UN 3090 Small Lithium Metal Batteries, Alone, by Domestic Air – Cargo Aircraft only

 

 

BROWNELLS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT DATA SHEET

COMMODITY:

Lithium metal cells/batteries, alone without equipment. Lithium metal batteries may not exceed 2 grams of lithium each; lithium metal cells may not exceed 1 gram of lithium each.

The package may not exceed 30 kg (66 pounds) gross weight.

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION: Domestic Air – Cargo Aircraft only

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OVERVIEW

PROPER SHIPPING NAME:	Lithium metal batteries	LABEL:	No
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:	UN 3090	PLACARD:	No
HAZARD CLASS/DIVISION:	9	EMERG. INFO:	No
PACKING GROUP:	None	TRAINING:	Special, Adequate Instruction
DOCUMENT:	Special	PACKAGING:	Non-spec
MARKING:	Special

HAZMAT TABLE

Classification

Lithium metal cells and batteries must meet requirements of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. The manufacture must record the test results and maintain them.

This transport data sheet uses some of the small cells and batteries exceptions in 49 CFR 173.185(c). The criteria are:

• lithium metal batteries not exceeding 2 grams of lithium each, or lithium metal cells not exceeding 1 gram of lithium each.

Citation: 49 CFR 173.185(a), 49 CFR 173.185(c)

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PACKAGING INFORMATION

Packaging must meet the general requirements of 49 CFR 173 Subpart B. Small lithium metal batteries must be packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits, movement within the outer package and accidental activation of equipment. Batteries alone or packed with equipment must be fully enclosed in non-metallic inner packagings. Specification packaging does not apply, but the package has to be capable of passing a 1.2 meter drop test. The package may not exceed 30 kg gross.

For transportation by cargo aircraft only,  the lithium metal cells and batteries may not exceed the limits prescribed in the table, in addition to the 30 kg gross package weight limit.

For lithium metal cells and/ or batteries with a lithium content lower than 0.3 gr:  No limit on the number of batteries but the batteries may not weigh more than 2.5 kg; or

For lithium metal cells with a lithium content between 0.3 g and 1 g: 8 cells maximum; or

For lithium metal batteries between 0.3 g and 2 g : 2 batteries maximum

Citation: 49 CFR 173 Subpart B, 49 CFR 173.185(b)(3)(ii), 49 CFR 173.185(4)(vi)

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SHIPPING PAPER REQUIREMENTS

An indication on the air waybill that the shipment is compliant with the limit requirements of 49 CFR 173.185(c)(4).

Citation: 49 CFR 173.185(c)(4)(iii)

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                                                        TRAINING

Each person who prepares the package must receive “adequate instruction” on the conditions and limitations of lithium metal cells/batteries air shipments commensurate with their responsibilities.

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CARTON MARKING

The lithium battery mark is required, customized to the correct UN number and telephone number. Normally this would be a 24/7 emergency response service phone number, but the name of the service is optional. Only paid subscribers can use the phone number of a service. The phone number should have the country code in case the sticker is also used for international shipments not covered in this transport data sheet.

The lithium battery mark must be at least 120 mm (4.7 inches) wide by 110 mm (4.3 inches) high, with a 5 mm (0.2 inches) hatching border. However, markings of 105 mm (4.1 inches) wide by 74 mm (2.9 inches) high may be used on when the package is too small for the larger mark.

 

We use the cargo only aircraft handling label in the examples below:

Here are examples using the reduced-size lithium battery mark:

The example above with hazard communication on different panels is legal but might cause rejection by carriers confusing this with other rules for the CAO handling label to be applied on the same panel as other information.

A custom mark could be made to combine the requirements on one sticker, which could simplify operations, reduce box size and eliminate conflicts with potential carrier discretionary policies:

Which would appear like this:

Citation: 49 CFR 173.185(c)

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OVERPACKS

Air shipments require overpack markings if the mark can’t be seen inside the overpack. The shipment must be marked as follows:

Citation: 49 CFR §173.185(c)(4)(ii), §173.25

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