A certification claim on a battery datasheet is only useful if it can be traced to a document that names the same manufacturer, the same model and the right standard for the application. For industrial packs such as forklift and AGV batteries, verification usually comes down to four checks: whether the standard fits the equipment, whether a UL claim appears in UL's own directory, whether the UN 38.3 test summary matches the pack being quoted, and whether the EU declaration of conformity (DoC) identifies the battery and the standards applied. This guide walks through each check and the questions to put in an RFQ.
01 Standard fits the equipment
IEC 62619 or UL 2580 scope covers forklifts / AGVs
UN 38.3 is transport only, not in-use safety
02 UL record in Product iQ
Company, model and file number match
Finished pack listed, not only cells
03 UN 38.3 test summary
Model, Wh rating and mass match the quote
Lab, report number and date are stated
04 EU declaration of conformity
Battery model and traceability identified
Standards and any notified body listed
Match Each Certification Claim to the Document That Proves It
Different claims are proven by different documents, and they are checked in different places. A mark on a label or a logo on a datasheet is not one of them.
| Claim on the datasheet | Document that supports it | Where to check it | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| UL Listed / UL certified pack | UL certification record under the manufacturer's file | UL Product iQ (free account) | No record for the company, model or file number; only a cell-level record exists |
| UN 38.3 tested | UN 38.3 test report and the lithium battery test summary | The documents themselves; the issuing lab if details look inconsistent | Model, watt-hour rating or mass differs from the pack being quoted |
| CE (EU market) | EU declaration of conformity and technical documentation | Request both from the manufacturer; there is no central CE registry to search | DoC does not identify the battery model or lists standards unrelated to batteries |
| IEC 62619 | Test report and, where issued, a certificate from the test or certification body | The issuing body's certificate lookup or written confirmation from the lab | Report covers a different cell, configuration or rated capacity |
Step 1: Confirm the Standard Fits the Equipment
A valid certificate for the wrong scope does not help an industrial buyer. Before checking any document, confirm the standard actually applies to how the battery will be used.
- IEC 62619 sets safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries in industrial applications. According to the IEC 62619:2022 scope published by IEC, motive applications include forklift trucks, golf carts, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), railway and marine vehicles, but not road vehicles.
- UL 2580 covers batteries for electric vehicles and, as UL Solutions explains in its UL 2580 overview, its applications include ride-on forklifts and ground support equipment.
- UN 38.3 is a transport test sequence. It shows a cell or battery design passed the tests required for shipping; it is not an in-use safety certification for the vehicle or installation.
Ask the supplier which standard each certificate was issued against and for which application category. If a forklift pack is supported only by documents written for a different product type, treat the claim as unverified until the supplier explains why that standard applies.
Step 2: Verify UL Claims in Product iQ
UL Product iQ is UL Solutions' certification directory. A free account lets you search by company name, model number, category code (CCN) or UL file number. Ask the supplier for the UL file number and the exact model designation, then search both.
When a record appears, compare:
- the company name and manufacturing location against the supplier you are buying from;
- the model designation against the part number on your quotation;
- the category against the application (pack or system, not just a component).
Listed pack or recognized component?
Pay attention to whether the record covers the finished battery or only a component. UL describes component recognition as certification for components and subassemblies intended to be built into a larger certified end product, used under specific conditions of acceptability. Recognized cells inside a pack do not by themselves show that the assembled pack, with its BMS, wiring and enclosure, has been evaluated.
Step 3: Read the UN 38.3 Test Summary Line by Line
For shipments in the United States, 49 CFR 173.185(a)(3) requires each manufacturer and subsequent distributor of lithium cells or batteries (with limited exceptions such as button cells installed in equipment) to make a test summary available. The regulation lists what the summary must contain, which makes it a practical checklist:
- manufacturer name and contact details;
- test laboratory name and contact details;
- a unique test report identification number and the report date;
- a description of the cell or battery, including chemistry, mass, watt-hour rating, physical description and model number;
- the list of tests conducted and their results;
- a reference to assembled-battery testing requirements where applicable;
- the edition of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria used;
- the name and title of the person responsible for the information.
Compare the model number, watt-hour rating and mass with the pack on your quotation. If the summary describes a different configuration or an older cell, ask whether a new report covers the current design before the goods are booked for transport.
Step 4: Review the EU Declaration of Conformity
CE marking has no public registry to search, so the declaration of conformity and the technical documentation behind it are the evidence. For batteries, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 sets out a model EU declaration of conformity in Annex IX. Check that the DoC you receive includes, at minimum:
- the battery model, with category and batch or serial number;
- the name and address of the manufacturer and, where applicable, its authorised representative;
- a description of the battery that allows traceability;
- references to the harmonised standards, common specifications or other technical specifications used;
- the notified body, its number and the certificate issued, where a notified body was involved.
A DoC that names no battery model, or cites only standards unrelated to the battery, does not support the claim on its own. Ask for the technical documentation and for clarification before approval.
Plan for the EU Battery Passport
Under Article 77 of the same regulation, from 18 February 2027 each industrial battery with a capacity greater than 2 kWh placed on the EU market must have an electronic battery passport. As of August 2026, the Commission had not yet adopted the implementing act on passport access rules, as noted in Taylor Wessing's briefing on the missing access rules, but the application date itself was unchanged. Ask suppliers of EU-bound packs how they will provide passport data and which information they already collect per battery.
Carbon footprint declarations for rechargeable industrial batteries (except those with exclusively external storage) apply from 18 February 2026 or 18 months after the relevant delegated and implementing acts enter into force, whichever is later (Article 7). Because that date depends on secondary legislation, confirm the current status with your compliance team rather than assuming the obligation is already in force.
When a Valid Certificate No Longer Matches the Product
Certificates and test reports describe the construction that was evaluated. A change in cell supplier, BMS hardware or firmware, enclosure or configuration can take the product outside that evaluation, and whether re-testing is needed is normally decided with the certification body or test lab. A document can therefore be genuine and still not cover the pack that ships.
To manage this risk, ask the supplier:
- When was the last design change to this model, and what changed?
- Was the certification body or lab informed, and did it confirm the certificate still applies?
- Which cell model and BMS version does the certificate cover, and which ones are in current production?
Questions to Add to Your Battery RFQ
1. Which standards is this exact model certified or tested to, and for which application category?
2. What is the UL file number, and which Product iQ record covers the finished pack?
3. Please provide the UN 38.3 test summary and test report for the quoted model.
4. Please provide the EU declaration of conformity and state the harmonised standards and any notified body involved.
5. Which cell model, BMS version and enclosure do the certificates cover, and have any of these changed since testing?
6. For EU deliveries after 18 February 2027, how will battery passport data be provided?
A supplier that answers these questions with documents, rather than logos, gives your quality and compliance teams something they can check. For background on which certifications different markets typically require, see our industrial battery certification guide covering UL, CE and UN 38.3.
If you are evaluating Polinovel electric forklift batteries or AGV lithium batteries, you can request the documents listed above for the specific model through our quote request page.
