Things to know before transporting lithium batteries or battery powered IoT devices

Are you planning on shipping your batteries or your IoT devices by air, sea, rail or road? You may not realize it but there are a number of rules that must be adhered to. Lithium batteries are classed as dangerous goods in transportation system. With billions of rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium cells and batteries powering most of the earth ’ mho consumer and industrial electronic devices, shipping them to the customer through huge global logistics chains is often an overlooked subject .
base hit requirements have led to a tightening of air transportation regulations when transporting lithium batteries. Failing to follow these rules could lead to good consequences, including significant fines. With that in take care, it ’ s substantive for you – and your choose carrier wave – to take the time to ensure that during shipping, these lithium batteries are appropriately declared, labeled, packaged, and stored .
So, what do you need to know before shipping lithium batteries or battery powered IoT devices?

1. Not all shipping companies can transport lithium batteries

foremost and foremost, 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, in concert with train 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 early commercial carriers. Just make certain they have a hazmat contract or a pre-approval for your specific type of lithium batteries and follow the UN/IATA/ICAO/ Dangerous Goods regulations.

Since 2016, the conveyance of lithium-ion batteries aboard passenger aircraft in bulk shipments has been prohibited so you ’ ll have to find the relevant carrier. This prohibition is not applicable to batteries packed with, or contained in equipment. note : There are specific cargo-only carry aircraft following the ICAO regulations, which allow lithium cells and batteries to shipped in majority .

Packing and labeling is the responsibility of the shipper. You will be required to provide the carrier with the appropriate software documentation. Most of these companies will provide you with a Shipping Guide stating their specific requirements for lithium-ion and lithium metal battery shipments according to the choose mode of transportation. Don ’ thymine forget, most freight nowadays is multi-modal : the cargo could start its travel by road, followed by atmosphere and then by road or rail. Packing your cargo for air conveyance is the sure way to ensure it will comply with the necessary requirements all the way.

2. How to label your package? The classifications and shipping descriptions.

All hazardous materials are subjugate to the UN regulations and are assigned one of nine gamble classes. lithium batteries have been assigned to Class 9- Miscellaneous Hazard Classification .

additionally, the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods have classified dangerous goods under particular UN Numbers and “ proper shipping names ”. There are six potential shipping names ( and labels ) with corresponding UN numbers for lithium battery shipments based upon the type and how the package is configured :

1. UN 3480 Lithium-ion batteries (rechargeable)
2. UN 3481 Lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment
3. UN 3481 Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment
4. UN 3090 Lithium metal batteries (non rechargeable lithium batteries)
5. UN 3091 Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment
6. UN 3091 Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment

You will need to indicate the size of the batteries on your battery product label. Lithium-ion batteries are sized by office denounce in Watt-hours ( Wh ) per cell and Watt-hours per battery. normally, the power is indicated on the battery itself, as this is nowadays mandatary ( older batteries manufactured before 1st January 2009 may lack this tag ). Make indisputable you confirm the information with your manufacturer as it might not be indicated on the cell. For Saft batteries, the information is indicated in the data sheet available for each one of our batteries. Click here to download your specific product documentation.

3. Prove your credentials: The UN 38.3 test summary

As of 1st of January 2020, producers and subsequent distributors of cells or batteries must make available a Test Summary Report or TSR —as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria— before lithium cells/batteries can be transported. This is a series of 8 tests simulating condom in tape drive and environmental conveyance conditions such as : atmospheric pressure, temperature, shock, vibration, impact, elevation, etc. The test drumhead report includes a drumhead of the cell or batteries test results. Without this quiz compendious report being made available to the transport logistics chain, the ship of lithium cells and batteries is prohibited.

At Saft we do all of our own test and provide the UN 38.3 examination drumhead report on-line. Simply click on the connect above or QR Code and provide the wide part count ( P/N ) to obtain the represent test report .

Be warned, when choosing your barrage manufacturer, only cells and batteries manufactured under a quality management program may be offered for transport.

4. How to pack your shipment?

The packing is usually handled by the entity that ships the package as they are typically the signatories on the ship announcement, which requires specific information depending on a phone number of parameters. The detail requirements for any given lithium battery dispatch may vary significantly depending on the battery character, size, quantity, shape, weight, conveyer belt, address, and manner of department of transportation. It besides depends on whether you are shipping batteries or cells only, cells or batteries packed with equipment ( individually in the same software ) 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 establish character document underlying the regulative structure for all enchant modes. This document is publicly available at the connect in the glossary below .
The document provides detailed guidance for categorization, promotion and many other details, specific to versatile cases of transport for all classifications of dangerous goods including Lithium rechargeable and non-rechargeable cells and batteries – for example ;

1. Small quantities of Li metal and Li-ion cells and batteries.
   a.    Special provision, Chapter 3.3, 188 (a), (b) etc.
2. Lithium cells and batteries when installed in equipment.
   a.    Special Provision Chapter 3.3, 188 (e), etc.

Packaging instructions specific to the diverse tape drive modes can be found on the respective websites of the institutions and organizations listed in the glossary at the end of this stake. Depending on the product you are shipping, where you are shipping and how, the shipper will have to follow the applicable packing requirements of the current edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport Of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations and the requirements of other regulative bodies ( ICAO, IATA, IMDG, ADR, DOT, RID ) depending on the intended manner of ecstasy ; road, rail, air, sea or multi-modal .
care must be taken to understand any extra requirements imposed by the unlike modes of tape drive. extra requirements and restrictions may be imposed by the diverse carriers, many of which address Lithium barrage shipments.
Packaging may require official testing to prove it will protect its contents during transport when exposed to dropping, stacking, moisture etc, before being allowed to transport Lithium cells and batteries. fortunately, this type of stipulate packaging is readily available and pre-qualified from suppliers globally.

Nowadays, billions of batteries are shipped per annum. lithium battery accidents in transportation are identical rare, thanks to the regulations and eminent standards for air, road, sea and railing ship. At first glance, it may appear a daunting undertaking, but on the contrary, it is not difficult to ship your batteries or battery powered devices, you just need to know what you are doing before you start! And you need to make sure that your choose carrier wave is up to date with the regulations and follows the revisions that are being published on a even basis .
If you need any advice on how to transport your Saft batteries for the Internet of Things, please get in allude with Saft at energizeIoT @ saftbatteries.com where your inquiry will be directed to a intimate specialist, Wayne Pitt, who can set you on the path to safely preparing your shipments in submission with external transport regulations.