UN 38.

3 test series | Lithium Battery Service 04/05/20, 8)03 AM

Downloads Newsblog
Our clients Our partners

Lithium Battery Service / UN 38.3 test series

UN 38.3 test series

What does it mean?

Before lithium cells/batteries can be transported in the first place, they must have successfully
passed certain tests. These tests simulate transport conditions like pressure, temperature,
crush, impact ect. These tests are described in the United Nations manual called "UN manual of
tests and criteria". Part III of this manual describes in subsection 38.3 the 8 test modules which
in some documents or data sheets are also called T.1 to T.8 test.

Since 01. January 2019 the 6. Revised edition of the UN manual of tests and criteria,
Amendment 1 is valid.

Test Requirements according to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Part III, Subsection
38.3

The new edition of the UN manual of tests and criteria

When you are interested in the technical details of this UN test series 38.3, you can download
the up-to-date version of the German manual for free via the following link:
https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-bam/frontdoor/index/index/docId/47379

The English version of the UN 38.3 test you can find here:
http://www.unece.org/trans/areas-of-work/dangerous-goods/legal-instruments-

https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series Page 1 of 5
UN 38.3 test series | Lithium Battery Service 04/05/20, 8)03 AM

and-recommendations/un-manual-of-tests-and-criteria/rev6-files.html

https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series Page 2 of 5
UN 38.3 test series | Lithium Battery Service 04/05/20, 8)03 AM

In addition you need to download the file with the information on Amendment 1. Unfortunately
there is no consolidated version available. The Amendment can be found unter this link:
http://www.unece.org/trans/areas-of-work/dangerous-goods/legal-instruments-
and-recommendations/un-manual-of-tests-and-criteria/amend-to-rev6.html

With the changes on 01. January 2019 two tables have been added which present a nice
overview on the number of test samples for each of the tests in the UN test series 38.3:

New requirement of a UN 38.3 Test Summary from 01. January 2020 onwards

With the changes on 01. January 2019 in the UN manual of tests and criteria a new subsection
38.3.5 was included which refers to the specific regulations of the different transport modes.
Latest on 01. January 2020 the information on the successfully passed UN 38.3 test must be
documented in a lot more details and must be provided to users. At the moment a general
declaration of conformity stating "The UN 38.3 test has been successfully passed" is sufficient.

The UN 38.3 Test Summary must included the following information:

We have included all those information into our Supplier Inquiry Form. You may download this
combined UN38.3 Test Summary and Supplier Inquiry Form under this link:
https://www.lithium-batterie-
service.de/files/552211cce724117c3178e3d22bec532ec/downloads/UN38-3-Test-Summary-
and-Supplier-Inquiry-Form-Lithium-Battery-Service-2019-04-02.pdf

This combined UN 38.3 Test Summary and Supplier Inquiry Form we provide to you free of

https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series Page 3 of 5
UN 38.3 test series | Lithium Battery Service 04/05/20, 8)03 AM

charge. You may use it free of charge and even include your own logo in it provided that our
copyright information in the footer is kept in place.

What does that mean for you as Shipper?

You as shipper of lithium cells/batteries have to get a confirmation from the manufacturer of the
cell/battery or from the supplier that the cells/batteries provided have successfully passed the
UN 38.3 test series. And from 2020 this declaration of conformity needs to include the details of
the UN 38.3 Test Summary. Of course this is also needed for lithium cells and/or lithium batteries
that are already installed in equipment. Here the manufacturer of the equipment has the
obligation to provide the information to you.

Usually you´ll find this information in product data sheets of the manufacturer. Unfortunately at
the moment there is no obligation for the lithium cells / lithium batteries or the equipment
containing lithium cells and/or lithium batteries to bear a note regarding this.

Here a very important tip from experience: Batteries are subject to the UN 38.3 test regardless
of whether the cells they are composed of have passed the test or not. You have to look very
closely what the manufacturer or supplier confirms. The certificate must match your lithium cell /
lithium battery.

https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series Page 4 of 5
UN 38.3 test series | Lithium Battery Service 04/05/20, 8)03 AM

Transport of lithium cells / lithium batteries without UN 38.3 test

Without a confirmation of this UN 38.3 test lithium cells and lithium batteries may only be
transported following stricter requirements as so called prototypes. This is also possible for
small series of max. 100 lithium cells / lithium batteries. This is regulated in the ADR and IMDG
code in Special Provision 310 and for this variety of transport you can find the relevant checklist
on our website via FIND A SINGLE CHECKLIST and "Detailed Search".

In air transport this is regulated in the IATA DGR manual in Special Provision A88. For this an
exemption from the appropriate national authority is needed every time. We have developed
checklists for this transport variety also, even though the appropriate national authority will
determine the requirements for transport and especially for packaging for each individual case.

How can we help you?

Should you have questions regarding the UN 38.3 test certificate or when you´re looking for a
UN 38.3 Test certificate of a certain product, please contact us via the button
"Contact/Consulting". We have obtained quite a lot of UN 38.3 certificates or UN 38.3
declarations of conformity ourselves and we can help you directly or to support you in your
search.

Quality Management Program for the manufacture of lithium cells / lithium batteries

Closely related to the UN test series according to 38.3 is the additional requirement that the
manufacturer of the lithium cells / lithium batteries must manufacture under a clearly described
quality management program. With this shall be ensured that the production series is not of low
quality which could present a risk during transport.

At the moment it doesn´t have to be a certified system like ISO 9001 but on request the
manufacturer must present proof of the existing qualtiy management program to the authorites.
A certification according to ISO 9001 of the manufacturing process would fulfill all requirements
of the transport regulations on the Quality Management Program for the manfuacture of the
lithium cells / lithium batteries.

As shipper / consignor of lithium cells / lithium batteries you must get a confirmation from the
manufacturer or your supplier that the manufacture was according to the required QM Program.
In our checklists we do have a check point regarding this. And in our combined Supplier Inquiry
Form and UN 38.3 Test Summary we included it also.

The details on the Quality Management Programm on the manufacture of lithium cells / lithium
batteries we´ve provided for you under this link:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/quality-management-program

https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/un-38.3-test-series Page 5 of 5