Guidanceguidance
11-0307
ICC Nexergy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
Current as of source date Government source
RegulusPipeline researchRegulusPipeline research11-0307
Page 1U.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE of Transportation Washington. DC 20590 Pipeline and Hazardous FEB 0 8 2012 Materials Safety Administration Mr. David Brongie1 Applications Engineering Manager ICC Nexergy 4 Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 900 Westchester, IL 60154 Ref. No.: 11-0307 Dear Mr. Brongiel: This responds to your December 8, 2011 letter regarding the requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to a lithium ion battery pack. In your letter you describe a device that uses three 95 Watt-hour lithium ion batteries, each of which consists of 24, 1.1 Ah cells in a 4S6P configuration. In a previous letter (11-0143) we advised you that your device met the definition ofa battery as defined in section 38.3 ofthe United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria rather than three separate batteries because the three lithium ion battery packs were electrically connected. According to your letter, you have since redesigned the battery pack to include a 3-p01e rocker switch that physically isolates the three batteries. You ask ifthe configuration described in your letter may be considered three separate 95 Watt-hour lithium ion batteries for the purposes ofthe HMR. Yes, because the rocker switch physically isolates the individual battery packs from each other this configuration would constitute separate lithium ion battery packs. Additionally, the measures described in your letter to prevent damage, short circuits and accidental activation during transport, (securing the batteries in the device, shipping the batteries in a shutdown state that cannot be changed without input power and a command from the host device) appear to meet the additional requirements of § 172.102, Special Provision 188. Please note that prior to transportation in commerce, each lithium ion battery pack must be of a type proven to successfully pass all ofthe applicable tests in Section 38.3 ofthe UN Manual of Tests and Criteria I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the Standards and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553. Sincerely, B~OS0- Acting Chief, Standards Development Standards and Rulemaking Division#
Page 2Lea(~ § 11 ;2../01 SP (88 ~113 .. f8S 150 +t.eiie.s II - Q3o'/ Ben Supko December 8,2011 Office of Hazardous Material Standards Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Re: SPMU Lithium Ion Battery Design - Ref. No. 11-0143 Dear Mr. Supko: I am writing this letter in response to previous information we exchanged in Ref. No. 11-0143. Based on your reply, we have since modified the design of our SPMU (Stand Power Management Unit) to include a 3-pole rocker switch in the SPMU system to physically isolate all three batteries during shipping. Please see our latest design concept in following pages. Page 3 of this letter shows the SPMU System Diagram, and shows the electrical separation of the batteries which we have added to the system. The other diagrams are meant to provide you with an image of the completed system. Please note the 3-pole rocker switch on page 6 of this letter. Please note that all of the other battery and system safeguards mentioned in my previous letter will remain in place in the system. As a reminder, the batteries will be in a SHUTDOWN state and isolated from the circuit via the charge and discharge FETs being open. The batteries cannot come out of the SHUTDOWN state without the presence of AC input power to the SPMU and without a software command from the host device, which is never present during shipping. In summary, we understand our battery design consists of three individual batteries that meet the requirements of the small battery exception found in 49 CFR § 171.102, Special Provision 188 of the U.S. HMR, and, when these batteries are installed in the SPMU and offered for transport, the SPMU also qualifies for the exceptions found in Special Provision 188 (provided the SPMU has not been plugged into AC power). We would appreciate written confirmation from PHMSA that our understanding of these lithium ion battery regulatory requirements is consistent with previous interpretation letters issued by PHMSA on this issue. 4 Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 900 IWestchester, IL 60154 Phone: 708-836-3800 IFax: 708-836-3801 China Germany USA Mlncico Hong Kong United Kingdom#
Page 3Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to our letter. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Sincerely, Cb~[~ David Brengiel - 0 \. Applications Engineering Manager ICCNexergy dbrongiel@iccnexergy.com 0: 708.316.4428 M: 708.890.2515 4 Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 900 IWestchester, IL 60154 Phone: 708-836-3800 IFax: 708-836-3801 China Germany USA Mexico Hong Kong United Kingdom#
Page 4ICC EXE GY" Intelligent Powpr SOI\.llol1 SPMU Battery System Diagram B+ PWR GND 95Wh banery - ,x ~- B+- PWRGND - Address SGND SDA SeA 95Wh battery SPM U SYSTE M ~ ~ ~... B+- - SDA PWR GND - Address GND SeA 95Wh battery - .......--1"" B+- ... I PWR GND - Address 3-pole locker 5GND SDA swi ch 1"'-SCA ~ C _ 4 Weslbr()ok Corporale C nli:or 5 1 1118 !Joo l Westche te r. IL 60151 Phone. 708-836-::H300 IFax. /08-836-3 01 Chma GermDny USA Mexico Hong Kong Unired Kmgdom#
Page 5ICC EXERGY' Intelliyent Power Sol\l!lons T t , I r ...~ ~ . -.,. . . ~ -. , t' I . : .J. --- . • I II IEach battery is 4S3P, 96Wh - - = 4 Westbrook Corporate Ceiller SUIte .:JOO IWf!stchest81. IL 6015-1 Pth)lle 708-8:36-3800 IFax: 708-8 6-3801 Chill,] Germ/my USA Me~lco HOllg KOllg UII/red Kingdom#
Page 6ICCNEXERGY· I ............. , . i r ... . • L . ~ r 3 batteries 3 batteries I I ~ -- - - 4 Westbr001< Corporate Center SU ite ( 00 IWeslchE'sler . IL 60154 Phone_ 708-836-31]00 IFax · 708-836-3801 China GemllfllY USA MexIco Hong /(0119 Unlred Krngdom#
Page 7ICCNEXERGY - -" '""li '. .. . . . ~ .,: - . •.~~ \"M .~ ~ -+ Westbrook Corporate Celder Suite 900 IWestchester. IL 60154 Phune 708-836-3800 IFax. 708·836-3801 Chma USA Hong Kong Un/led Kingdom#
Page 8ICC EXERGY' In elligen' Power Solu Ion - - . ~ " .' I ... • " :t ~ . .'. 1'"1\~ " . . . • _ 4I!..._ • I 4 Weslbrook COlramle Geilier uit 900 IWestctlester,lL 60154 Phol1e 708-836-'!f300 IFa.. 70B-836·'-'S() 1 Chlflll Germeny USA M ";.0 Hong Kong Umtod Kingdom#
Page 9ICC EXERGY 3-Pole Switch Rl IliHI!f!=f I IJSTFR LECTROMCS ,N.. · Rm1 CB , ~~- .. ... _ P'i '1 ; , I a -101 - lI.l £Ol l .. ;: -. l ._ .... .. ... ... ~ End. ..j Westbrook Corpordte Center SUit!;; 9()() IWestchester. IL G015..j Phone; 708·836-3800 IFax 708 836· 81)1 Chma GennallY USA Hong /<ong United Kingdom J ~#
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.