UN 3480, UN3481, UN3090, UN3091, UN3171, UN3536: Comprehensive Guidelines of Transportation Regulations for Lithium Battery Products.
By Richie Lin Photo：CANVA
Lithium battery products are omnipresent in our daily life. They are widely used in Consumer Electronics, Electric Vehicles (EVs), Energy Storage Systems, Medical Devices, Aerospace and Defense. And those explosive incidents which happened all over the world have proven that lithium battery products are also very dangerous. Any small scratch or vibration will cause fire which cannot be extinguished easily. We need to fully realize and comply the procedures of transporting lithium batteries to maintain the safety of other products on the vessels and airplanes. There two types of lithium batteries, one is lithium metal battery, and the other is lithium-ion battery. Lithium metal refers to pure, elemental lithium in its metallic state. It is a soft, silvery-white metal. Lithium metal is used in non-rechargeable (primary) batteries, like those in cameras, watches, and some medical devices. These batteries have a high energy density and long shelf life. Lithium-ion refers to lithium in ionic form (Li⁺) rather than as a metal. In lithium-ion batteries, lithium ions move between the anode and cathode during charging and discharging. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in consumer electronics (smartphones, laptops), electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable energy storage systems.
Lithium battery products are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods and divided into several categories such as lithium batteries, lithium battery equipment, battery-powered vehicles, and Lithium Batteries Installed in Cargo Transport Unit. Different categories have different requirements on during transportation, but they always need below documents to present to the shipping lines and airlines.
1. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
2. UN38.3 Test Report
3. Certification for Safe Transport of Chemical Goods (only for shipments from China)
4. 1.2 Meter Drop Test (only for those shipped as general cargo)
- Lithium Battery: Lithium batteries include lithium-ion battery and lithium metal battery.
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Lithium-ion Battery (Rechargeable) |
Lithium Metal Battery (Non-rechargeable) |
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UN Number |
UN 3480 |
UN 3090 |
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Proper Shipping Name |
Lithium-ion Batteries |
Lithium metal Batteries |
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Packing Instruction number |
PI 965 |
PI 968 |
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Packing Section |
Section IA: More than 100wh per battery. Must use DG package, issue DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9, lithium battery, and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 35KGS. State of Charge (SOC) of each battery cannot exceed 30%. |
Section IA: More than 2 gram of lithium metal per battery. Must use DG package, issue DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9, lithium battery, and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 35KGS. |
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Section IB: Less than 100wh per battery but more than 2 batteries per package. No need to use DG package, but still need to issue DGD, and stick labels of Class 9, lithium battery, and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 10KGS. State of Charge (SOC) of each battery cannot exceed 30%. |
Section IB: Less than 2 gram of lithium metal per battery but more than 2 batteries per package. No need to use DG package, but still need to issue DGD, and stick labels of Class 9, lithium battery, and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 2.5KGS. |
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Section II: Less than 100wh per battery and less than 2 batteries per package. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 10KGS. |
Section II: Less than 2 gram of lithium metal per battery and less than 2 batteries per package. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery and cargo aircraft only if by airfreight. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 2.5KGS. |
- Lithium Battery equipment: lithium battery packed with equipment and lithium battery contained in equipment.
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Lithium-ion Battery (Rechargeable) |
Lithium Metal Battery (Non-rechargeable) |
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UN Number |
UN 3481 |
UN 3091 |
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Proper Shipping Name |
Lithium-ion Batteries packed with equipment |
Lithium metal Batteries packed with equipment |
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Packing Instruction number |
PI 966 |
PI 969 |
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Packing Section |
Section I: More than 100wh per battery. Must use DG package, issue DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9 and lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 35KGS for cargo flight. Battery numbers cannot exceed the needed numbers of equipment plus two spare batteries. |
Section I: More than 2 gram of lithium metal per battery. Must use DG package, issue DGD (Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9 and lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 35KGS for cargo flight. Battery numbers cannot exceed the needed numbers of equipment plus two spare batteries. |
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Section II: Less than 100wh per battery. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 5KGS for cargo flight. Battery numbers cannot exceed the needed numbers of equipment plus two spare batteries. |
Section II: Less than2 gram of lithium metal per battery. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 5KGS for cargo flight. Battery numbers cannot exceed the needed numbers of equipment plus two spare batteries. |
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Lithium-ion Battery (Rechargeable) |
Lithium Metal Battery (Non-rechargeable) |
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UN Number |
UN 3481 |
UN 3091 |
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Proper Shipping Name |
Lithium-ion Batteries contained in equipment |
Lithium metal Batteries contained in equipment |
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Packing Instruction number |
PI 967 |
PI 970 |
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Packing Section |
Section I: More than 100wh per battery. Must issue DGD(Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9 and lithium battery. But no need to use DG package. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 35KGS for cargo flight. |
Section I: More than 2 gram lithium metal per battery. Must issue DGD(Dangerous Goods Declaration), and stick labels of Class 9 and lithium battery. But no need to use DG package. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 35KGS for cargo flight. |
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Section II: Less than 100wh per battery. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 5KGS for cargo flight. |
Section II: Less than 2 gram lithium metal per battery. No need to use DG package and Class 9 label, but still need to stick labels of lithium battery. Battery weight of each package cannot exceed 5KGS for passenger flight and 5KGS for cargo flight. |
C. Battery powered vehicle: electric cars, electric bicycles, balance cars
Battery powered vehicles are also class 9 dangerous goods. The UN number is UN3171 and Packing group is PI952. There are several important considerations with respect to the use of PI952 as follows: 1. the lithium cells and batteries must be of a type that have successfully passed the applicable tests in subsection 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria; 2. the assignment to UN 3171 does not provide for any exception from the full application of the Regulations, i.e. there is no exception for vehicles that contain lithium ion batteries with a Watt-hour rating not exceeding 100Wh; 3. the net quantity required on the Shipper’s Declaration for UN 3171 is the net weight of the complete vehicle. There is no limit on the weight of a lithium ion battery in a vehicle or in a package and there is no net quantity difference between passenger aircraft and Cargo Aircraft Only; 4. if the lithium battery is removed from the vehicle and packed separate from the vehicle in the same outer packaging, then as per Packing Instruction 952, the classification becomes UN 3481, Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment and Packing Instruction 966 applies, or UN 3091, Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment and Packing Instruction 969 applies.
D. Lithium Batteries Installed in Cargo Transport Unit: containerized energy storage devices.
Lithium Batteries Installed in Cargo Transport Unit is also class 9 dangerous goods, and the UN number is UN3536. The design and application function of the device is to provide power and charge and discharge to the outside of the device. UN3536 manufacturers generally use SOC (shipper owned container) for production and transportation, and the containers must meet the testing standards of the Classification Society. The air-conditioners and fire-extinguishers included in the energy storage system in the UN3536 device can be fixed and transported together. The UN3536 battery modules are directly fixed on the internal structure of the container UN3536 battery modules do not need to be labeled with Class 9 labels and lithium battery marks.
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