Navigating IATA & IMO Dangerous Goods: The Lithium Battery Transport Handbook

Philippe Moreau

EHS & Dangerous Goods Compliance Lead

Navigating IATA & IMO Dangerous Goods: The Lithium Battery Transport Handbook

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Standalone lithium-ion cells (UN 3480) are strictly forbidden as belly cargo on passenger aircraft and must travel on dedicated cargo freighters at max 30% State of Charge (SoC).
UN 38.3 thermal and shock testing certification is mandatory for every battery cell design before commercial transport approval.
Packaging must meet UN performance specifications (PG II) with flame-retardant cushioning and non-conductive inner dividers.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Dangerous Goods Declarations (DGD) must feature 24-hour emergency response telephone verification.

Why Lithium Batteries Carry Extreme Regulatory Scrutiny

In the event of internal short circuits or mechanical crushing, lithium cells can enter rapid thermal runaway, releasing toxic gases and self-sustaining fires that cannot be extinguished by standard aircraft Halon systems.

Classification: UN Numbers and Packing Instructions

Strict separation between UN 3480 (Standalone Lithium-Ion), UN 3481 (Lithium-Ion Packed with Equipment), UN 3090 (Standalone Lithium-Metal), and UN 3091 (Lithium-Metal Contained in Equipment).

Tags:#Dangerous Goods #Lithium Batteries #IATA DGR #IMDG Code #ADR Compliance #Hazmat

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