Lithium Battery Revisions
PHMSA 08-06 FR Li Battery revisions.pdf
On August 6, 2014 (79 FR 46012), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final ruling in the federal register, in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), modifying the requirements governing the transportation of lithium cells and batteries. This final rule revises hazard communication and packaging provisions for lithium batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with applicable provisions of the United Nations (UN) Model Regulations, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. The revisions contained in this final rule include: (1) Replacing equivalent lithium content with Watt-hours for lithium ion cells and batteries; (2) adopting separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal batteries and lithium ion batteries; (3) revising provisions for the transport of small and medium lithium cells and batteries including cells and batteries packed with, or contained in, equipment; (4) revising the requirements for the transport of lithium batteries for disposal or recycling; (5) harmonizing the provisions for the transport of low production and prototype lithium cells and batteries with the ICAO Technical Instructions and the IMDG Code; and (6) adopting new provisions for the transport of damaged, defective, and recalled lithium batteries. The effective date of this final rule is August 6, 2014 with voluntary compliance with all amendments authorized starting on August 6, 2014.
