If you are planning to ship your batteries or battery-powered IoT devices by air, sea, rail, or road, there are several rules you must adhere to.
Lithium batteries are classed as dangerous goods for transportation only. With billions of rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium cells and batteries powering most of the world’s consumer and industrial electronic devices, shipping them to customers through vast global logistic chains is often an overlooked topic.
Safety requirements have led to tighter air transport regulations for lithium batteries. Failing to follow these rules could lead to serious consequences, including significant fines. With that in mind, it is important to ensure that, during shipping, these lithium batteries are appropriately declared, labelled, packaged, and stored. There are therefore things you need to know before shipping your lithium batteries or lithium battery-powered devices.
Choosing your shipping company
Not all shipping companies can ship lithium batteries, so when shipping lithium batteries by road, sea, rail or air, you should choose a reputable carrier that has guidelines in place for shipping these items, together with trained personnel who understand how lithium batteries work and how to handle them safely. FedEx, USPS, UPS, or DHL can do the job, but there are other commercial carriers as well. Just make sure they have a hazmat contract or pre-approval for your specific type of lithium battery, and that they follow the UN/IATA/ICAO Dangerous Goods regulations.
Since 2016, the transport of lithium-ion batteries aboard passenger aircraft in bulk shipments has been prohibited, so you will have to find the relevant carrier. This prohibition does not apply to batteries packed with, or contained in equipment.
You are required to provide the carrier with the appropriate documentation. Most reputable companies will provide you with a Shipping Guide outlining their specific requirements for lithium-ion and lithium metal battery shipments, depending on the chosen mode of transport.
Do not forget, most freight nowadays is multimodal: the shipment could start its journey by road, then by air, and finally by road or rail. Packing your shipment for air transport is the surest way to ensure it meets all requirements.
Understand the classifications and shipping descriptions
Additionally, the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods have classified dangerous goods under specific UN Numbers and “proper shipping names”. There are six possible shipping names (and labels) with corresponding UN numbers for lithium battery shipments, depending on the type and how the package is configured.
You will need to indicate the battery sizes on your battery product label. Lithium-ion batteries are sized by power rating in watt-hours (Wh) per cell and Watt-hours per battery. Normally, the power is indicated on the battery itself, as this is now mandatory (older batteries manufactured before 1st January 2009 may lack this labelling). Make sure you confirm the information with your manufacturer, as it might not be indicated on the cell.
The UN 38.3 test summary
As of 1st January 2020, producers and subsequent distributors of cells or batteries have had to provide a Test Summary Report (TSR), as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, before lithium cells/batteries can be transported. This is a series of eight tests simulating safety in transport and environmental conditions such as pressure, temperature, shock, vibration, impact, altitude, etc. The test summary report includes a summary of the cell or battery test results. Without this test summary report being made available to the transport logistics chain, the shipping of lithium cells and batteries is prohibited.
So, when choosing your battery manufacturer, remember that only cells and batteries manufactured under a quality management programme are suitable for transport.
Packing your shipment
The packaging of lithium batteries or IoT devices is usually handled by the entity that ships the package, as they are typically the signatories to the shipping declaration, which requires specific information based on several parameters.
The detailed requirements for any given lithium battery shipment may vary significantly depending on the battery type, size, quantity, configuration, weight, transporter, destination, and mode of transportation. It also depends on whether you are shipping batteries or cells only; cells or batteries packed with equipment (separately or in the same package); or cells or batteries contained in equipment.
The Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations, Twenty-first revised edition (ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.21) is the base reference document underlying the regulatory structure for all transport modes.
The document provides detailed guidance for classification, packaging and many other details specific to various cases of transport for all classifications of dangerous goods, including lithium rechargeable and non-rechargeable cells and batteries, for example:
• Small quantities of Li metal and Li-ion cells and batteries.
o Special provision, Chapter 3.3, 188 (a), (b), etc.
• Lithium cells and batteries when installed in equipment.
o Special Provision Chapter 3.3, 188 (e), etc.
Care must be taken to understand any additional requirements imposed by the different modes of transport. Additional requirements and restrictions may be imposed by the various carriers, many of which address lithium battery shipments.
Packaging may require official testing to demonstrate it will protect its contents during transport, including exposure to dropping, stacking, moisture, etc., before being allowed to transport lithium cells and batteries. Fortunately, this type of qualified packaging is readily available and pre-qualified from suppliers globally.
In summary
Nowadays, billions of batteries are shipped annually. Lithium battery accidents in transport are very rare, thanks to the regulations and high standards for air, road, sea and rail shipping. At first glance, it may seem daunting to comply with all these regulations, but in fact, it is not difficult to ship your batteries or battery-powered devices; you just need to know what you are doing before you start.
That starts with making sure your chosen carrier is up to date with the regulations and follows the revisions published on a regular basis. Then follow the instructions for properly labelling and packing your shipment.
If you need advice on transporting your Saft batteries, we can provide expert insight and set you on the path to safely preparing your shipments in compliance with international transport regulations.
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