ADR regulation – Regulation for battery transport
Lithium batteries can be transported by road, rail, river, sea and air. Each mode of transport has its regulations; more specifically, road transport is regulated by ADR legislation.
ADR (European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).
Lithium batteries can be transported by road, rail, river, sea and air. Each mode of transport has its regulations; more specifically, road transport is regulated by legislation.
Depending on the characteristics and type of battery transported (lithium-ion or lithium metal), legislation provides different regulations to follow. In some cases, for example, the use of approved packaging is required, such as UN 4G certified boxes.
Identification of lithium batteries:
- Lithium-ion batteries ONU3480
- Lithium-ion batteries ONU3481 included or packaged in a device
- ONU3090 lithium metal batteries
- ONU3091 lithium metal batteries contained or packaged in a device
Packaging instructions Lp904
These instructions are applicable to Numbers ONU 3090, 3091, 3480 and 3481.
The following packaging is authorised for a single damaged or faulty battery or for a single damaged or faulty battery contained in a piece of equipment if it complies with the general provisions of sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.3:
The packaging must satisfy the tests for group II packaging.
Each battery or equipment containing a battery:
- Must be packaged individually in an internal packaging placed inside an outer packaging. The internal packaging or the outer packaging must be sealed to avoid any possible discharge of electrolyte.
- Each internal packaging should be covered by a non-combustible and non-conductive material, ensuring sufficient thermal insulation to protect it from any dangerous emission of heat.
- The sealed packaging should have devices for protection against excessive pressure, if necessary.
- Appropriate measures must be taken to avoid the effect of vibration and impact and stop any movement of the batteries inside the package, which could damage them further and make their transport dangerous. A non-combustible and non-conductive filling can also be used for this purpose.
- Non-combustibility should be evaluated according to regulations acknowledged by the countries where the packaging has been approved or manufactured.
For batteries that could discharge liquid, sufficient inert absorbent material must be added to the interior or exterior packaging, to absorb any leaks of electrolyte.
Supplementary provision: The batteries must be protected against short circuits.
