. Doing so may result in injury due to venting, leakage or explosion resulting in chemical burns.”
Products with replaceable button/coin cell batteries shall additionally include:
a) The statement “Ensure the batteries are installed correctly according to polarity (+ and -).”
b) The statement “Do not mix old and new batteries, different brands or types of batteries, such as alkaline, carbon-zinc, or rechargeable batteries.”
c) The statement “Remove and immediately recycle or dispose of batteries from equipment not used for an extended period of time according to local regulations.”
d) The statement “Always completely secure the battery compartment. If the battery compartment does not close securely, stop using the product, remove the batteries, and keep them away from children.”
Products with non-replaceable button/coin cell batteries shall additionally include a statement indicating the product contains non-replaceable batteries.
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