ANSI Committee to Discuss Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C18-5 subcommittee on rechargeable battery safety standards will meet on October 3-4, 2006, in Las Vegas. In light of recent reports of the overheating of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the subcommittee has added discussion of these batteries to its agenda.

"Manufacturers and users of lithium-ion batteries as well as other interested parties are welcome and encouraged to attend," stated Paul Orr, Program Manager at NEMA. "We want to see if there is a way we can contribute to a solution." NEMA (the National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is the Secretary of the ANSI C18 subcommittee.

"ANSI C18.2M, Part 2 for Portable Rechargeable Cells and Batteries – Safety Standard" specifies performance requirements for portable rechargeable cells and batteries to ensure their safe operation under normal use and reasonable foreseeable misuse. It includes information relevant to hazard avoidance. The ANSI C18 Committee anticipates revisions to this standard in early 2007.