UN 3481 Lithium ion batteries, contained in equipment (including lithium ion polymer batteries) RID 2025 (Shortinfo)

Cells and batteries offered for carriage are not subject to other provisions of RID if they meet the following: (a) For a lithium metal or lithium alloy cell, the lithium content is not more than 1 g, and for a lithium ion or sodium ion cell, the Watt-hour rating is not more than 20 Wh; NOTE: When lithium batteries in conformity with 2.2.9.1.7.1 (f) are carried in accordance with this special provision, the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 1.5 g and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 10 Wh (see special provision 387). (b) For a lithium metal or lithium alloy battery the aggregate lithium content is not more than 2 g, and for a lithium-ion or sodium ion battery, the Watt-hour rating is not more than 100 Wh. Lithium ion and sodium ion batteries subject to this provision shall be marked with the Watt-hour rating on the outside case, except lithium ion batteries manufactured before 1 January 2009; NOTE: When lithium batteries in conformity with 2.2.9.1.7.1 (f) are carried in accordance with this special provision, the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 1.5 g and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 10 Wh (see special provision 387). (c) Each lithium cell or battery meets the provisions of 2.2.9.1.7.1 (a), (e), (f) if applicable and (g) or for sodium ion cells or batteries, the provisions of 2.2.9.1.7.2 (a), (e) and (f) shall apply; (d) Cells and batteries, except when installed in equipment, shall be packed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery. Cells and batteries shall be protected so as to prevent short circuits. This includes protection against contact with electrically conductive material within the same packaging that could lead to a short circuit. The inner packagings shall be packed in strong outer packagings which conform to the provisions of 4.1.1.1, 4.1.1.2 and 4.1.1.5; (e) Cells and batteries when installed in equipment shall be protected from damage and short circuit, and the equipment shall be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation. This requirement does not apply to devices which are intentionally active in carriage (radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitters, watches, sensors, etc.) and which are not capable of generating a dangerous evolution of heat. When batteries are installed in equipment, the equipment shall be packed in strong outer packagings constructed of suitable material of adequate strength and design in relation to the packaging's capacity and its intended use unless the battery is afforded equivalent protection by the equipment in which it is contained; (f) Each package shall be marked with the appropriate battery mark, as illustrated in 5.2.1.9. This requirement does not apply to: (i) packages containing only button cell batteries installed in equipment (including circuit boards); and (ii) packages containing no more than four cells or two batteries installed in equipment, where there are not more than two packages in the consignment. When packages are placed in an overpack, the battery mark shall either be clearly visible or be reproduced on the outside of the overpack and the overpack shall be marked with the word "OVERPACK". The lettering of the "OVERPACK" mark shall be at least 12 mm high. NOTE: Packages containing lithium batteries packed in conformity with the provisions of Part 4, Chapter 11, packing instructions 965 or 968, Section IB of the ICAO Technical Instructions that bear the mark as shown in 5.2.1.9 (battery mark) and the label shown in 5.2.2.2.2, model No. 9A shall be deemed to meet the provisions of this special provision. (g) Except when cells or batteries are installed in equipment, each package shall be capable of withstanding a 1.2 m drop test in any orientation without damage to cells or batteries contained therein, without shifting of the contents so as to allow battery to battery (or cell to cell) contact and without release of contents; and (h) Except when cells or batteries are installed in or packed with equipment, packages shall not exceed 30 kg gross mass. As used above and elsewhere in RID, "lithium content" means the mass of lithium in the anode of a lithium metal or lithium alloy cell. As used in this special provision "equipment" means apparatus for which the cells or batteries will provide electrical power for its operation. Separate entries exist for lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries to facilitate the carriage of these batteries for specific modes of carriage and to enable the application of different emergency response actions. A single cell battery as defined in Part III, sub-section 38.3.2.3 of the Manual of Tests and Criteria is considered a "cell" and shall be carried according to the requirements for "cells" for the purpose of this special provision.

Lithium cells and batteries may be carried under this entry if they meet the provisions of 2.2.9.1.7.1. Sodium ion cells and batteries may be carried under this entry if they meet the provisions of 2.2.9.1.7.2.

