ISO 6469-1-2019 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 6469-1:2019 — Electrically propelled road vehicles — Safety specifications — Part 1: Rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). This International Standard specifies safety requirements for on-board rechargeable energy storage systems used in electrically propelled road vehicles to protect persons and the vehicle environment; it does not provide comprehensive instructions for manufacturing, maintenance or repair personnel.

Abstract

This part of ISO 6469 sets out functional and testing requirements for RESS (battery systems and other on-board rechargeable energy storage) to address hazards such as mechanical damage from crashes, electrical shock and short-circuit, immersion/water ingress, thermal events and propagation, and safe behaviour under defined fault conditions. The standard is written to be used by vehicle and component designers, test laboratories and regulators to demonstrate RESS safety performance.

General information

• Status: Published (current international standard).
• Publication date: April 2019 (published 2019-04).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 43.120 (Road vehicles engineering / Electric road vehicles).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2019).
• Number of pages: 26 pages (ISO listing). Note: some distributors list variations (e.g., 34 pages) depending on format/packaging.

Scope

ISO 6469-1:2019 applies to rechargeable energy storage systems intended for propulsion of electrically propelled road vehicles and specifies safety requirements for the protection of persons and the vehicle environment. It applies to RESS installed in relevant on-board voltage classes and excludes detailed occupational procedures for manufacturing and repair. The standard does not replace specific motorcycle/moped requirements (see ISO 13063 and ISO 18243) and additional requirements can apply for non‑electrical charging concepts (for example, redox flow systems).

Key topics and requirements

• General safety principles for RESS design and installation (mechanical integrity, electrical isolation, connector safety).
• Crashworthiness: requirements and tests to ensure acceptable behaviour under inertial loads and contact forces during vehicle crashes.
• Immersion and ingress protection: performance requirements during water immersion and IP testing criteria to limit fire/explosion and electrical hazards.
• Thermal events and thermal propagation: requirements to manage thermal runaway and, following amendment, safety management of thermal propagation.
• Electrical fault management: requirements for short-circuit, overcurrent, isolation, high-voltage protection and safe disconnects.
• Test methods and pass/fail criteria at RESS and vehicle level (mechanical, electrical, environmental and post‑event observation requirements).
• Marking, information and instructions necessary for safe handling, installation and operation (warnings, identification of high-voltage parts).

Typical use and users

Primary users include vehicle OEMs, battery and RESS module manufacturers, automotive safety and design engineers, testing and certification laboratories, regulators and standards developers. The standard is used during RESS design, verification testing, type-approval activities and supplier contracts to define minimum safety expectations.

Related standards

ISO 6469-1 is part of the ISO 6469 series on electrically propelled road vehicles (other parts cover vehicle operational safety, electrical safety and post-crash electrical safety). Related documents include ISO 6469-2 (vehicle operational safety), ISO 6469-3 (electrical safety), ISO 6469-4 (post crash electrical safety) and standards addressing motorcycles/mopeds (ISO 13063, ISO 18243). An amendment to ISO 6469-1 (Amd 1: 2022) addresses safety management of thermal propagation.

Keywords

RESS, rechargeable energy storage system, electric vehicle, EV battery safety, thermal runaway, crashworthiness, immersion test, high-voltage safety, electrical isolation, ISO 6469.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 6469-1:2019 is an international standard that specifies safety requirements and test methods for on-board rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS) used in electrically propelled road vehicles to protect people and the vehicle environment.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers design and performance requirements and associated tests addressing mechanical integrity (including crash conditions), electrical fault conditions, water immersion and ingress protection, thermal events and propagation, marking and information for safe use. It does not replace specific occupational safety procedures for manufacturing or repair.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Vehicle manufacturers, RESS and battery suppliers, test houses and certification bodies, safety engineers and regulators use the standard to set, verify and demonstrate RESS safety performance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 6469-1:2019 is the current published edition (2019) and has at least one amendment (ISO 6469-1:2019/Amd1:2022 addressing safety management of thermal propagation). The ISO record shows the standard is under periodic review as part of normal ISO lifecycle processes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it forms part 1 of the ISO 6469 series (other parts cover vehicle operational safety, electrical safety and post-crash electrical safety). Users should consult the other parts of ISO 6469 and related documents (for example ISO 13063/18243 for two‑wheelers) when developing or assessing vehicle energy storage safety.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: RESS, rechargeable energy storage, EV battery safety, thermal propagation, crashworthiness, immersion, high-voltage isolation, electrical protection, ISO 6469.