{"operation":"document","citation":"11-0307","title":"ICC Nexergy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-02-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"11-0307 response to ICC Nexergy concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0307.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0307.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0307","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110307.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nof Transportation Washington. DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous FEB 0 8 2012\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nMr. David Brongie1\nApplications Engineering Manager\nICC Nexergy\n4 Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 900\nWestchester, IL 60154\nRef. No.: 11-0307\nDear Mr. Brongiel:\nThis responds to your December 8, 2011 letter regarding the requirements in the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to a lithium ion battery pack.\nIn your letter you describe a device that uses three 95 Watt-hour lithium ion batteries, each of\nwhich consists of 24, 1.1 Ah cells in a 4S6P configuration. In a previous letter (11-0143) we\nadvised you that your device met the definition ofa battery as defined in section 38.3 ofthe\nUnited Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria rather than three separate batteries because the\nthree lithium ion battery packs were electrically connected. According to your letter, you have\nsince redesigned the battery pack to include a 3-p01e rocker switch that physically isolates the\nthree batteries. You ask ifthe configuration described in your letter may be considered three\nseparate 95 Watt-hour lithium ion batteries for the purposes ofthe HMR.\nYes, because the rocker switch physically isolates the individual battery packs from each other\nthis configuration would constitute separate lithium ion battery packs. Additionally, the\nmeasures described in your letter to prevent damage, short circuits and accidental activation\nduring transport, (securing the batteries in the device, shipping the batteries in a shutdown state\nthat cannot be changed without input power and a command from the host device) appear to\nmeet the additional requirements of § 172.102, Special Provision 188.\nPlease note that prior to transportation in commerce, each lithium ion battery pack must be of a\ntype proven to successfully pass all ofthe applicable tests in Section 38.3 ofthe UN Manual of\nTests and Criteria\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the\nStandards and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553.\nSincerely,\nB~OS0-\nActing Chief, Standards Development\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nLea(~\n§ 11 ;2../01 SP (88\n~113 .. f8S\n150 +t.eiie.s\nII - Q3o'/\nBen Supko December 8,2011\nOffice of Hazardous Material Standards\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nRe: SPMU Lithium Ion Battery Design - Ref. No. 11-0143\nDear Mr. Supko:\nI am writing this letter in response to previous information we exchanged in Ref. No. 11-0143.\nBased on your reply, we have since modified the design of our SPMU (Stand Power\nManagement Unit) to include a 3-pole rocker switch in the SPMU system to physically isolate all\nthree batteries during shipping.\nPlease see our latest design concept in following pages. Page 3 of this letter shows the SPMU\nSystem Diagram, and shows the electrical separation of the batteries which we have added to\nthe system. The other diagrams are meant to provide you with an image of the completed\nsystem. Please note the 3-pole rocker switch on page 6 of this letter.\nPlease note that all of the other battery and system safeguards mentioned in my previous letter\nwill remain in place in the system. As a reminder, the batteries will be in a SHUTDOWN state\nand isolated from the circuit via the charge and discharge FETs being open. The batteries\ncannot come out of the SHUTDOWN state without the presence of AC input power to the SPMU\nand without a software command from the host device, which is never present during shipping.\nIn summary, we understand our battery design consists of three individual batteries that meet\nthe requirements of the small battery exception found in 49 CFR § 171.102, Special Provision\n188 of the U.S. HMR, and, when these batteries are installed in the SPMU and offered for\ntransport, the SPMU also qualifies for the exceptions found in Special Provision 188 (provided\nthe SPMU has not been plugged into AC power). We would appreciate written confirmation\nfrom PHMSA that our understanding of these lithium ion battery regulatory requirements is\nconsistent with previous interpretation letters issued by PHMSA on this issue.\n4 Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 900 IWestchester, IL 60154\nPhone: 708-836-3800 IFax: 708-836-3801\nChina Germany USA Mlncico Hong Kong United Kingdom\n\n<<>>\n\nThank you very much for taking the time to respond to our letter. Please feel free to contact me\nwith any questions.\nSincerely,\nCb~[~\nDavid Brengiel - 0 \\.\nApplications Engineering Manager\nICCNexergy\ndbrongiel@iccnexergy.com\n0: 708.316.4428\nM: 708.890.2515\n4 Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 900 IWestchester, IL 60154\nPhone: 708-836-3800 IFax: 708-836-3801\nChina Germany USA Mexico Hong Kong United Kingdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICC EXE GY\"\nIntelligent Powpr SOI\\.llol1\nSPMU Battery System Diagram\nB+\nPWR GND\n95Wh banery\n- ,x ~- B+-\nPWRGND\n- Address\nSGND\nSDA\nSeA\n95Wh battery\nSPM U\nSYSTE M\n~ ~ ~... B+-\n- SDA\nPWR GND\n- Address\nGND\nSeA\n95Wh battery\n- .......--1\"\" B+- ...\nI\nPWR GND\n- Address\n3-pole locker 5GND\nSDA\nswi ch 1\"'-SCA\n~ C _\n4 Weslbr()ok Corporale C nli:or 5 1 1118 !Joo l Westche te r. IL 60151\nPhone. 708-836-::H300 IFax. /08-836-3 01\nChma GermDny USA Mexico Hong Kong Unired Kmgdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICC EXERGY'\nIntelliyent Power Sol\\l!lons\nT t , I r ...~ ~\n. -.,.\n. . ~\n-. ,\nt' I .\n: .J.\n---\n.\n• I\nII IEach battery is 4S3P, 96Wh\n-\n-\n=\n4 Westbrook Corporate Ceiller SUIte .:JOO IWf!stchest81. IL 6015-1\nPth)lle 708-8:36-3800 IFax: 708-8 6-3801\nChill,] Germ/my USA Me~lco HOllg KOllg UII/red Kingdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICCNEXERGY·\nI .............\n, .\ni\nr\n... . • L . ~\nr\n3 batteries 3 batteries I\nI ~\n--\n- -\n4 Westbr001< Corporate Center SU ite ( 00 IWeslchE'sler . IL 60154\nPhone_ 708-836-31]00 IFax · 708-836-3801\nChina GemllfllY USA MexIco Hong /(0119 Unlred Krngdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICCNEXERGY\n- -\" '\"\"li\n'. .. .\n. . ~ .,: - . •.~~ \\\"M\n.~ ~\n-+ Westbrook Corporate Celder Suite 900 IWestchester. IL 60154\nPhune 708-836-3800 IFax. 708·836-3801\nChma USA Hong Kong Un/led Kingdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICC EXERGY'\nIn elligen' Power Solu Ion\n-\n-\n. ~\n\" .' I ... • \" :t ~\n. .'. 1'\"1\\~ \"\n. . .\n• _ 4I!..._ • I\n4 Weslbrook COlramle Geilier uit 900 IWestctlester,lL 60154\nPhol1e 708-836-'!f300 IFa.. 70B-836·'-'S() 1\nChlflll Germeny USA M \";.0 Hong Kong Umtod Kingdom\n\n<<>>\n\nICC EXERGY\n3-Pole Switch\nRl IliHI!f!=f I IJSTFR LECTROMCS\n,N.. · Rm1 CB , ~~-\n..\n...\n_\nP'i\n'1\n;\n,\nI\na\n-101\n-\nlI.l\n£Ol\nl\n..\n;:\n-.\nl ._ ....\n..\n...\n...\n~\nEnd.\n..j Westbrook Corpordte Center SUit!;; 9()() IWestchester. IL G015..j\nPhone; 708·836-3800 IFax 708 836· 81)1\nChma GennallY USA Hong /