UL Launches In-Flight Battery Fire Containment Certification Services

Northbrook, Illinois, February 16, 2021 – UL, a global safety science leader, today announced the launch of the world’s first testing and certification services for in-flight battery fire containment products in accordance with the recently published ANSI/CAN/UL 5800, the Standard for Safety for Battery Fire Containment Products.

Fire containment products are designed for trained airline personnel to contain damaged portable electronic devices (PEDs) with compromised lithium-ion batteries onboard the aircraft. The introduction of ANSI/CAN/UL 5800 in December 2020 signaled the shared desire and combined efforts of aviation industry stakeholders to mitigate the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries within PEDs. The stakeholders involved in the development of the Standard include international representatives from airlines, shipping companies, government bodies and containment product developers.

Kevin Faltin, vice president of global operations for UL’s Built Environment division, said, “While fire containment devices are currently available and widely used in the passenger flight market, UL’s new third-party certification program for battery fire containment products helps manufacturers to deliver quality and performance, and confirm safety compliance with a standard defined by the industry. This one-of-a-kind program will ultimately allow businesses to gain market access while driving stakeholder confidence and trust.” 

The process consists of a three-part test series to confirm eligibility for product certification. The test series evaluates the ability of a product to contain or mitigate fire, heat, smoke, or debris, that may result from a battery on fire. Businesses who earn this certification also become eligible to use the UL Mark on their products to visually demonstrate compliance with ANSI/CAN/UL 5800.

Visit UL.com to learn more about UL’s new third-party program for battery fire containment products. 

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