Lithium batteries are used in many electrnic devices such as cameras, cell phnes, laptp cmputers, medical equipment and pwer tls. When shipping r imprting lithium batteries, including thse cntained in r packed with devices and equipment, packaging requirements must be met and package cntents must be declared t transprtatin cmpanies and the U.S. Pstal Service/SmartPst. Cause fr Cncern While mst lithium batteries are safe, sme have verheated and caught fire. Once ignited, they can cause any nearby batteries t verheat and catch fire. These fires are difficult t put ut and prduce txic and irritating fumes. When shipping lithium batteries, it is nt always clear which mde f transprt will be used. Shipments may end up n an aircraft and an aircraft s fire suppressin system may nt be able t extinguish all types f lithium battery fires. Cunterfeit and n-brand lithium batteries are als f cncern because they may nt have been safety-tested. These lithium batteries may be prly designed, have little prtectin, and/r cntain manufacturing flaws. It is imprtant t verify the batteries planned fr shipment have been safety-tested. Overview Regulatins differ when shipping by air (includes FedEx Grund shipments t Alaska and Hawaii), water r USPS/SmartPst service. FedEx Grund strngly recmmends that anyne shipping lithium batteries take a specific lithium battery shipping class in rder t better understand these cmplex regulatins and meet DOT/ICAO/IATA/IMDG requirements. FedEx Grund ffers an ecnmical lithium battery shipping n-line curse t help yu meet this requirement. Please cntact the Dangerus Gds htline at 800-GOFEDEX, Optin 81 fr mre infrmatin n this curse. Basic transprt requirements Critical: Passing f safety tests fr lithium batteries and cells (Refer t the UN Manual f Tests and Criteria - UN/DOT 38.3) There are recrdkeeping requirements fr this testing which can be fund in 49CFR173.185. Use f separate prper shipping names fr lithium in batteries and lithium metal batteries: Lithium-in batteries: UN3480 Lithium-in batteries packed with r cntained in equipment: UN3481 Lithium metal batteries: UN3090 Lithium metal batteries packed with r cntained in equipment: UN3091 Only allw small and medium-sized lithium cells (<60 watt-hurs fr in r <5 grams fr metal) and batteries (<300 watt-hurs fr in r <25 grams fr metal) t be shipped as partially regulated in the dmestic U.S. by highway r rail if the stricter packaging and marking requirements are met In additin t the markings listed in the marking requirements sectin n page three, packages f medium-sized lithium batteries (Lithium In: >100 watt hurs and <300 Watt hurs OR Lithium Metal: >2
grams and <25 grams) must be additinally marked with the fllwing statement: LITHIUM BATTERIES FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD AIRCRAFT AND VESSEL. Certain types f battery shipments are prhibited r may require special arrangements in the FedEx Grund netwrk. Cntact if smene wants t ship any f the fllwing: Batteries that have nt passed the UN safety testing Damaged, defective r recalled batteries Batteries fr dispsal r recycling Lw-prductin and prttype lithium batteries Lithium batteries are regulated based n the rated watt-hurs fr lithium in batteries r the weight f the lithium cntained in the batteries fr lithium metal batteries. This infrmatin is usually marked n the battery r dcumented n a Safety Data Sheet (M/SDS) which can be btained frm yur supplier r the battery manufacturer. Small and medium sized lithium In battery exceptins This sectin applies t the transprt f small lithium in (<20 watt hurs fr cells/<100 watt hurs fr batteries) and small lithium metal (<1 grams fr lithium metal cells/<2 grams fr lithium metal batteries) and medium lithium cells and batteries (60-300 watt-hurs fr lithium in and >2 grams and <25 grams fr lithium metal). This als cvers cells and batteries packed with, r cntained in, equipment. Cells and batteries must be packaged in accrdance with the requirements listed in 49 CFR 173.24, 173.24a and 173.185. UN specificatin packaging (POP) is encuraged but nt required The batteries must be placed in inner packaging designed t prevent damage, shrt circuits and mvement within the uter package. The battery