Battery Regulation guidance for safety systems
An updated position paper has set out how standby batteries used in fire, life safety and security systems should be classified under the EU Battery Regulation.
Euralarm published the document on Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 for Market Surveillance Authorities and industry stakeholders.
The paper says the Regulation categorises batteries by intended design and use, rather than by chemistry.
It states that batteries used as secondary or standby power sources in fire and security control panels, power supply units and alarm transmitters should be considered industrial batteries by design and intended use, including batteries that weigh less than 5 kg.
Industrial classification and regulatory scope
In its position paper, Euralarm sets out its interpretation of industrial use for standby and secondary power batteries in fire, life safety and security panels.
It links this interpretation to recital 15, which it reads as covering batteries used for emergency power, energy distribution and communication infrastructure.
It describes standby or secondary batteries in fire alarm panels as functioning as emergency power sources that distribute stored electrical energy during power failures.
It says this use aligns with the Regulation’s understanding of industrial batteries.
It also points to guidance from the European WEEE Registers Network, which classifies batteries for alarm systems in business-to-business contexts as industrial.
It cites the harmonised standard EN 54-4 for fire detection and alarm system power supply units as relevant to how these batteries are specified and used.
It adds that the German Federal Ministry for the Environment supports this interpretation of industrial use.
On this basis, it states these standby batteries are not subject to the substance restrictions in Article 6(1) and Annex I number 3 that apply to portable batteries.
Installed base, replacement cycles and availability
The position paper discusses the impact on existing fire and security systems across Europe.
It notes that systems can remain in service for several decades, with backup batteries typically replaced every four to seven years.
It states that continued availability of the specified battery types is needed to maintain certified performance, reliability and safety for existing installations.
It also acknowledges that demand for smaller batteries could decline, with potential impacts on price and supply.
The document frames its guidance around maintaining market availability and consistent interpretation for safety-critical applications.