ASTM F3653 (2024) — Standard Specification for Installation of Rechargeable Lithium Batteries on Aircraft specifically defines acceptable means and methods to validate the equipment, location, and installation of rechargeable lithium batteries on aircraft. It is the newest and most directly battery-relevant ASTM aviation standard, intended to be independent of battery size or usage and applicable to any rechargeable lithium battery installed on any aircraft category.
Scope
F3653 fills a critical gap in existing airworthiness regulations: the specific installation, validation, and qualification requirements for lithium batteries as aircraft equipment. It covers:
- Battery system qualification and acceptance testing for aircraft installation
- Location, mounting, and structural integration requirements
- Thermal runaway containment and venting requirements at installation level
- Electrical isolation and protection coordination
- Maintenance access, monitoring, and state-of-health assessment provisions
- Fire detection and suppression interface requirements
Regulatory significance
F3653 is being incorporated by reference into the revision of ASTM F3316 — which will add explicit pointers to F3653 for lithium battery installation, making it the de facto aircraft lithium battery installation standard within the ASTM framework. The FAA accepts F3653 as a Means of Compliance alongside DO-311A and FAA Special Conditions for battery installation certification.
Its independence from battery size and use-case makes it applicable across the full spectrum of aircraft — from small general aviation aircraft with lithium starter batteries to large eVTOL vehicles with megawatt-hour traction packs.
References
- ASTM F3653-24 Standard Specification for Installation of Rechargeable Lithium Batteries on Aircraft, ASTM International
See also: ASTM F3239, ASTM F3338