Do you know the new regulations for lithium battery transportation?
On July 22, 2023, an Ethiopian Airlines 777 cargo plane caught fire at Shanghai Pudong Airport. According to relevant sources, the fire is suspected to be caused by dangerous goods. Subsequently, China Eastern Airlines issued a notice to suspend the transportation of dangerous goods such as lithium batteries from July to September.
It is well known that the transportation of dangerous goods is a kind of special transportation, and special technicians and vehicles should be used to carry out the transportation operation. There are strict requirements not only for transportation companies, drivers and vehicles, but also for the packaging of dangerous goods. According to GBT15098-94 - Principles for Classification of Transport Packages of Dangerous Goods, dangerous goods are classified into Class I, Class II and Class III packaging categories according to their degree of danger.
One type of packaging is that the goods are dangerous, and the packaging strength is the highest. Class II packaging refers to the goods with medium risk and high packaging strength requirements. The third type of packaging is that the goods have little danger, and the packaging strength requirements are general.
Lithium battery belongs to Class 9 dangerous goods and requires Class 2 packaging, which means that the packaging strength is higher. In November 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a summary of the new amendments to the 2020 Dangerous Goods Air Transport Rules (IATADGR61th). This time, the Air Transport Association updated the rules for the air transport of dangerous goods to the 60th edition, which has a great impact on the air transport of lithium batteries.
First, since January 1, 2020, lithium cell or lithium battery manufacturers and subsequent distributors must provide their UN38.3 test summary.
UN38.3 refers to Part 38 of the United Nations Manual of Tests and Standards for the Transport of Dangerous Goods, which is specially developed by the United Nations for the transport of dangerous goods The third item requires that the lithium battery must pass the high simulation, high and low temperature cycle, vibration test, impact test, 55 ℃ external short circuit, impact test, overcharge test and forced discharge test before transportation to ensure the safety of lithium battery transportation. If the lithium battery is not installed with the equipment, and there are more than 24 battery cells or 12 batteries in each package, it is also required to pass the 1.2 meter free drop test.
According to the current rules, the precondition for lithium battery transportation is to have a test report that meets the requirements of UN38.3, as well as a cargo transportation condition identification report that proves to meet the new version of DGR and IMDG, and a 1.2m drop test report if necessary. Usually, when many people do battery testing, it is easy to confuse UN38.3 with MSDS or think it is the same certification. In fact, MSDS is a technical specification for chemical safety, which is a document for lithium battery composition and emergency treatment, while UN38.3 is a safety test for lithium battery.
Second, the hybrid lithium battery containing lithium metal cells and lithium ion cells must be assigned to UN 3090 or UN 3091 (lithium battery pack is classified as Class 9 dangerous goods, UN No. UN3090, UN3091). When it is assigned to Section II, it will be appropriately restricted.
Third, the new version of lithium battery transportation label exchanges with the old version of lithium battery operation label, which specifies the transportation specifications in lithium batteries. The minimum size of lithium battery is 120 mm X 110 mm. The operation label must have a red border and the width is not less than 5 mm.
Fourth, a new rule was added to prevent the separation of lithium battery goods from dangerous goods: lithium batteries and lithium metal batteries (UN3090, PI968 Section IA or IB) marked with (UN3480, PI965 Section IA or IB) are not allowed to be packed in the same outer package with dangerous goods such as Class 1 explosive substances, Class 2.1 flammable gases, Class 3 flammable liquids, Class 4.1 flammable solids, Class 5.1 oxidants.
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