{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0074","title":"Currie Associates, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2011-05-19","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0074 response to Currie Associates, Inc. concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0074.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0074.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0074","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110074.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Deportment of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue. SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nfJAY 1 9 2011\nMr. Tom Ferguson\nTechnical Consultant\nCurrie Associates, Inc.\n10 Hunter Brook Lane\nQueensbury, NY 12804\nRef. No.: 11-0074\nDear Mr. Ferguson:\nThis responds to your March 29, 2011 letter concerning the aircraft quantity limitations ofthe\nHazardous Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to lithium ion\nbatteries contained in equipment. Specifically, you asked if § 172.102(c), special provision\nAI04limits the total net quantity oflithium ion batteries contained in equipment to 5kg (11\nlbs) per package for transport aboard passenger aircraft.\nYes, the HMR limit the net quantity of lithium batteries contained in equipment to 5 kg (11\nlbs) per package when transported aboard passenger aircraft. This per package quantity limit\nis consistent with the quantity limits for lithium ion batteries shipped alone and lithium ion\nbatteries packed with equipment.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the\nStandards and Rulemaking Division.\nSincerely,\n0~ S4-Ben\nSupko\nActing Chief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nka~\n~ 112. lot., ~PAIO¥\n3pe rA~1 Pvo VI SI on!>\nCURRIE ASSOCIATES, INC. (I-oJ 71\nTHE GLOBAL COMPLIANCE PROFESSIONALS\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Material Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, D.C.\nRe: Letter of Interpretation, Secondary Lithium Ion Batteries in Equipment\nDear Sir/Madam,\nOn behalf of a major supplier of lithium ion-powered equipment, we are requesting a Letter of\nInterpretation.\nQuestion\nDoes 49 CFR, § 172.102, Special Provision A 104 limit the total net quantity of all batteries contained in\nequipment to no more than 5 kg per package for passenger aircraft?\nBackground\nLithium battery transport has been an important topic during the last 5+ years and significant changes\nhave been made to both domestic and international transport requirements during that span. As a result,\nharmonization of global regulations is often compromised.\nThe requirements of 49 CFR, Subchapter C, Part 172, §172.102, Special Provision A104 states:\nA 104 The net weight of secondary lithium batteries or cells contained in equipment may not\nexceed 5 kg (11 pounds) in packages that are authorized aboard passenger carrying aircraft.\nThe International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transportation of\nDangerous Goods by Air (ICAO TI) 2010-2011 Edition provides guidance as to the amount of lithium ion\nbatteries contained in equipment in Packing Instruction 967. The limitation is detailed in the following\ntable:\nNet quantity per piece of\nequipment (Section I)\nContents\nPassenger I Cargo\nLithium ion batteries contained in E!..quipment 5 ~ I 35 kg\nIn comparing the two citations noted above, ICAO clearly indicates by reference in the table that the net\nquantity per piece of equipment is limited to 5 kg. The ICAO Packing Instruction does not limit the\nnumber of pieces of equipment per package. Therefore it is possible to have more than 1 piece of\nequipment per package. Per PI 967, it appears that a single package may contain up to 40 kg or more\n(for example) of lithium ion batteries contained in equipment as long as each piece of equipment does not\ncontain more than 5 kg each.\nI\n10 HUNTER BROOK LANE QUEENSBURY, NY 12804' TEL: (518) 761-0668· FAX: (518) 792-7781\nwww.currieassociates.com·mail@currieassociates.com\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nIn 49 CFR. Special provision A 104, the text is slightly different. It indicates the net weight of lithium ion\nbatteries contained in equipment may not exceed 5 kg in packages intended for passenger aircraft. While\nthe wording is slight. the impact is significant. PHMSA appears to indicate the net wieight limitation to be\nper piece of equipment and per package. Thus if a piece of equipment contained a 4 kg lithium ion\nbattery (using the previous example). then only 1 piece of equipment would be permitted per package\nand be eligible for transport by passenger aircraft.\nGuidance on this question would be greatly appreciated.\nSincerely.\nTom Ferguson","truncated":false,"body_characters":4281}