Power Bank Safety Standards: SIRIM, UN38.3, and Corporate Liability

Author: Compliance Officer, StationeryWorks Malaysia
Date: November 10, 2024
Category: Safety & Compliance
Reading Time: 8 mins

Power banks are one of the most popular corporate gifts. They are high-value, universally useful, and offer great branding space. However, they are also essentially blocks of volatile chemicals (Lithium-Ion) wrapped in plastic. We have all seen the videos of batteries catching fire on planes or in pockets. As a corporate buyer, if you distribute a faulty power bank that causes injury or property damage, your company could face significant liability and PR disaster. In Malaysia, safety compliance is not just "nice to have"—it's the law.

The SIRIM Requirement

In Malaysia, all communication and multimedia equipment, including power banks (often categorized under charging devices), falls under the purview of MCMC and SIRIM.

• What is SIRIM? The Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia. They test products for safety and electromagnetic compatibility.
• The Label: A certified power bank must carry the SIRIM MCMC label (often a QR code sticker).
• Enforcement: Customs can seize uncertified power banks imported in bulk. Trading Standards can raid warehouses.
• Our Promise: All power banks supplied by StationeryWorks Malaysia are sourced from SIRIM-compliant manufacturers or can be submitted for batch certification upon request for large tenders.

UN38.3 and MSDS: The Shipping Passport

If you plan to mail these power banks to clients or bring them on a plane, you need UN38.3 Certification.

• What is it? A UN standard for transporting dangerous goods (Lithium batteries). It involves altitude simulation, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, and impact testing.
• MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): This document details the chemical composition of the battery. Logistics companies (DHL, FedEx, PosLaju) will refuse to ship power banks without a valid MSDS and UN38.3 report.
• East Malaysia Shipping: Shipping batteries to Sabah/Sarawak is strictly regulated. They must go via Sea Freight or specific Dangerous Goods (DG) Air Freight channels. Never try to sneak them into normal air cargo—it is a criminal offense. See our logistics guide for more.

Real Capacity vs. Rated Capacity

This is a common scam in the cheap gift market.

• Label: 10,000 mAh.
• Reality: 6,000 mAh (or less).
• The Trick: Unscrupulous factories use low-grade recycled batteries or fill the casing with sandbags to add weight.
• The Risk: These low-quality cells are unstable and prone to overheating.
• Our Standard: We use Grade A Lithium-Polymer cells. We guarantee "True Capacity." If we say 10,000 mAh, you get 10,000 mAh (minus standard conversion loss).

Safety Features to Look For

When choosing a power bank model, ask for these built-in protections:

1. Over-Charge Protection: Stops charging when full.
2. Over-Discharge Protection: Prevents the battery from draining to a dangerous 0%.
3. Short-Circuit Protection: Cuts power if the cable is faulty.
4. Temperature Control: Shuts down if it gets too hot.

Conclusion: Don't Risk It

A RM 20 power bank might save you budget, but a RM 50 certified power bank saves your reputation. When sourcing electronics, always ask for the certification documents. If the supplier hesitates, walk away. At StationeryWorks, safety is part of our QC checklist. We ensure your high-voltage gifts generate positive energy, not sparks.