IATA PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON THE CARRIAGE OF LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
January 12, 2015
Earlier this month IATA published a guide on the carriage of lithium batteries. The first edition guidance material is available for free and provides airline operators with important information to help them safely and securely handle and transport lithium batteries by air.
Lithium batteries power myriad portable electronic devices that are commonly carried aboard aircraft, both in the cabin and as cargo. Common devices carried in the cabin include laptop computers, tablets, and mobile phones, as well as respiratory assistance devices. In the United States, DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) govern the packaging, labeling, and transport of lithium batteries along with all other kinds of hazardous materials.
PHMSA is in the midst of an initiative to amend the HMR to maintain alignment with international standards and has made numerous changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements as noted in its regulations. As part of this program, PHMSA seeks to promote uniformity with numerous international standards, including the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods—Model Regulations. IATA’s recently published guidance conforms with recent changes to the HMR on lithium batteries and is an excellent resource for all those who commonly transport such goods.
A full copy of the guidance is available at: https://www.iata.org/publications/Documents/lithium%20battery-risk-mitigation-guidance-for-operators-1st-ed.pdf
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).