In the United States, federal regulation 16 CFR PART 1263 on consumer products containing button/coin batteries came into effect on October 23, 2023.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will grant a 180-day enforcement transition period from September 21, 2023 to March 19, 2024. This means that all related products imported into the United States after March 19, 2024 need to meet the requirements of this regulation. Considering the shipping schedule and the Spring Festival holiday, time is already very tight.

There are currently many ceiling fan products on the market that use button battery remote controls. According to regulatory requirements, if the following two conditions are met, they need to comply with the relevant requirements of the 2023 version of standard UL 4200A after the implementation date:

The diameter of the button battery in the remote control is ≤32 mm; and the diameter of the button battery in the remote control is greater than its height

This article will provide a detailed analysis of the warnings and instructions for the button battery remote control for ceiling fans. First, please understand the following definitions:

1. Main display panel-The surface of the product displayed to consumers when it is sold in a store container, usually located on the front of the package

2. Secondary display panel-located opposite or next to the main display panel, which is usually the back or side panel of the package

The remote control should include the warning statement shown in the following figure:

Note:

1)The above illustration quotes Figure 7C.1 of standard UL 4200A.

2)Language requirements: If the product is sold to the United States, only English is needed; if it is sold to Canada, English and French are needed.

3)safety alert symbolRequirements: The bottom must be on the same horizontal line as the bottom of “WARNING”, and the height must be ≥ the height of “WARNING”.

4) Font height requirements: The corresponding relationship between font height and remote control area is shown in the following table:

Minimum letter height (mm)

5)Location requirements: On the housing of the remote control, it is easy to find when the user installs or replaces the button battery. As shown in the following figure:

6)Color requirements: It can be printed in single color. If color is used, the color shown in the picture above must be used.

If product space is limited, the signs shown in the following figure can be used instead of the warning:

Note:

1)The above illustration quotes Figure 7C.2 of standard UL 4200A.

2)The size requirements of the icon: width ≥7 mm, height ≥9 mm.

3)Location requirements: On the housing of the remote control, it is easy to find when the user installs or replaces the button battery. As shown in the following figure:

4)Color requirements: It can be printed in single color. If color is used, the color shown in the picture above must be used.

5)The icon should be explained as follows in the accompanying printed materials (e.g. instructions):

The packaging box should contain the warning sentences shown in the figure below (there are two warning sentences to choose from in the standard, only one of which is introduced here):

Note:

1)The above illustration quotes Figure 7B.1 of standard UL 4200A.

2)If the remote control contains a replaceable button battery, the following statement should be additionally included:

Battery type: XX

Nominal battery voltage: XX V

For the above content in red letters, the manufacturer should fill in the type and voltage value of the button battery in the remote control based on the actual product situation, such as “Battery type: CR2032, Nominal battery voltage: 3V”

3)If the remote control contains a non-replaceable button battery, the following statement or equivalent statement should be additionally included:

“The product contains a button/coin cell battery that cannot be replaced by the user.”

4)Language requirements: If the product is sold to the United States, only English is needed; if it is sold to Canada, English and French are needed.

5)alert iconThe size requirements of: width ≥7 mm, height ≥9 mm.

6)safety alert symbolRequirements: The bottom must be on the same horizontal line as the bottom of “WARNING”, and the height must be ≥ the height of “WARNING”.

7) Font height requirements: The corresponding relationship between the font height and the area of the main display panel of the packaging box is shown in the following table:

Minimum letter height (mm)

8)Location requirements: For the main display panel, except for the sentences mentioned in Notes 2) and 3), you can choose the secondary display panel located in the packaging box.It is important to note that if the printed patterns on both sides of the packaging box are exactly the same (that is, they may become the surfaces displayed to consumers when containers are sold in stores), both sides are regarded as the main display panel, and the warning as shown in the picture above must be printed.

9)Color requirements: It can be printed in single color. If color is used, the color shown in the picture above must be used.

The remote control contains a replaceable button battery, and the instructions should include the following contents:

a)Remove and immediately recycle or dispose of used batteries according to local regulations and keep away from children. Do NOT dispose of batteries in household trash or incinerate.

b)Even used batteries may cause severe injury or death.

c)Call a local poison control center for treatment information.

d)Battery type: XX.

e)Nominal battery voltage: XX V.

f)Non-rechargeable batteries are not to be recharged.

g)Do not force discharge, recharge, disassemble, heat above XX °C or incinerate. Doing so may result in injury due to venting, leakage or explosion resulting in chemical burns.

h)Ensure the batteries are installed correctly according to polarity (+ and -).

i)Remove and immediately recycle or dispose of batteries from equipment not used for an extended period of time according to local regulations.

j)Always completely secure the battery compartment. If the battery compartment does not close securely, stop using the product, remove the batteries, and keep them away from children.

k)Do not mix old and new batteries, different brands or types of batteries, such as alkaline, carbon-zinc, or rechargeable batteries.

Note:

1)The above illustration quotes Figure 7B.1 of standard UL 4200A (the standard has two warnings to choose from, and only one of them is introduced in this article).

2)Language requirements: If the product is sold to the United States, only English is needed; if it is sold to Canada, English and French are needed.

3)If the remote control contains only one button battery, the content of item k) is not required in the manual.

4)For the content in red letters above, the manufacturer should fill in the type, voltage value and rated environmental temperature of the button battery in the remote control according to the actual situation of the product, such as Battery type:

CR2032, Nominal battery voltage: 3 V， heat above 60 °C

5)If the remote control contains non-replaceable button batteries, the instructions do not need to include the above items h), i), j), and k), but must additionally include the following statements or equivalent statements:

“The product contains a button/coin cell battery that cannot be replaced by the user.”

6) Font height requirements: safety warning symbolThe height of the signal word “WARNING” is ≥5 mm, and the rest of the words with capital letters is ≥2.5 mm.

7)alert iconThe size requirements of: width ≥7 mm, height ≥9 mm.

8)safety alert symbolRequirements: The bottom must be on the same level as the bottom of WARNING, and the height must be ≥ the height of WARNING.