BIPBA has worked alongside industry stakeholders such as CAPT, British Retail Consortium and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident to develop Publicly Available Standard 7055:2021 which looks to address the safety issues that can be posed by button and coin batteries, and to provide a consistent approach for products that contain these batteries.

BIPBA was instrumental in the design of the PAS document which outlines requirements for battery manufacturers and the manufacturers of products containing batteries. These requirements including the placing of warnings on batteries, battery packaging and on products that contain these batteries, and testing requirements for products containing button and coin batteries.

PAS 7055:2021 can be downloaded in full here.

PAS 7055:2021 – Summary

Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 7055 aims to address safety issues posed by button (non-lithium) and coin (lithium) batteries, and to provide a consistent approach for products that contain these batteries. The PAS sets out required warnings on batteries, battery packaging and on products that contain these batteries. It sets out requirements for manufacturers of batteries, manufacturers of consumer products containing such batteries and distributors. The PAS does not cover batteries for professional and industrial use or zinc air batteries.

The main PAS requirements for manufacturers of batteries are summarised below:

In the PAS, a button battery is defined as a ‘small round battery where the overall height is less than the diameter and having an electrochemical system that does not contain lithium’ (Source: BS EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020, 3.6.3)

A coin battery is defined as a ‘small round battery where the overall height is less than the diameter and having an electrochemical system that does contain lithium’ (Source: BS EN IEC 62115:2020+A11:2020, 3.6.4).

For the purposes of the PAS, where the term battery is used it includes button and coin battery.

Child-resistant packaging for batteries

The packaging for lithium coin batteries (regardless of size) and button batteries greater or equal to 16 mm in diameter shall conform to, as applicable to at least one of the following standards:

  • AS 5808-2009;
  • BS EN IEC 60086-4:2019;
  • BS EN ISO 8317:2015;
  • BS EN 862; and
  • USA:16 CFR §1700.15

Packaging design for button batteries < 16 mm should also be assessed against these requirements and ease of opening and the associated packaging design should be assessed for elderly people and other consumers in accordance with BS EN ISO 17480.

Warnings and information for batteries

The packaging of coin lithium batteries shall include the text, warning and contrasting colours in accordance with Figure 1.
Figure 1 – Warning against swallowing lithium coin batteries

If colour is not possible for the sign, black and white can be used

The packaging of button or non-lithium batteries shall include the warning, text and contrasting colours in accordance with Figure 2.
Figure 2 – Warning against swallowing button batteries

If colour is not possible for the sign, then black and white can be used

Marking on packaging for batteries

The packaging for batteries shall include the following warnings or equivalent:

  • “BATTERY WARNING: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”
  • “If you think batteries might have been swallowed or placed inside any part of the body, seek immediate medical attention”

The warnings on the packaging shall be permanent legible and indelible. They shall not be distorted when a battery is removed, e.g. with a multipack of batteries.

Marking on battery

One of the safety signs shown in Figure 3 shall be applied to batteries 20 mm or greater in diameter. The safety sign shall be durably and indelibly marked, with no colour required.

Figure 3 – Safety signs for use on batteries

Safety signs are specified for batteries with a 20 mm or greater diameter, as it is not possible to include on smaller batteries. If this does become a feasible option, it should be assessed for all battery sizes. Engraving, etching, embossing or stamping can also be used.

Warning criteria for batteries

When the warning signs shown in Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 are used, the following requirements shall be met:

  • the safety sign shall be on a contrasting background, which covers at least 50% of the area of the pictogram;
  • the diameter of the safety sign shall be 6 mm or larger
  • the text “BATTERY WARNING: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” shall contrast with the background colour on which it is printed.

The PAS can be found in full here. Interested parties should ensure they read the full standard and not solely rely on this summary.