Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations 2019

Lithium batteries are slowly gaining a bigger market share over time. Lithium ion batteries accounted for 38% of all the revenue that was earned by batteries in 2009.

Electrical devices like mobile phones, laptops, portable medical devices, and even hoverboards are powered by these lithium batteries. These lithium batteries, however, are classified as dangerous goods. This is because they can catch fire when they get overheated or damaged. Thus there are many regulations in place to ensure that they are safely transported. You must properly know how to package them properly and know what information you need to provide to the shipping company before you start shipping them.

Lithium batteries were pioneered by G.N. Lewis in 1912. It will take more than half a century before these batteries were commercially produced. Lithium was used because it was very light, could hold a large amount of energy and had a very high electrochemical potential. Lithium ion batteries are batteries that use lithium ions rather than the metal. This makes these batteries much safer. The lithium batteries have been constantly under development since their inception and have led to much lower costs and better efficiency.

Can I ship lithium battery?

The legality concerning the shipping of lithium batteries is very varied. Lithium batteries cannot be shipped internationally unless they are inside a product. Shipping companies are prohibited from carrying packages that only contain lithium ion cells or batteries to international destinations. However, it is legal to ship the batteries domestically. Lithium batteries are considered to be dangerous goods by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This means that there are many standard protocols that one must follow while shipping lithium batteries, this ranges from identification to the labeling of the shipment.

Overview of lithium battery shipping requirements

The shipping requirements of lithium batteries depend on various factors, running from the type of battery to whether they are packed inside a device.

If you ship lithium batteries over two grams, lithium cells over one gram, lithium ion batteries over 100Wh, or lithium ion cells over 20Wh, then your shipment is acceptable to only dangerous goods location,  When someone ships a lithium battery or a lithium ion battery that is acceptable to just dangerous goods locations, there various things that they are required to do. They must first declare the net weight of the shipment. The package must be properly labeled with the UN number, shipper/consignee name and address, and the proper shipping name. The packaging must be up to the standards that are required by the UN. The package must be labeled with the lithium battery Class 9 Hazard label. The shipper will also have to pay the additional dangerous goods surcharge. If the battery is packed along with the equipment, then the number of batteries in the package must not exceed three times the number of batteries that are required for the operation of the equipment. In case that they are shipping the batteries inside the equipment, then they must provide a rigid outer packaging to protect the shipments from physical damage.

If you are shipping lithium ion cells under 20Wh, lithium ion batteries under 100Wh, lithium batteries under two grams, or lithium cells under one gram, the process of shipping is much less demanding. You don't need to provide a shipper's declaration and won't have to pay for the dangerous goods surcharge. You will, however, need to provide a rigid outer packaging and a complete lithium battery mark. If you are transporting the batteries along with the equipment, then you can have a maximum of three sets of batteries for the equipment. A set is the number of batteries or cells that are required to power the equipment. However, if you are shipping the batteries inside the equipment, there are no limitations. You don't have to provide the complete lithium battery mark if you are only transporting button cell batteries that have been installed within the equipment or have less than three packages that each have a maximum of four cells and two batteries installed within the equipment.

If you try to ship hoverboards or other self balancing vehicles that are powered by lithium batteries, they will only be accepted if they are new and inside an unopened original packaging. Used and refurbished self balancing vehicles will not be accepted.

How to protect lithium battery during shipping

When you are shipping lithium batteries, you cannot simply throw them inside a box and give it to your courier service. The batteries need to be packed in specific ways depending on various factors.

If you are transporting lithium batteries that are installed inside the equipment, make sure that the equipment is turned off. Also securely pack the equipment to ensure that it does not turn on while being shipped. You can achieve this by covering the on/off switch of the equipment with a plastic cap or by cutting out a piece of packaging that is most likely to hit the switch. You must also take care to make sure that the cells or batteries do not come in contact with metals and other conductive materials, because the cells may short circuit. If the cells short circuit it can damage them and might even cause a fire.

Ensure that you follow all the dangerous goods regulations, and this includes using rigid outer packaging and soft materials inside the package to cushion the batteries and equipment. Ensure that the movement of the equipment inside the package is restricted. Label the package with a lithium battery handling label so that the people who handle the package know what precautions to take. You only need to attach the handling label when you are shipping three or more electronic equipment.