Cells or batteries from production runs of not more than 100 cells or batteries, or pre-production prototypes of cells or batteries when these prototypes are carried for testing, shall meet the provisions of 2.2.9.1.7.1 with the exception of (a), (e) (vii), (f) (iii) if applicable, (f) (iv) if applicable and (g). NOTE: "Carried for testing" includes, but is not limited to, testing described in the Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, sub-section 38.3, integration testing and product performance testing. These cells and batteries shall be packaged in accordance with packing instruction P 910 of 4.1.4.1 or LP 905 of 4.1.4.3, as applicable. Articles (UN Nos. 3537, 3538, 3540, 3541, 3546, 3547 or 3548) may contain such cells or batteries provided that the applicable parts of packing instruction P 006 of 4.1.4.1 or LP 03 of 4.1.4.3, as applicable, are met. The transport document shall include the following statement: "Transport in accordance with special provision 310". Damaged or defective cells, batteries, or cells and batteries contained in equipment shall be carried in accordance with special provision 376. Cells, batteries or cells and batteries contained in equipment carried for disposal or recycling may be packaged in accordance with special provision 377 and packing instruction P 909 of 4.1.4.1.

Lithium batteries manufactured after 31 December 2011 and sodium ion batteries manufactured after 31 December 2025 shall be marked with the Watt-hour rating on the outside case.

Vehicles only powered by lithium metal, lithium ion or sodium ion batteries shall be assigned to the entries UN 3556 VEHICLE, LITHIUM ION BATTERY POWERED or UN 3557 VEHICLE, LITHIUM METAL BATTERY POWERED or UN 3558 VEHICLE, SODIUM ION BATTERY POWERED, as applicable. Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport units, designed only to provide power external to the transport unit shall be assigned to entry UN 3536 LITHIUM BATTERIES INSTALLED IN CARGO TRANSPORT UNIT lithium ion batteries or lithium metal batteries.

Lithium metal, lithium ion or sodium ion cells or batteries identified as being damaged or defective such that they do not conform to the type tested according to the applicable provisions of the Manual of Tests and Criteria shall comply with the requirements of this special provision. For the purposes of this special provision, these may include, but are not limited to: - Cells or batteries identified as being defective for safety reasons; - Cells or batteries that have leaked or vented; - Cells or batteries that cannot be diagnosed prior to carriage; or - Cells or batteries that have sustained physical or mechanical damage. ----- NOTE: In assessing a cell or battery as damaged or defective, an assessment or evaluation shall be performed based on safety criteria from the cell, battery or product manufacturer or by a technical expert with knowledge of the cell's or battery's safety features. An assessment or evaluation may include, but is not limited to, the following criteria: (a) Acute hazard, such as gas, fire, or electrolyte leaking; (b) The use or misuse of the cell or battery; (c) Signs of physical damage, such as deformation to cell or battery casing, or colours on the casing; (d) External and internal short circuit protection, such as voltage or isolation measures; (e) The condition of the cell or battery safety features; or (f) Damage to any internal safety components, such as the battery management system. ----- Cells and batteries shall be carried according to the provisions applicable to UN Nos. 3090, 3091, 3480, 3481, 3551 and 3552, as appropriate, except special provision 230 and as otherwise stated in this special provision. Cells and batteries shall be packed in accordance with packing instructions P 908 of 4.1.4.1 or LP 904 of 4.1.4.3, as applicable. Cells and batteries identified as damaged or defective and liable to rapidly disassemble, dangerously react, produce a flame or a dangerous evolution of heat or a dangerous emission of toxic, corrosive or flammable gases or vapours under normal conditions of carriage shall be packed and carried in accordance with packing instruction P 911 of 4.1.4.1 or LP 906 of 4.1.4.3, as applicable. Alternative packing and/or carriage conditions may be authorized by the competent authority of any RID Contracting State who may also recognize an approval granted by the competent authority of a country which is not an RID Contracting State provided that this approval has been granted in accordance with the procedures applicable according to RID, ADR, ADN, the IMDG Code or the ICAO Technical Instructions. Packages shall be marked "DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES", "DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES" or "DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE SODIUM ION BATTERIES", as applicable. The transport document shall include the following statement: "Transport in accordance with special provision 376". If applicable, a copy of the competent authority approval shall accompany the carriage.

Lithium metal, lithium ion and sodium ion cells and batteries and equipment containing such cells and batteries carried for disposal or recycling, either packed together with or packed without non-lithium or non-sodium ion batteries, may be packaged in accordance with packing instruction P 909 of 4.1.4.1. These cells and batteries are not subject to the requirements of 2.2.9.1.7.1 (a) to (g) or 2.2.9.1.7.2 (a) to (f), as appropriate. Packages shall be marked "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL", "SODIUM ION BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL", "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING" or "SODIUM ION BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING", as appropriate. Identified damaged or defective batteries shall be carried in accordance with special provision 376.

