IEC 60623:2026 CMV documents the requirements for vented nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable single cells and the battery systems assembled from them, intended for industrial use. This commented version (CMV) combines the full official text of edition 6.0 with annotations that mark every change introduced since the fifth edition of 2017, together with explanatory comments from the experts of IEC subcommittee 21A. The publication therefore serves both as a compliance reference and as a change-analysis tool.
Standard Information
IEC 60623:2026 CMV is a dual-content publication: the complete sixth edition of the standard appears alongside a commented comparison against IEC 60623:2017 edition 5.0. Engineers who must migrate specifications, test plans or supplier documentation from the previous edition can locate each modification in one document and read the rationale behind the most relevant changes directly from the commenting experts. The record facts are as follows: - Designation: IEC 60623:2026 CMV
- Full title: Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes - Vented nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable cells and batteries for use in industrial applications
- Status: Current
- Publication date: 2026-08-24
- ICS classification: 29, 29.220, 29.220.99
- Technical committee: TC 21/SC 21A
Scope and Application
The standard specifies marking, designation, dimensions, tests and requirements for vented nickel-cadmium prismatic secondary single cells and for battery systems constructed from such cells, where these are deployed in industrial applications. Its content therefore spans the full commercial and technical description of a product: how a cell must be identified and labelled, how it is designated, what physical dimensions apply, and which tests demonstrate conformity to the stated requirements. Because the scope extends to battery systems and not only to single cells, the document is relevant wherever multiple vented nickel-cadmium prismatic cells are assembled into a larger energy storage or supply arrangement for industrial service. Procurement specialists can use the designation and marking clauses to write unambiguous purchase specifications, while quality managers can map the listed tests onto incoming inspection and type-approval programmes. The sixth edition constitutes a technical revision and includes four significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: an added test for internal DC resistance; an added subclause for pulse power calculation; an added test for constant power measurement; and an added subclause on the determination of durability parameters. Each of these additions is visible and annotated in the commented portion of the CMV.
Products and Materials Covered
The products in scope are vented nickel-cadmium prismatic rechargeable single cells — that is, secondary cells with a prismatic (rectangular) format, an alkaline electrolyte system based on nickel-cadmium chemistry, and a vented construction rather than a sealed one — together with battery systems built from these cells for industrial applications. The family title of the standard places it among standards for secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes. The ICS classifications 29 (electrical engineering), 29.220 (galvanic cells and batteries) and 29.220.99 (galvanic cells and batteries, other) confirm the product domain: electrochemical cells and batteries outside the acid-electrolyte and lithium families. Buyers and engineers working with industrial nickel-cadmium vented prismatic products should treat this document as the applicable product standard when specifying, testing or evaluating such items.
Testing and Compliance Considerations
Product standards of this type are normally applied through type testing: a representative sample of the cell or battery system is subjected to the tests listed in the standard, and the results are compared with the requirements stated in the same document. An accredited laboratory typically performs this work under a defined test plan, records the sample designation and marking as received, and reports each result against the corresponding clause. Acceptance verification follows a similar logic at goods-receipt level. Quality departments reference the standard's designation, marking and dimension clauses when checking delivered products, and may invoke the specified tests as criteria for acceptance or rejection. Documentation practice generally includes traceability from the test report to the standard edition used, which is particularly important at a change of edition. The 2026 edition is a case in point. Because four new technical elements — internal DC resistance testing, pulse power calculation, constant power measurement and durability parameter determination — have been added, existing test programmes based on the 2017 edition will need gap analysis. Retest triggers commonly include the edition change itself, any design or process modification to the cell, and contractual requirements that invoke the current edition by date or designation. The CMV format supports this transition: the side-by-side comparison of edition 6.0 and edition 5.0, supplemented by expert comments, lets engineering staff identify changed clauses without maintaining two separate documents. Note that this page is an interpretive overview only; the standard text itself must be obtained from official IEC sources.
Related Standards and Series Context
The designation IEC 60623:2026 CMV carries structural information in itself. "IEC" identifies publication by the International Electrotechnical Commission; "60623" is the serial number of the standard within the IEC catalogue; "2026" indicates the publication year of this edition; and "CMV" denotes the commented version format, in which the official standard and its annotated comparison are issued together. The standard is developed under technical committee TC 21, subcommittee SC 21A, which is the body responsible for this area of secondary cell and battery standardisation. The edition numbering (sixth edition, cancelling and replacing the fifth edition of 2017) follows normal IEC practice, under which a new edition supersedes the earlier one as the current reference. Readers should verify the current status of any IEC document through the official IEC webstore or the IEC navigation platform before citing it in contracts or test programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What
is the judgment basis for IEC 60623:2026 CMV – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes?
Assessment relies on the test requirements and acceptance criteria defined within this standard for secondary cells and batteries with alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes. The comment voting version also documents committee comments, helping users interpret how specific judgment provisions were established and intended to be applied during compliance evaluation.
Which
products and materials fall within the scope of IEC 60623:2026 CMV – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes?
The standard applies to secondary cells and batteries using alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes, covering the relevant electrochemical systems, cell and battery constructions, and associated materials addressed in its scope. Its applicability boundaries distinguish it from standards covering acid-electrolyte or other battery types.
What
does a report on IEC 60623:2026 CMV – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes typically include, and how is it used?
A compliance report generally documents the tested product, applied test items, observed results, and conformity conclusions based on the standard's requirements. Such reports support quality control, market access documentation, and customer verification for manufacturers of alkaline and non-acid electrolyte secondary cells and batteries.