Understanding Power Bank Certification Standards

Power banks, also known as portable chargers, have become indispensable in today’s device-dependent environment. As with any lithium-powered product, they pose potential risks if not properly designed, manufactured, or tested. This makes certification standards essential, not just for compliance, but for ensuring the safety, performance, and marketability of these products worldwide.

This guide outlines the certification requirements across major global markets, highlighting the critical standards manufacturers, importers, and sellers must meet.

What Are Power Bank Certification Standards?

Power bank certification standards are a set of regulatory and safety guidelines designed to evaluate the electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and environmental compliance of portable battery-powered charging devices. These standards are developed by international organizations, national regulators, and regional bodies to reduce the risk of:

Electric shock
Fire hazards
Battery explosion
Electromagnetic interference
Chemical exposure

Compliance is often legally mandatory for market entry and is a foundational requirement for product liability insurance, consumer trust, and retail partnerships.

International Safety Standards for Power Banks

IEC 62368-1: General Safety Compliance

The IEC 62368-1 is the principal international safety standard for audio/video, IT, and communication equipment. It applies to power banks as they fall under portable information technology equipment.

Key focus areas include:

Electrical shock protection
Thermal safety (heating and fire prevention)
Mechanical hazard control (drop resistance, crush tests)
Material flammability and combustion testing

IEC 62368-1 uses a hazard-based safety engineering (HBSE) approach. Instead of prescribing fixed requirements, it focuses on identifying hazards and designing preventive mechanisms based on product usage scenarios.

This standard has been widely adopted by regions including the EU, Canada, Japan, and Australia under their respective harmonized formats.

UN38.3: Lithium Battery Transportation Safety

For international shipping, compliance with UN38.3 under the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria is mandatory.

Power banks, which typically contain lithium-ion cells, must pass the following tests:

Altitude simulation
Thermal testing (high/low temperature cycles)
Vibration
Shock
External short circuit
Impact (crush test)
Overcharge
Forced discharge

Non-compliant products are barred from air transport. This standard applies to shipping via air, sea, rail, and road.

Regional and National Certification Standards

United States

UL 2056: Product Safety of Power Banks

UL 2056 is the key certification issued by Underwriters Laboratories. It specifically targets battery-powered portable power banks.

Requirements include:

Overcharge and discharge protection
Thermal protection circuits
Drop resistance
Flame-retardant casing materials

UL 2056 certification also facilitates entry into major retailers like Walmart and Amazon, who often demand UL-certified listings.

FCC Part 15 Subpart B: Electromagnetic Compliance

Any device that emits unintentional radio frequency energy must comply with FCC Part 15 Subpart B.

For power banks, this covers:

EMI (electromagnetic interference)
Harmful interference to radio, TV, and communication equipment

The device must undergo EMC testing and label appropriately with the FCC Declaration of Conformity.

European Union

EN 62368-1: Harmonized Safety Standard

The EU has adopted EN 62368-1, a harmonized version of IEC 62368-1 under the Low Voltage Directive (LVD).

Compliance allows CE marking, which is legally required to sell electronic products in the EU. CE marking represents:

Electrical safety
User protection
Product reliability under normal usage conditions

CE-EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility

EMC is governed under the EMC Directive (2014/30/EU). Power banks must pass:

EN 55032: Limits for radiated/conducted emissions
EN 55035: Immunity against electrostatic discharge, radiated RF fields, etc.

ROHS Directive (2011/65/EU)

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) directive limits the use of toxic materials such as:

Lead (Pb)
Mercury (Hg)
Cadmium (Cd)
Hexavalent chromium

Power banks must comply with ROHS to be CE-marked.

REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006)

REACH governs chemical safety within the EU. Manufacturers must register and document any substances of very high concern (SVHCs) present in:

PCB coatings
Housing plastics
Soldering materials

WEEE Directive (2012/19/EU)

This directive obligates producers to support the proper disposal, recycling, and return logistics of used power banks as e-waste.

China

CCC and GB/T35590

China requires China Compulsory Certification (CCC) for a broad range of electrical products. Power banks must comply with:

GB/T35590-2017: General safety and performance specification for portable power sources
Covers output capacity, energy efficiency, and short-circuit protection

Third-party testing in approved labs is mandatory, and certification is enforced at customs.

South Korea

KC62133-2 and KN32/KN35

Power banks sold in South Korea must meet:

KC62133-2: Lithium battery safety
KN32 & KN35: EMC emission and immunity standards

Products must bear the KC mark, indicating conformity with South Korean technical standards.

Taiwan

BSMI Certification

Power banks must be certified by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI). Applicable standards include:

CNS 15364: Battery safety
CNS 13438: EMC testing (similar to EN55032)
CNS 15598-1: Product safety standard

Australia and New Zealand

RCM Mark: Regulatory Compliance Mark

Products must meet both EMC and electrical safety requirements:

AS/NZS CISPR 32: EMC emissions
AS/NZS 62368.1: Electrical safety aligned with IEC standard

The RCM mark is mandatory for all low-voltage electrical products.

Key Safety Features Required in Certified Power Banks

Certified power banks typically integrate the following safety mechanisms:

Overcharge and overdischarge protection
Short circuit protection
Temperature monitoring (thermal cutoff)
Overcurrent and surge protection
Flame-retardant casing
Battery management system (BMS) for voltage balancing

These features are not optional in most markets and are evaluated during compliance testing.

Every market has clear, enforceable rules for power bank certification, shaped by safety, performance, and environmental priorities. Manufacturers must rigorously align their products with these standards to avoid legal exposure and to gain retailer, platform, and consumer trust.

Act now: Verify your target market’s applicable standards and initiate third-party testing through an accredited lab. No product should ship untested.