Lithium batteries in conformity with 2.2.9.1.7.1 (f) containing both primary lithium metal cells and rechargeable lithium ion cells shall be assigned to UN Nos. 3090 or 3091 as appropriate. When such batteries are carried in accordance with special provision 188, the total lithium content of all lithium metal cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 1.5 g and the total capacity of all lithium ion cells contained in the battery shall not exceed 10 Wh.

When a package contains a combination of lithium batteries contained in equipment and lithium batteries packed with equipment, the following requirements apply for the purposes of package marking and documentation: (a) the package shall be marked "UN 3091" or "UN 3481", as appropriate. If a package contains both lithium ion batteries and lithium metal batteries packed with and contained in equipment, the package shall be marked as required for both battery types. However, button cell batteries installed in equipment (including circuit boards) need not be considered; (b) the transport document shall indicate "UN 3091 LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES PACKED WITH EQUIPMENT" or "UN 3481 LITHIUM ION BATTERIES PACKED WITH EQUIPMENT", as appropriate. If a package contains both lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries packed with and contained in equipment, then the transport document shall indicate both "UN 3091 LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES PACKED WITH EQUIPMENT" and "UN 3481 LITHIUM ION BATTERIES PACKED WITH EQUIPMENT".

(a) Lithium cells and batteries and sodium ion cells and batteries installed in equipment from private households collected and handed over for carriage for depollution, dismantling, recycling or disposal are not subject to the other provisions of RID including special provision 376, 2.2.9.1.7.1 and 2.2.9.1.7.2 when: (i) They are not the main power source for the operation of the equipment in which they are contained; (ii) The equipment in which they are contained does not contain any other lithium cell or battery or sodium ion cell or battery used as the main power source; and (iii) They are afforded protection by the equipment in which they are contained. Examples for cells and batteries covered by this paragraph are button cells used for data integrity in household appliances (e.g. refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers) or in other electrical or electronic equipment; (b) Up to the intermediate processing facility lithium cells and batteries and sodium ion cells and batteries contained in equipment from private households not meeting the requirements of (a) collected and handed over for carriage for depollution, dismantling, recycling or disposal are not subject to the other provisions of RID including special provision 376, 2.2.9.1.7.1 and 2.2.9.1.7.2, if the following conditions are met: (i) The equipment is packed in accordance with packing instruction P 909 of 4.1.4.1 except for the additional requirements 1 and 2; or it is packed in strong outer packagings, e.g. specially designed collection receptacles, which meet the following requirements: - The packagings shall be constructed of suitable material and be of adequate strength and design in relation to the packaging capacity and its intended use. The packagings need not meet the requirements of 4.1.1.3; - Appropriate measures shall be taken to minimize the damage of the equipment when filling and handling the packaging, e.g. use of rubber mats; and - The packagings shall be constructed and closed so as to prevent any loss of contents during carriage, e.g. by lids, strong inner liners, covers for transport. Openings designed for filling are acceptable if they are constructed so as to prevent loss of content; (ii) A quality assurance system is in place to ensure that the total amount of lithium cells and batteries and sodium ion cells and batteries per wagon or large container unit does not exceed 333 kg; NOTE: The total quantity of lithium cells and batteries and sodium ion cells and batteries contained in equipment from private households may be assessed by means of a statistical method included in the quality assurance system. A copy of the quality assurance records shall be made available to the competent authority upon request. (iii) Packages are marked "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL", "LITHIUM BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING", "SODIUM ION BATTERIES FOR DISPOSAL" or "SODIUM ION BATTERIES FOR RECYCLING", as appropriate. If equipment containing lithium cells or batteries or sodium ion cells or batteries is carried unpackaged or on pallets in accordance with packing instruction P 909 (3) of 4.1.4.1, this mark may alternatively be affixed to the external surface of the wagons or large containers). NOTE: "Equipment from private households" means equipment which comes from private households and equipment which comes from commercial, industrial, institutional and other sources which, because of its nature and quantity, is similar to that from private households. Equipment likely to be used by both private households and users other than private households shall in any event be considered to be equipment from private households.

Cells and batteries which, in accordance with special provision 376, are identified as damaged or defective and liable to rapidly disassemble, dangerously react, produce a flame or a dangerous evolution of heat or a dangerous emission of toxic, corrosive or flammable gases or vapours under normal conditions of carriage, shall be assigned to transport category 0. In the transport document, the words "CARRIAGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIAL PROVISION 376" shall be supplemented by the words "TRANSPORT CATEGORY 0".

An express parcels package shall not weigh more than 40 kg.