terminals are f a particular cncern. They shuld nt be able t cntact ther batteries and/r any ther cnductive cntents r packaging The batteries must be placed in rigid uter packaging. If the shipper chses t use sft uter packaging, such as a padded envelpe with the rigid packaging inside, the uter packaging must be marked as an OVERPACK. If the battery is cntained (installed) in a device, the rigid packaging may nt be necessary prvided that the device will ffer at least the same prtectin as the rigid packaging If the battery is cntained in a device, there needs t be a psitive means t prevent activatin f the device during transprtatin. This may be accmplished by measures such as discnnecting the battery r placing tape ver a switch The package must nt exceed 30 kg (66 lbs.) grss weight. This weight limit des nt apply t lithium cells r batteries packed with r cntained in equipment
Marking Requirements: Except fr a package cntaining buttn cell batteries installed in equipment (including circuit bards), r n mre than fur lithium cells r tw lithium batteries installed in the equipment, the uter package must display a lithium battery handling mark. The new versin f the handling mark is displayed belw n the left. The ld versin is still acceptable fr use until December 2018. New Versin Old Versin (acceptable until 12/31/2018) The new versin f the handling mark must include the apprpriate UN Identificatin number (see Basic Transprt requirements abve) as well as a phne number fr additinal infrmatin abut the shipment. This number des nt need t be an emergency respnse phne number, nr des it need t be a U.S. phne number.. The packages must be f a sufficient size that the marking will cmpletely fit n ne package surface, when packages required t bear the lithium battery Drp Test: Except when cells r batteries are cntained in equipment, each package must be capable f withstanding a 1.2 m drp test in any rientatin withut damage t cells r batteries cntained in the package, withut shifting f the cntents that wuld allw shrt-circuiting, and withut release f package cntents. Shipments prepared in accrdance with internatinal regulatins IATA/ICAO and IMDG Cde are acceptable fr grund transprt within the U.S. prvided that a prtin f the trip is by air r water. te: Please see Class 9 Miscellaneus Label exceptin at the end f this dcument fr mre infrmatin n imprted battery shipments. Shipping f lithium in cells >60 WH and batteries >300 WH and lithium metal cells >5 grams lithium per cell and >25 grams per battery as fully regulated Class 9 hazardus materials. This includes Class 9 batteries that are packed with and cntained in equipment. There is n general relief fr larger batteries. There is a new versin f the Class 9 Miscellaneus label that was develped fr lithium battery shipments. The new label is displayed belw n the left and includes the same battery graphic as the battery handling label. The current Class 9 label can still be used fr these shipments until December 2018.
New Current (acceptable until 12/31/2018 Prhibiting passenger aircraft marking fr primary metal lithium batteries: The fllwing marking belw, in red, must be placed n packages cntaining nly primary lithium (metal) cells with n mre than 1 gram f lithium cntent and batteries with an aggregate lithium cntent f n mre than 2 grams, that d nt exceed the quantity limits (per package) shwn in the U.S. regulatins: LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES - FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT r PRIMARY LITHIUM BATTERIES - FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT. The marking must be n a backgrund f cntrasting clr in letters at least 6 mm (0.25 inch) n packages having a grss mass f 30 kg (66 lbs.) r less, except that smaller fnt may be used as necessary t fit package dimensins. The Carg Aircraft Only (CAO) label shwn belw has been apprved as an alternative t this text marking requirement. NOTE: Packages displaying the range CAO label and/r a Lithium Batteries Frbidden fr transprt by Aircraft and Vessel marking are prhibited fr transprt t/frm/within Alaska and Hawaii. NOTE: Please see 49 CFR 173.185 fr additinal imprtant infrmatin n shipping small and medium sized lithium batteries.
