Welcome to the Seastar Battery blog! In this article, we will uncover the certifications and regulations involved in international lithium battery transportation. Learn about UN38.3 certification, transportation labels, and regulations set by ICAO, IMO, and IRU. Discover the packaging requirements and best practices for marine batteries, marine deep cycle batteries, 12V marine deep cycle batteries, and lithium marine deep cycle batteries. Stay informed and ensure the safe and compliant transportation of your battery products worldwide. Let’s dive into the world of international battery transportation together!
Lithium-ion battery transport to pay attention to the packaging:
- The first is that, without regard to exceptions, lithium-ion batteries must be transported in accordance with the restrictions set out in the Code (DGR 4.2 applicable packing instructions). They must also be packed in the UN-size packaging specified in the DGR Dangerous Goods Directive in accordance with the applicable packing instructions, with the corresponding number fully displayed on the packaging.
- Secondly, the required packaging must be labeled with the hazard class 9 label in addition to the applicable marking of the correct shipping-specific name and UN number.
- The third is that the shipper must complete a dangerous goods declaration form, supply the corresponding dangerous packaging certificate, supply a transport identification report issued by an accredited third party, and show that it is a compliant product, which includes the UN38.3 test and the 1.2-meter drop packaging test.
- In addition, lithium-ion batteries in special transport should meet the above packaging considerations, but also its transport packaging design should ensure that under normal conditions of transport to prevent explosions, and configured to prevent external short circuit effective measures; lithium-ion battery packaging transport should be fixed to prevent the battery in the package to move, the packaging should be in a way to prevent the battery in the process of transport outside the start and so on.
Shipping precautions
- The battery must pass the UN38.3 test requirements and the 1.2m drop test.
- The outer packaging must be labeled with a Class 9 Dangerous Goods label and marked with the UN number.
- Designed to prevent bursting under normal conditions of transport and is equipped with effective measures to prevent external short circuits.
- The batteries shall be protected against short circuits in robust outer packaging and shall be protected against contact with conductive substances that could cause short circuits in the same packaging.
- Additional requirements for the transport of batteries mounted in equipment:
The equipment shall be secured to prevent movement within the packaging and packaged in such a way as to prevent accidental activation in transit. The outer packaging should be watertight, or be made watertight by the use of an inner liner (e.g. plastic bag) unless the equipment itself is already watertight by constructional features. - Lithium batteries should be loaded on pallets to avoid strong vibrations during handling and protected by corner guards on all vertical and horizontal sides of the pallets.
- Li-ion batteries should be reinforced in the container, and the reinforcement and strength should meet the requirements of the importing country (e.g. the American Railway Association (ARR), the American Dangerous Goods Association, the North American Bureau of Explosives (B.O.E.), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Marine Transportation of Dangerous Goods Rules have relevant regulations). or improperly reinforced, the container will be detained at the port of destination and will incur high terminal handling charges, stacking charges, removal charges, and re-enforcement costs.
American reinforcement method (each container should be photographed and kept)
Packing Requirements
Unless installed in equipment (e.g. mobile phones, cameras, walkie-talkies, laptops, etc.), batteries and primary batteries must be packed separately to prevent short-circuiting and in strong outer packaging.
Unless installed in equipment, each package containing more than 24 primary cells or 12 batteries must also meet the following requirements:
- Each package must be marked to indicate the lithium batteries contained and the special measures to be taken in the event of breakage of the package.
- Each shipment must be accompanied by a document indicating the lithium batteries contained in the packaging and the special measures to be taken in the event of damage to the packaging.
- Each package must be capable of withstanding a drop test of 1.2m in any orientation without damage to the cells or beta cells in the package and without altering the position of the cells therein to the extent that they are in contact with each other (or the primary cells with the primary cells) and without the cells escaping from the package.
- The gross weight of each package shall not exceed 30kg unless the lithium battery is installed in the equipment.
Restrictions
Delivered lithium batteries and lithium battery packs may be transported as unrestricted goods (non-dangerous goods) if all of the following conditions are met. If any of the following conditions cannot be met, then the dangerous goods acceptance requirements of UN3090 or UN3091 shall apply.
Restrictions on lithium content
- For lithium metal or lithium alloy primary batteries, the lithium content shall not exceed 1g; for lithium-ion primary batteries, the lithium equivalent content shall not exceed 1.5g.
- for lithium metal or lithium alloy batteries, the total lithium content shall not exceed 2g, for lithium-ion batteries lithium equivalent content shall not exceed 8g.
- For lithium-ion batteries, the ‘lithium equivalent content’ in grams is calculated by multiplying the ampere-hours of rated capacity by 0.3. For example, if a mobile phone lithium-ion battery has a rated capacity of 800mah (800mAh), its “lithium equivalent content” is 0.3 X 0.8 (ampere-hours) = 0.24g.
Compliance with UN testing requirements
Each type of primary cell and battery has been tested and shown to comply with all the requirements of paragraph 38.3 of Part 3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria for the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
Express Air Freight
In the USA, new regulations for the transport of lithium batteries by air were published in December 2012. Keep an eye on the information published by the US Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Hazardous Safety for the latest news.
All senders should be aware of and comply with the regulations for domestic and international shipments. According to the regulations, if the number of lithium batteries transported is small and the capacitance of the batteries is relatively low, then the package will not be considered as dangerous goods and will not require a UPS Dangerous Goods Contract.
Lithium batteries can be divided into two types, rechargeable lithium ion batteries and non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries.
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which can also be referred to as “non-disposable lithium batteries”, are often used in common electronic devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, and mobile phone rechargeables. Non-rechargeable lithium batteries are known as “disposable lithium batteries”.
UPS International Express lithium battery transport will appear in the FAQ:
- What measures should I take if my shipment is short-circuited or activated during transit?
Short-circuiting or accidental activation of lithium batteries in transit is one of the main risks. IAIA recommends that each battery is placed in a completely sealed bag of insulating material, but that exposed terminals and clicks are protected by insulating caps, tape, or other means. It is also recommended to use padding and packaging to secure the battery in a manner that allows movement or loosening of the electrode caps during transport, remembering not to use envelopes or another soft packaging. - Is there a limit to the number of cells and batteries that can be packed in the outer packaging?
No, there is no limit to this. This limit is only applied to the package inside the outer packaging, but the outer packaging must also comply with the necessary packaging requirements (e.g. to withstand a free fall of 1.2 meters). The outer packaging may exceed the limit but must be marked with the word outer packaging. The packaging must be labeled with the appropriate lithium battery handling label. - What is considered a “package” under the relevant statutory provisions?
The transport restrictions are limited to the package inside but do not apply to the outer packaging. - What does the abbreviation “IAIA” mean?
IAIA stands for International Association of Specialised Carriers. It is an international trade organization that sets commercial standards and publishes legal regulations for dangerous goods, including standards for the international transport of dangerous goods by air. - What is the meaning of the abbreviation “Wh”?
“Wh” is an abbreviation for “watt-hour”. It is a unit of measurement for the capacity of a battery cell or battery. - What is the difference between a “battery cell” and a “battery” under this regulation?
A battery consists of one or more cells connected by an electrical circuit, including the case, electrodes, and markings.
Note: For the purposes of this regulation, a “battery pack”, “battery module” or “accumulator” is considered to be a battery.
