This International Standard specifies performance and safety tests, designations, markings, dimensions and other requirements for secondary lithium single cells. The objective of this standard is to provide the purchasers of secondary lithium cells with a set of criteria with which they can judge the performance and safety of various secondary lithium cells offered by various manufacturers. This standard defines a minimum required level of performance and safety, and a standardized methodology by which testing is performed and the results of this testing reported to the user. Hence, users will be able to establish the viability of commercially available cells via the declared specification and thus be able to select the cell best suited for their intended application. This standard covers secondary lithium cells with a range of chemistries. Each electrochemical couple has a characteristic voltage range over which it releases its electrical capacity, a characteristic nominal voltage and a characteristic final voltage during discharge. Users of secondary lithium cells and batteries are requested to consult the manufacturer for advice. For the avoidance of doubt, the scope of this standard does not include batteries which are covered in IEC 61960-2.