{"operation":"document","citation":"08-0267","title":"National Electrical Manufacturers Association — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2008-12-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"08-0267 response to National Electrical Manufacturers Association concerning 172.101, 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0267.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0267.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-08-0267","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080267.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington. DC 20590\nMr. Kyle Pitsor\nNational Electrical Manufacturers Association\n1300 North 1 7th street, Suite 1752\nRosslyn, VA 22209\nRef. No.: 08-0267\nDear Mr. Pitsor:\nThis is in response to your October 24,2008 letter concerning the marking and labeling\nrequirements for lithium metal batteries offered for transportation by aircraft under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80) and International Civil\nAviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by\nAir (ICAO Technical Instructions). You ask if you may incorporate the language shown\nbelow into a \"lithium battery\" handling label while maintaining compliance with the HMR\nand ICAO Technical Instructions.\nThe ICAO Technical Instructions (2009-20 10) edition require certain packages containing\nlithium cells or batteries to bear a \"lithium battery\" handling label. At the same time, the\nHMR require the outside of each package containing primary (non-rechargeable) lithium\nbatteries or cells to be marked \"PRIMARY LITHIUM BATTERIES-FORBIDDEN FOR\nTRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT\" or \"LITHIUM METAL\nBATTERIES-FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT\"\non a background of contrasting color, in letters:\n(i) At least 12 mm (0.5 inch) in height on packages having a gross mass of more than 30 kg\n(66 pounds); or\n(ii) At least 6 mm (0.25 inch) on packages having a gross mass of 30 kg (66 pounds) or less.\nProvided the package is marked as described above, the language required by the HMR may\nappear on a \"lithium battery\" handling label. The ICAO Technical Instructions are silent on\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nmodifications to handling labels, but for other labels, minor variations that do not affect the\nobvious meaning of the label are acceptable.\nI hope this answers your inquiry.\n~;~~~~\nCharles E. Betts\nStandards Development\nof Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nSetting Standards for Excellence\nKYLE PITSOR\nVice President. G o v e ~ n n l e n t Relatiolr3\nOctober 24, 2008\nMr. Charles E. Betts\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Mr. Betts,\nI am writing on behalf of the Dry Battery Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers\nAssociation (NEMA) to request an official interpretation of the labeling requirements for lithium\nmetal batteries to be carried by aircraft.\nAs you are aware, the 2009-20 10 edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions (TIs) includes a new\n\"lithium battery handling label.\" The TIs also allow lithium metal batteries to be transported via\npassenger aircraft in excepted quantities of 2.5 kilograms per package or as fully regulated Class\ndangerous goods in packages limited to 35 kilograms.\nAt the same time, DOTPHMSA maintains the requirement that no lithium metal batteries may be\ncarried as cargo on passenger aircraft within the U.S. and that each package must be marked\n\"LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES - FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER\nAIRCRAFT\".\nOn the attached page we offer a suggestion for a combined label for your review and interpretation as\nto its consistency with ICAO Technical Instructions and DOT Hazardous Materials Relations.\nThank you in advance for your consideration and response. Should you have questions or need more\ninformation about this request, please contact Craig Updyke of my staff at (703) 841-3294 or\ncra updvkeCi?nema.org.\nSincerely,\nattachment\nNational Electrical\nManufacturers Association\n1300 North 17th Street. Suite 1752\nRosslyn. VA 22209\n(703) 84 1 - 3274\nFAX (703) 841 -3374\nkyl-pitsor@nema.org\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nCAUTION!\nIF DaUQGED\nLITHIUM METAL BAlTERIES -\nFORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT (USA ONLY) 8 $ h\nDO NOT L O D OR TmSPQ)RT $\nPACKAGE IF DAWGED $ \\ b\n1-800-424-9300 (North America)\n'0' mow information, + 1-703,27-3887 ,nternationa,\nDimensions: 120 x 110 mm (4.75 inches x 4.35 inches)\nBorder color: Red on a contrasting background\nPictogram colors: Glass, batteries, and flame can be black","truncated":false,"body_characters":4248}