UL 1973 Certification Test Report

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UL 1973 is a testing standard for stationary energy storage batteries, developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the United States. The primary purpose of this standard is to ensure the safety of stationary energy storage batteries throughout their design, manufacturing, and usage processes, aiming to prevent fires, electric shocks, and other potential risks. UL 1973 provides a benchmark for evaluation and certification for manufacturers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies of stationary energy storage batteries to ensure their safety and reliability in practical use.

Standard Background

The third edition of UL 1973 was released on February 25, 2022. It serves as the safety standard for North American energy storage battery systems and is a dual-country standard for the United States and Canada. Additionally, this standard is recognized in other regions such as the Clean Energy Council (CEC) in Australia, enabling certified products to enter both North American and Australian markets.

The International Fire Code (IFC) is a set of fire safety regulations in the United States, where Section 1207 - Electrical Energy Storage System, requires compliance with UL 1973 regarding thermal runaway protection methods and battery system safety requirements.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops standards for fire safety. NFPA 70, Article 706 - Energy Storage Systems, also mandates compliance with UL 1973 for thermal runaway protection and safety requirements of battery systems.

NFPA 70, equivalent to the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States, has been adopted by all 50 states and serves as a benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect individuals and properties from electrical hazards.

NFPA 855 - Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, developed by NFPA, specifies installation standards for stationary energy storage systems. Chapter 9 - Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems requires compliance with UL 1973 for battery systems, modules, capacitor systems, and thermal runaway protection.

Standard Content

The standard covers various types of battery systems used in stationary, photovoltaic, wind, backup power, communication base stations, vehicle auxiliary power, LER, etc. It includes assessments of the structural and test evaluations of energy storage systems. However, the standard is solely a safety standard and does not include performance and reliability assessments.

Monitoring and Testing

UL 1973 covers multiple aspects of stationary energy storage batteries to evaluate their safety under different conditions. The standard requires a series of tests and assessments to validate their performance under normal operation, abnormal conditions, and accident states. Some tests and assessments that UL 1973 may involve include:

Electrical performance testing: To verify the electrical performance of energy storage batteries, including parameters like voltage, current, capacity, etc., to ensure they meet design specifications and can operate normally under expected working conditions.

Thermal performance testing: To evaluate the thermal management performance of energy storage batteries under different temperature conditions, preventing overheating or overcooling and reducing the probability of fires and other safety risks.

Safety performance testing: The standard may require testing the performance of energy storage batteries under abnormal conditions such as short circuits, overcharging, overdischarging, etc., to assess their protection mechanisms and response capabilities.

Cycle life testing: By conducting cycle charge-discharge tests, the lifespan and performance degradation of energy storage batteries can be evaluated, aiding in predicting their lifespan in practical use and formulating maintenance plans.

Battery management system evaluation: The battery management system plays a critical role in energy storage batteries, and UL 1973 may require evaluations of its design and functionality to ensure its effectiveness in protecting and managing batteries.

Related Standards

Some standards related to UL 1973 for stationary energy storage battery testing include:

- UL 9540 - Energy Storage Systems

- UL 1642 - Lithium Batteries

- IEC 62619 - Safety performance assessment methods for energy storage systems

- IEC 62133 - Safety performance testing for lithium-ion batteries

- GB/T 31485 - Safety technical requirements for lithium-ion battery energy storage systems