Lithium batteries come in two types: lithium metal, which are single-use, and lithium-ion, which can be recharged. Both store energy that generates intense heat during a short circuit. A short can occur if metal touches both terminals or if internal seals fail.
Lithium batteries have revolutionized electronics. Tiny cellphones equipped with cameras or music players would not be possible without the wafer-size lithium-ion rechargeable battery that powers them. Sophisticated medical devices depend on long-lived lithium metal batteries. The growing energy stored in the small batteries also creates a hazard. If the batteries short-circuit, they can produce intense heat, and most of the batteries contain flammable chemicals.
A battery fire in a carry-on bag would be more easily detected and controlled by crew, and, given the popularity of laptops and cell phones, banning them in carry-ons would be difficult. Regulators are caught in the middle. But if you think about being on a passenger plane and one of these catches fire — even if the crew can control it, that’s a bad situation with all the smoke.
A plane is bad place for a battery
According to government and industry officials, the world’s insatiable demand for more power is clashing with safety needs on aircraft. “It is a critical safety issue,” said Bernard Loeb, a former chief aviation accident investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “Any event that involves the potential for fire on an airplane is very serious.” The potential for lithium batteries to ignite was first raised as a safety issue in 1999, when fire broke out in Los Angeles in a load of 120,000 lithium batteries that had just arrived aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Japan. Northwest employees doused the batteries with a fire hose, but each time they thought they had extinguished the fire, it flared up again.
Lithium batteries have become commonplace and the Regulations regarding their transport now affect a wider audience. Because of this, IATA has developed an information document to assist shipper’s, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, airlines/operators and passengers in complying with those Regulations.
You can download a Guidance document (pdf) on the transport of lithium metal and lithium ion batteries developed by IATA for complying with the 53rd (2012) edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) on classification, exceptions, packaging, passenger provisions and frequently asked questions.
Packing instructions 965-970 from the 53rd Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations applicable to lithium batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft and CAO are broken down into three (3) sections for easy understandability; general requirements applicable to all battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction, Section I, applicable to the “fully regulated”, Class 9 battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction and Section II, applicable to the “excepted”, battery shipments assigned to that packing instruction.
You can download these documents at Download documents
2012 Guidance Document
ICC Compliance Center offers a variety of solutions to help shippers comply with shipping lithium batteries by air.
In June of 2011, the fourth revised edition of the UN’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS, Rev.4) was issued.
The changes in the latest revision include two new hazard categories : chemically unstable gases and non-flammable aerosols. These new categories account for hazards not previously addressed where special precautions are needed when handling, storing or transporting these items. Acetylene, a commonly used welding gas is an example of a ‘chemically unstable gas’. Acetylene is unstable and can explode without an ignition source at pressures as low as 25 psi (172 kPa). For that reason, Acetylene is normally sold ‘dissolved’ in porous Acetone to allow for higher pressures. Additionally, a non-flammable aerosol, still presents a pressurization hazard and can explode if heated, even though it is not technically ‘flammable’.
The 4th Revised Purple Book provides additional clarification of some of the hazard criteria, such as for gases under pressure or mixture cutoffs for Category 1 Carcinogens; and further rationalization of precautionary statements, such as ‘P251 – Do not pierce or burn, even after use’ for non-flammable aerosols as well as flammable aerosols.
Also added, is a new special labelling arrangement for materials that are only corrosive to metals and not corrosive to the skin and eyes. The new option for the Competent Authority is to allow the hazard pictogram for the ‘Corrosive to metals’ category to be dropped on the label for a product that is in the finished state and packaged for consumer use.
These changes in the 4th Revised Edition will still require implementation in those Countries or Agencies that have implemented, or have begun to implement, the GHS into current systems.
For further information on all of the revisions in the 4th Revised Purple Book, please consult the United Nations Economic Commission (UNEC) website at:
If you have any questions regarding the changes in the 4th Revised Purple Book, or on the GHS, please contact ICC Compliance Center Inc at 1-888-442-9628 (USA) or 1-888-977-4834 (Canada).
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), has recently published a summary of changes that will be seen in the 2012 edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).
