Batteries — dangerous goods classification
Lithium ion, lithium metal, lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride are four different regulatory regimes with four different sets of paperwork. Alkaline and zinc-carbon dry cells are not regulated at all.
The mistake this category generates
Lithium ion is sized in watt-hours; lithium metal is sized in grams of lithium content. Applying a watt-hour threshold to a CR2032 coin cell is the single most common lithium classification error.
Entries (10)
| UN | Proper shipping name | Class | PG | Labels | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN2796 | Battery fluid, acid | 8 | II | CORROSIVE | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN2794 | Batteries, wet, filled with acid, electric storage | 8 | none | CORROSIVE | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN2800 | Batteries, wet, non-spillable, electric storage | 8 | none | CORROSIVE | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN3171 | Battery-powered vehicle or Battery-powered equipment | 9 | none | CLASS 9 | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN3480 | Lithium ion batteries | 9 | none | CLASS 9 LITHIUM BATTERY | pax forbidden·cargo limited |
| UN3481 | Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment or Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment | 9 | none | CLASS 9 LITHIUM BATTERY | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN3090 | Lithium metal batteries | 9 | none | CLASS 9 LITHIUM BATTERY | pax forbidden·cargo limited |
| UN3091 | Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment or Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment | 9 | none | CLASS 9 LITHIUM BATTERY | pax limited·cargo permitted |
| UN3536 | Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport unit | 9 | none | CLASS 9 LITHIUM BATTERY | pax forbidden·cargo forbidden |
| UN3496 | Batteries, nickel-metal hydride | 9 | none | CLASS 9 | pax permitted·cargo permitted |
Shipper notes
UN2796 Battery fluid, acid
- Sulfuric acid at 51% or below. Shipped with a wet battery it may fall under UN2794 instead.
UN2794 Batteries, wet, filled with acid, electric storage
- Non-spillable lead-acid batteries meeting the 49 CFR 173.159a vibration and pressure tests ship as UN2800 and are excepted from most requirements when marked NONSPILLABLE.
UN2800 Batteries, wet, non-spillable, electric storage
- Excepted from the regulations when the battery and its outer packaging meet 49 CFR 173.159a(d) and the package is marked NONSPILLABLE or NONSPILLABLE BATTERY.
UN3171 Battery-powered vehicle or Battery-powered equipment
- This entry covers vehicles powered by wet, sodium or lithium batteries. A lithium-powered vehicle is more usually consigned as UN3481 or under the vehicle entry depending on mode and carrier — check the carrier's own position, several refuse e-scooters and hoverboards outright.
UN3480 Lithium ion batteries
- Standalone lithium ion cells and batteries shipped on their own. IATA packing instruction PI965 applies. Forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft since 2016.
- Cargo aircraft shipments must be at a state of charge not exceeding 30% of rated capacity.
- Every cell and battery must have passed the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Part III, sub-section 38.3 tests, and a test summary must be available.
UN3481 Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment or Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment
- IATA packing instruction PI966 covers batteries packed with equipment; PI967 covers batteries contained in equipment. Which one applies changes the marks, the documentation and the acceptance, so the two must not be conflated.
- Most consumer electronics ship under PI967 Section II and need only the lithium battery mark.
UN3090 Lithium metal batteries
- Non-rechargeable lithium metal cells and batteries shipped alone. IATA packing instruction PI968 applies. Forbidden on passenger aircraft.
- Sized by lithium content in grams, not watt-hours — this is the most common lithium classification error.
UN3091 Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment or Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment
- PI969 covers batteries packed with equipment; PI970 covers batteries contained in equipment.
UN3536 Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport unit
- Ocean and land only; forbidden by air.
UN3496 Batteries, nickel-metal hydride
- Subject to the IMDG Code only, and only when transported by vessel in bulk or in a consignment of more than 100 kg gross. Not regulated for air or road transport.
Questions
- What UN number applies to batteries?
- Lithium ion, lithium metal, lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride are four different regulatory regimes with four different sets of paperwork. Alkaline and zinc-carbon dry cells are not regulated at all.
- What do people get wrong about shipping batteries?
- Lithium ion is sized in watt-hours; lithium metal is sized in grams of lithium content. Applying a watt-hour threshold to a CR2032 coin cell is the single most common lithium classification error.
- Which entries does Classify7 encode for batteries?
- UN2796 Battery fluid, acid (class 8, packing group II); UN2794 Batteries, wet, filled with acid, electric storage (class 8); UN2800 Batteries, wet, non-spillable, electric storage (class 8); UN3171 Battery-powered vehicle or Battery-powered equipment (class 9); UN3480 Lithium ion batteries (class 9); UN3481 Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment or Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment (class 9); UN3090 Lithium metal batteries (class 9); UN3091 Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment or Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment (class 9); UN3536 Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport unit (class 9); UN3496 Batteries, nickel-metal hydride (class 9)
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Which of these entries applies depends on the formulation, not the category. Send the product and Classify7 returns the entry with the evidence that selected it — or tells you which measurement it needs first.
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