OPSS supports new standard for battery safety
Button and coin batteries safety standard, PAS 7055:2021, is published and free to download.
![Image of button battery PAS front cover](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/122166/s300_BBNEWS_960by640.png)
In recent months OPSS has been working with consumers and businesses to raise awareness of the potential hazards posed to children by button batteries. This important work began following a report into undetected button battery ingestion in children by the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) who recommended that:
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OPSS develops a strategy to improve button/coin cell battery safety by producing a fast-track standard covering/considering battery design, product casing, packaging and safe retailing practices.
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OPSS highlights to the general public the dangers of button/coin cell batteries.
On 30 April 2021, the UK National Standards Body (BSI), sponsored by OPSS published the first standard to address the safety issues posed by button (non-lithium) and coin (lithium) batteries. The new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) standard, PAS 7055:2021, Button and coin batteries – Safety requirements – Specification, is aligned with The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR), which requires that new and used consumer products placed on the market are safe.
Download the PAS 7055:2021, Button and coin batteries – Safety requirements – Specification for free.
Graham Russell, Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards said:
As product design and technology evolves, batteries are now available in a wide range of consumer products. PAS 7055 is an important step for OPSS to help protect consumers and help businesses adopt a consistent approach to product design with button batteries.
The standard has been developed by a steering group of consumers and experts from battery, retail and safety industries. The steering group consisted of:
- British and Irish Portable Battery Association (BIPBA)
- British Retail Consortium (BRC)
- BSI Consumer and Public Interest Network
- Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
- Davies Development and Testing Ltd
- Electrical Safety First (ESF)
- National Poisons Information Service (NPIS)
- The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)
- UL LLC
- Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS)
The PAS specifies safety requirements for button and coin batteries up to 32 mm in diameter to mitigate the risk of ingestion. It also defines the safety requirements for manufacturers and producers of button and coin batteries, including the consumer products that use them, and the retailers and distributors of these products. The requirements cover labelling, instructions and packaging, alignment of safety and health warnings, merchandising, safe disposal and product safety of typical consumer products using button and coin batteries.