# Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation 17-0053 **Citation:** 17-0053 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2017-11-14 17-0053 concerning 173.185. ## Document text <<>> Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing Inc. P.O. Box 37 3721 NC Highway 119 Swepsonville, NC 27359 Reference No. 17-0053 Dear Mr. Gregory: This letter is in response to your May 18, 2017 and May 22, 2017, emails requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to packaging and shipping requirements for "UN3481, Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment." You seek guidance on the acceptable level of protection provided by the following packaging scenario: • The lithium ion battery is installed inside a pedestrian-controlled lawn mower; • The battery's terminals are connected to the lawn mower; • The battery is secured by a latch; • The equipment is protected from accidental activation by a switch near the battery that requires a plastic clip to continue normal functionality of the lawn mower; and • The "bail" and a separate button on the "blade control bail" provide additional protection from accidental activation. We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows: Q1. You ask if it is acceptable to ship a lithium ion battery contained in equipment (i.e., a lawn mower). Al. The answer is yes, provided the lithium ion battery complies with the applicable requirements of § 173.185 and the equipment is packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits, movement (i.e., shifting) within the outer package, and accidental activation of the equipment while in transportation. Q2. You ask what level of protection is acceptable to prevent short circuits and accidental activation of the lithium ion battery when contained in a lawn mower. A2. As provided by § 173.185(b), the shipper must ensure that the lithium ion battery and the equipment as presented for transport are packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits, <<>> "Tr Q3. You ask if the lithium ion battery can be connected to a key-activated lawn mower. A3. The answer is yes, provided the equipment is secured against shifting within the outer packaging and packed to prevent accidental operation during transport (see § 173.185(b) (4)(ii)). Q4. You ask if enclosing a lithium ion battery in a plastic outer cover provides adequate protection from short circuit. A4. As provided by § 173.185(b), the shipper must ensure that the lithium ion battery and the equipment as presented for transport are packaged in manner to prevent short circuits, shitting within the outer package, and accidental activation of the equipment. There is not sufficient information included in your email to provide a definitive answer. However, it is the opinion of this Office that if your plastic outer cover is non-metallic, completely encloses the cells or batteries, and separates the cells or batteries from contact with the equipment, other devices, or conductive material, then placement in a plastic outer packaging would be adequate protection against short circuit. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Please submit this as a letter of interpretation. I spoke with Mr. Gregory. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Jordan From: Steven R Gregory [mailto:steven_gregory@hpe.honda.com] Sent: Monday, May 22, 2017 2:03 PM To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter Subject: RE: UN3481 and Lithium-ion batteries Hello, I am writing to request a letter of interpretation regarding the matter referenced in the attached message and discussed over the phone with a member of the hazmat information center on 5/22/2017. Based on the discussion, it is my understanding that for the purpose of shipping a 432 Wh Lithium Ion battery with recessed connection terminals, the battery can be shipped following the instructions of UN3481, PI 967 Section I for Lithium Ion Batteries Contained in Equipment. The battery will be certified to have met the requirements of the sixth edition of UN 38.3 for transportation of lithium-ion batteries. In this case the equipment referenced would be a pedestrian-controlled lawnmower that is powered by the aforementioned removable Lithium-lon rechargeable battery. The battery will be secured inside the equipment by a latch, and the terminals of the battery would be connected to the lawnmower. The equipment is protected from accidental activation by a switch located near the battery inside its enclosure that would require the insertion of a plastic clip that engages the normally open switch. Further protection from accidental activation would be provided by requiring two additional actions to start the device once the clip is inserted (the blade control bail has a separate button that must be pressed before pulling the bail back - simply pulling back on the bail without first pressing the button will not activate the unit). Based on my research into this matter, there is no additional requirement of physically blocking the connection to the battery (for instance covering the terminals with electrical tape to prevent engaging with the equipment, which would prevent the battery from latching in place) due to the protections provided by the equipment and secure enclosure of the battery in this case. If I can clarify any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me. <<>> Skype For Business: https://meet.lync.com/globalhonda-hpe/steven_gregory/1N6JRW6W From: Steven R Gregory Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2017 1:32 PM To: 'phmsa.hm-infocenter@dot.gov' Subject: UN3481 and Lithium-ion batteries Hello, I have some questions regarding shipping a lawn mower using UN3481 PI 967 Section I. I have reviewed the applicable regulation and still have some questions about what is allowed. Would it be acceptable to ship with the battery installed in equipment? The regulation states the battery should be protected from short circuit and accidental activation of the equipment - what level of protection is deemed acceptable? Can the battery be connected to the mower if a key needs to be inserted in a slot next to the battery in order to activate the equipment? If the battery is fully enclosed in a plastic outer cover is that considered adequate protection from short circuit? Please advise. Thank you, Steven Gregory Test Engineer | Quality Regulatory Compliance Dept Honda Power Equipment Mfg. Inc. (336) 395-6178 (336) 395-4217 steven gregory@hpe.honda.com Skype For Business: https://meet.lync.com/globalhonda-hpe/steven_gregory/1N6JRW6W Confidentiality Notice: This transmission (including any attachments) may contain confidential information belonging to the sender and is intended only for the use of the party or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, retention or the taking of action in reliance on the contents of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender and erase all information and attachments. 2 ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `18aeb8788423cab7b93e963c59cc68d6968016e429f6dad0cc6a5fe346a87803` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-22T22:29:32.781Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-17-0053` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [], "individuals": [], "refIds": [ "17-0053" ], "catalogDates": [ "2017-11-14" ], "catalogParts": [ 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/70031" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "173.185" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173185" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56231/170053_0.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56231/170053_0.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/56231/170053_0.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/17-0053-390ccfc143.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "a92a36dece0f8d1ee3d83fa1bd61e6b5528f13f33a93ab0eb58c8c36012ac0d7", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/17-0053-390ccfc143.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "d7968f4f830913464bedc6ada69fd0a4e13beaf7cbaf7f66af62f7e351b55fe5", "pageCount": 4, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```