Lithium batteries — dangerous goods classification
Standalone cells and batteries are UN3480 (ion) and UN3090 (metal); the same cell inside or beside its equipment is UN3481 and UN3091. Which one applies changes the packing instruction, the marks, the documents and whether it can fly at all.
The mistake this category generates
PI965 Section II and PI968 Section II were withdrawn on 1 January 2022. There is no longer any excepted route for a standalone lithium battery by air — guidance written before 2022 says otherwise and is wrong.
Entries (5)
| UN | Proper shipping name | Class | PG | Labels | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Shipper notes
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.
Questions
- What UN number applies to lithium batteries?
- Standalone cells and batteries are UN3480 (ion) and UN3090 (metal); the same cell inside or beside its equipment is UN3481 and UN3091. Which one applies changes the packing instruction, the marks, the documents and whether it can fly at all.
- What do people get wrong about shipping lithium batteries?
- PI965 Section II and PI968 Section II were withdrawn on 1 January 2022. There is no longer any excepted route for a standalone lithium battery by air — guidance written before 2022 says otherwise and is wrong.
- Which entries does Classify7 encode for lithium batteries?
- 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)
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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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