1. Battery Transportation Safety January, 2008 Health and Safety Moment
April 2006
Your Guide to
Traveling Safely!

2. Introduction Battery fires are an under recognized hazard
New rules for carrying lithium batteries on passenger airplanes took effect on January 1, 2008.
Affects Lithium-ion batteries (rechargeable)
Affects Lithium metal batteries (non-rechargeable)
Affects how you pack for air travel
All batteries regardless of type must be properly stored and managed.

3. The Hazard…..
Lithium batteries like those in laptop computers can over heat and ignite under certain conditions and are hard to extinguish once ignited.
Wet acid batteries (i.e. car batteries) can also overheat and/or explode when stored improperly
Alkaline, nickel metal
hydride (NiMH) and nickel
cadmium (NiCad or NiCd)
batteries have similar hazards

4. Lithium Batteries Requirements for Air Travel
GUIDE TO RULES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2008
Type Of Battery/Batteries
In Checked Baggage
In Carry-On Baggage:
Lithium Metal Battery, Installed in a Device
(up to 2 grams lithium)
Permitted
Recommended
Spare Lithium Metal Battery
(Not Installed In a Device)
Forbidden
Lithium Metal Battery, Spare or Installed
(over 2 grams lithium)
Lithium-Ion Battery Installed in a Device
(up to 8 grams lithium equivalent content [LEC])
Spare Lithium-Ion Battery
(Not Installed in a Device)
(up to 8 grams LEC)
“Special Case”
Up to 2 Lithium-Ion Batteries, Spare or Installed
(between 8 and 25 grams aggregate LEC)
Spare Batteries: Forbidden!
Installed in Devices: Permitted
Spare Batteries: Permitted

5. So, What Does it Mean…….
Cell phones, cameras, watches, most laptop computers, camcorders, and other personal electronic devices with lithium-ion batteries installed (all are below 8 grams LEC limit):
Permitted to be carried on one’s person onto plane
Permitted in carry-on luggage
Permitted in checked luggage
Only 2 spare lithium batteries for consumer electronics allowed on passenger planes:
Carry-on luggage only!
Protected against short circuit
If using extended-life lithium
rechargeable batteries
Check manufacturer instructions; or
Compute LEC content (see notes for this slide)
How do you know how much lithium is in a battery? An 8 gram battery
equals about 100 watt-hours of power. Most batteries do not state the
watt hours but it can be calculated. Look on the bottom and you'll find
a voltage rating and a mAh (milliamp-hours) rating. Multiply these two
together and divide by That's your watt-hours. If a battery offers
11.1 volts and 7800 mAh. Multiply and divide by 1000 and you get
86.58 watt-hours, acceptable under the new rules.

6. Note About Primary Lithium Batteries
Lithium metal batteries (non-rechargeable) have special rules for air transport. Contact Corporate Health and Safety if you have instruments with this type of battery
Rental instruments with stickers on the box
are an indicator of this type of battery
How do you know how much lithium is in a battery? An 8 gram battery
equals about 100 watt-hours of power. Most batteries do not state the
watt hours but it can be calculated. Look on the bottom and you'll find
a voltage rating and a mAh (milliamp-hours) rating. Multiply these two
together and divide by That's your watt-hours. If a battery offers
11.1 volts and 7800 mAh. Multiply and divide by 1000 and you get
86.58 watt-hours, acceptable under the new rules.
Some Hermit Data Loggers
have lithium metal batteries

7. Wet Acid Batteries Keep battery protected during transport:
Keep posts covered!
Secure in vehicle in upright position
Keep metal objects away from battery
ARCADIS battery incident, 2006:
Fire in back of ARCADIS truck caused by metal object connecting
unprotected battery posts

8. Alkaline, NiMH, and NiCad Batteries
These batteries can also cause fires if terminals unprotected
However, they are not restricted from air travel if adequately protected against short circuit
Fire started by steel wool contacting terminals
on standard alkaline battery

9. Battery Protection Against Short Circuit for All Batteries
Whenever possible, keep contained in equipment
Keep posts/terminals covered
Use protective caps;
Tape; or
Place in plastic bags
Keep away from metal objects
Keep in original unopened packaging until needed
Protect from pressure, crushing or puncturing
Keep battery operated tools in protective cases with trigger locks engaged
Tape switches in the “off” position for battery operated equipment that lack trigger locks

10. Print for Reference PROTECT P R O T E C PROTECT PROTECT
Consumer Electronic Battery Transport Safety
(Lithium-Ion, Alkaline, NiMH, and
NiCad Batteries)
Do:
Keep battery in equipment (MP3 players, DVD players, cameras, etc.)
Keep spare batteries in original unopened packaging until needed
Cover terminals on loose spare batteries:
Tape over terminals; or
Place in plastic bag
Keep metal objects out of bag with spare batteries
Protect batteries from crushing, pressure, or puncturing
Don’t:
Check/gate check baggage with consumer electronics
Check/gate check baggage with spare batteries
Carry more than 2 spare standard lithium-ion batteries onto passenger airplanes
Lithium-Ion Battery Operated Tool Transport Safety
Do:
Keep battery in tool during all transport
Cover terminals on spare batteries:
Tape over terminals;
Place in plastic bag; or
Store in protective case
Keep loose metal objects out of bag/case with spare batteries
Ensure trigger locks are engaged or tape switch in off position
Check manufacturer literature for extended-life rechargeable batteries to ensure lithium equivalent content is below limits
Don’t:
Check/gate check baggage with spare batteries
Carry more than 2 spare standard tool batteries onto passenger airplanes
Avoid:
Checking/gate checking baggage with battery operated tools with battery installed
Wet Acid Battery Transport Safety
(Car, Marine, ATV, Motorcycle)
Do:
Cover posts on batteries:
Use caps;
Tape over posts; or
Place in protective case
Keep loose metal objects away from batteries
Protect batteries from crushing, pressure, or puncturing
Keep battery in upright position and secure
Don’t:
Carry wet acid batteries on airplanes
Laptop Computer Battery Transport Safety
Do:
Keep battery in computer
Cover terminals on spare batteries:
Tape over terminals; or
Place in plastic bag
Keep metal objects out of bag with spare batteries
Check manufacturer literature for extended-life rechargeable batteries to ensure lithium equivalent content is below limits
Protect batteries from crushing, pressure, or puncturing
Don’t:
Check/gate check baggage with computers
Check/gate check baggage with spare computer batteries
Carry more than 2 spare standard computer batteries onto passenger airplanes
PROTECT P R O T E C
PROTECT
PROTECT

11. Thank you