Some rather extensive changes to aspects such as packaging have been introduced this year in the DGR 52nd edition. The changes for the 53rd edition, that will take effect January 1, 2012 will be more limited, and are designed in most cases to refine or simplify requirements, rather than create new ones or change requirements significantly.
The expected changes include:
Provisions for limited quantity packaging will be consolidated in section 2.7.5, moving some information from its current location section 5.0.
Special provision A44 has been revised to clarify compatibility and packing group requirements for chemical and first aid kits.
Special provision A802 has been created, to require that entries to the List of Dangerous Goods without packing groups, but with a requirement for UN specification packaging, must use packaging rated at least to the Packing Group II level.
Special Provision A803 will require that all corrosives in Class 8, Packing Group III be packed in packaging that meets at least Packing Group II standards.(except for limited quantities).
Special Provision A804 will reaffirm that Gallium and Mercury must be shipped in packaging that meets Packing Group I standards.
Special Provision A805 will clarify that Dry ice may be packed directly into an overpack without an intervening packaging.
For lithium metal and lithium ion batteries, additional notes have been added regarding testing requirements for refurbished or otherwise altered batteries. Clarification has been added for carrying lithium batteries as passenger baggage when they are subject to the sections of Section II of the relevant packing instructions.
The requirements for marking overpacks have been clarified to show specifically which markings must be reproduced on the outside of the overpack when not visible through the overpack.
The method of describing multiple overpacks on the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods has been expanded on, to align with the markings requirements for overpacks.
The provisions for information that must be provided on the air waybill or dangerous goods that do not require Shipper’s Declarations (such as Dry ice and Magnetized materials) has been revised
Appendix H will include a summary of the regulatory changes that will be expected to come into effect on January 1, 2013 for the 54th Edition of the DGR.
If you have any questions regarding this document, or shipping dangerous goods by air in general, please contact ICC Compliance Center Inc at 1-888-442-9628 (USA) or 1-888-977-4834 (Canada).
by ICC The Compliance Center on August 1, 2011 at 9:07 am · in Announcements, Products
FedEx implemented computer generated shipping papers that had to be generated using an approved error checking software.
Additional changes for FedEx Ground will become effective Aug. 1, 2011. All shipments will require all hazardous materials paperwork to be completed and submitted electronically using a FedEx® electronic shipping solution, a FedEx-recognized hazardous materials vendor software application, a FedEx® Compatible Solutions Program application or a custom solution that has the ability to transmit hazardous materials shipping information electronically. For more information on these new requirements visit http://www.fedex.com/us/hazardous-materials/current-requirements/index.html.
ICC The Compliance Center offers a simple solution in DG Office. This software allows you to complete forms electronically and submit to FedEx per their requirements.
Sign up for a free demo by visiting our website at:
Packaging includes all products used to contain, protect, handle, deliver or present goods. It includes returnable and non-returnable items such as boxes, pallets, labels, containers, tubes, bags, sacks, timber, glass, metals, plastics and ceramics. It can also include tape, wrapping, binding and tying materials.
All of these items must be designed to protect not only the product inside, but also to protect consumers from potential harm. You should check that your packaging is designed with safety in mind.
There is no option of doing nothing! The impact of unsafe equipment is far reaching and accidents have a devastating effect on personnel, budgets, public relations, products, brands and a company’s future. Ensuring that the equipment is kept safe is not only prudent but also makes good business sense. In many cases it has been shown that a direct investment in safety results is a direct improvement in efficiency and bottom line.
So what do you do? Well a lot of the work has already been done for you in the form of standards. These standards are designed to lay down important health and safety requirements that you must meet. Though, you must take further action if you or your company want to transport dangerous goods. All transport regulations require that dangerous goods are shipped in UN standardized means of containment.
The means of containment must be designed, constructed, filled, closed, secured and maintained so that under normal conditions of transport, including handling, there will be no accidental release of the dangerous goods that could endanger public safety and it must be standardized. A UN Standardized means of containment has marks illustrated on the packaging to indicate it is a compliant to ship dangerous goods.
ICC The Compliance Center has been designing packaging for 25 years. We have a large variety of packaging designs and price ranges to meet every budget. You can’t find what you need? Let us custom design the packaging you need to meet your unique requirements.