Class 9 Miscellaneus Label exceptin fr lithium battery packages imprted int the dmestic US. The DOT has issued an interpretatin letter that permits shippers f lithium batteries t leave the Class 9 miscellaneus label still affixed t the package and still take advantage f the exceptins ffered fr dmestic grund shipping in the 48 cntiguus states. This means that the shipper des nt need t remve r cver the Class 9 label n the package in rder t ship as a partially regulated package (similar t an ORM-D). Therefre, these packages d nt need shipping papers, such as a Hazmat Certificatin [OP-950] r OP-900 Hazmat tags. These packages will nt need t be packaged in UN POP (perfrmance riented packaging), nr are they subject t the hazmat surcharge. The packages are likely t be marked similar t this example when shipped by grund. te there are n OP-900 tags n this package.
Small and Medium Lithium In Batteries: 48 Cntiguus State FedEx Grund Shipping Only () All Cells and Batteries must pass UN Safety Tests Passed Tests? DOT Apprval needed t transprt. Battery handling mark D yu have cell/battery Watt-Hurs? This infrmatin may be marked n the battery. If nt, cntact cell/battery manufacturer fr a Safety Data Sheet (M/SDS) r calculate by multiplying a cell s r battery's rated capacity, in amperehurs, by its nminal perating vltage. Is Cell >60 Wh r battery >300 Wh Battery is a fully regulated Class 9 hazardus material. Shipper must be pre-apprved. Battery can be shipped with reduced regulatry requirements: Batteries must be placed in rigid uter packaging (unless cntained in equipment) and inner packaging designed t prevent damage t the batteries and shrt circuits (nn-cnductive materials) Package must nt exceed 66lbs. (30Kg) unless packed with r cntained in equipment. The battery handling mark pictured abve must be applied t the package. The shipper must add the apprpriate UN Identificatin Number (See the Safety Data Sheet [M/SDS] and/r cntact their supplier fr this infrmatin). A phne number must be listed fr infrmatin abut the package. The number des nt necessarily need t be an emergency respnse number and des nt need t be a US dmestic phne number. The mark must be fully n ne package surface. The mark is nt required t be applied when there are < 4 cells r <2 batteries if they are cntained in equipment. If the cell is >20 Wh r the battery is >100 Wh the package must be marked LITHIUM BATTERIES FORBIDDEN ABOARD AIRCRAFT AND VESSEL.
Small and Medium Lithium Metal Batteries: 48 Cntiguus State FedEx Grund Shipping Only () All Cells and Batteries must pass UN Safety Tests Battery Handling Mark Passed Tests? DOT Apprval needed t transprt. Cntact Safety PGH D yu have the Lithium Cntent? Infrmatin may be marked n battery. If nt, cntact the cell/battery manufacturer fr a Safety Data Sheet (M/SDS) Is Cell >5g r battery >25g Battery is a fully regulated Class 9 hazardus material Battery can be shipped with reduced regulatry requirements: Batteries must be placed in rigid uter packaging (unless cntained in equipment) and inner packaging designed t prevent damage t the batteries and shrt circuits (nn-cnductive materials) Package must nt exceed 66lbs. (30Kg) unless packaged with r in equipment. The battery handling mark pictured abve must be applied t the package. The shipper must add the apprpriate UN Identificatin Number (See the Safety Data Sheet [M/SDS] and/r cntact their supplier fr this infrmatin). A phne number must be listed fr infrmatin abut the package. The number des nt necessarily need t be an emergency respnse number and des nt need t be a US dmestic phne number. The mark must be fully n ne package surface. The mark is nt required t be applied when there are < 4 cells r <2 batteries when they are cntained in equipment. Buttn cell batteries installed in equipment als d nt require the mark. If the lithium metal cell is >1 gram and <5 grams r the lithium metal battery is >2 grams and <25 grams, the package must be marked LITHIUM BATTERIES FORBIDDEN ABOARD AIRCRAFT AND VESSEL. The fllwing statement (marking) must be placed n packages cntaining nly primary lithium (metal) cells with n mre than 1 gram f lithium cntent and batteries with an aggregate lithium cntent f n mre than 2 grams, that d nt exceed the quantity limits (per package) shwn in the U.S. regulatins: LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES - FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT. The range Carg Aircraft Only label can be used as an alternative (unless package is destined fr Alaska r Hawaii).