Lithium batteries have been widely used in both personal consumer goods and industrial production, transportation, and other industries. Especially in daily life, the presence of lithium batteries can be seen almost everywhere, such as the mobile phone power supply, electric vehicle power supply, power bank, as well as common electric garden tools, automatic sweeping robots, etc., which all contain lithium batteries.
On the one hand, lithium-ion products bring convenience to our lives, and on the other hand, due to the characteristics of the products, lithium-ion batteries pose significant potential hazards, leading to frequent safety accidents. Moreover, compared to other accidents, they occur in a shorter time and are more difficult to completely extinguish, causing significant personal and property damage.
From the Samsung Note7 phone battery fire in 2016 to the plane fire at Pudong Airport in July 2020, especially the lithium battery cargo hold fire on a COSCO Shipping international trade container ship in January 2020, which affected 131 containers and caused huge losses, all of these accidents constantly remind us that the safety risks of lithium battery products have always existed.
Classification of lithium batteries
Class is a lithium battery transported separately. Lithium batteries, as a type of battery consisting of lithium metal or lithium alloy as positive/negative electrode materials and using non-aqueous electrolyte solutions, can be divided into two categories: lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium metal batteries contain metallic lithium, which is usually not rechargeable, while lithium-ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium and can be recharged. When transported separately, their corresponding UN numbers are 3090 and 3480.
The second type is lithium batteries transported together with the equipment. In actual trade transportation, lithium batteries are often transported together with equipment, mainly in two situations. One is to install the battery in the device, and the other is to package the battery together with the device. Regardless of the above situation, the corresponding UN numbers are 3091 and 3481 depending on whether lithium contains metallic state.
The third category is devices or vehicles powered by lithium batteries. In recent years, various new energy vehicles powered by lithium batteries have emerged one after another, including bicycles, cars, balance bikes, and so on. The International Maritime Safety Regulations have assigned UN number 3171 to this type of product.
Relevant legal and regulatory basis
The inspection and supervision of lithium batteries and their lithium battery products are mainly based on the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Test and Standard Manual, the International Maritime Organization's International Maritime Dangerous Goods Transport Rules, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Rules for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the Export Dangerous Goods Packaging Inspection Regulations (SN/T0370.1-2009) (SN/T0370.2-2009) (SN/T0370.3-2012), and so on.
For example, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Transport Regulations require that exported lithium batteries must pass the UN38.3 test and provide a summary of the test. Each battery and battery pack must be equipped with a safety exhaust device. In the event of a common accident, it must have a design to prevent damage under force; Each battery and battery pack must be equipped with effective devices to prevent external short circuits; Each battery pack containing multiple parallel batteries or battery series must be equipped with effective devices (such as diodes, fuses, etc.) to prevent danger caused by reverse current; Manufacturers of batteries and battery packs must establish a sound quality management system, and so on.
Packaging requirements for exported lithium batteries and lithium battery equipment
The following requirements are mentioned in clause P903 of the Packaging Guidelines for Dangerous Goods in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Regulations (IMDG). It is classified according to different product categories, and this guideline applies to the relevant goods under UN309030913480 and 3481.
1. Batteries or battery packs packaged in containers should be protected to prevent damage caused by movement or positional changes within the container. The container must meet the performance indicators of Class II packaging. For batteries or battery packs with a total weight of 12 kilograms or more, which use sturdy and collision resistant shells, as well as a collection of such batteries or battery packs, sturdy outer packaging, protective covers, pallets, or other handling equipment are also required. Similarly, this type of battery or battery pack must also be fixed and not accidentally moved, and the electrodes must not bear the weight of other stacked items.
2. Batteries or battery packs packaged together with equipment must meet the performance indicators of Class II packaging in their containers, and the equipment must be fixed and cannot be moved inside the outer container. The battery or battery pack must also be completely wrapped.
3. Batteries or battery packs installed in equipment should have measures to prevent accidental start-up during transportation, in addition to meeting the previous requirements. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent short circuits in the battery or battery pack.
When the package contains a combination of lithium batteries in the equipment and lithium batteries packaged together with the equipment, the packaging should be marked with "Lithium metal battery UN3091 or lithium-ion UN3481 placed together with the equipment". If a packaging contains both lithium-ion batteries and lithium-metal batteries, the packaging should be labeled according to the requirements of both battery types.
In addition to several key points in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Regulations (IMDG) Packaging Guidelines P903, there are also several inspection and regulatory priorities that need to be addressed:
One is that whether it is a lithium-ion battery pack, or a lithium-ion battery pack installed in or packaged together with the device, the watt-hour ratio must be indicated on the outside of the container.
Secondly, lithium battery products are not suitable for limited quantity packaging, nor are they suitable for exempted quantity packaging.
The third requirement is that the package must be labeled with a lithium battery specific label or emblem. Lithium batteries or lithium battery pack components that comply with Article 188 shall be marked with "rectangular markings". Other lithium batteries or lithium battery pack components use the "diamond mark" for Class 9 dangerous goods. But it is not ruled out that some regions require two signs to be posted simultaneously, as long as the enterprise provides a situation explanation.
Source: Souhang Network