{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0251","title":"Resistacap Energy Products — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2013-01-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0251 response to Resistacap Energy Products concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0251.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0251.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0251","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120251.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nJAN 2 2 2011\nMr. Davy Hicks\nResistacap Energy Products\n1154 7 South Memorial Parkway\nP.O. Box 14069\nHuntsville, AL 35815\nRef. No.: 12-0251\nDear Mr. Hicks:\nThis is in response to your November 5, 2012 email concerning requirements under the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for design-type testing of\nlithium-ion batteries. The specific requirements you address are contained in Section 38.3.2.1\nof the United Nations (UN) Manual of Tests and Criteria and are implemented through the\nprovisions of 49 CFR 173.185. Specifically you ask if the attachment of a tab to a lithium ion\nbattery would require the battery design to be retested in accordance with the UN Manual of\nTests and Criteria.\nThe criteria by which a lithium battery design is considered to be a new type of battery and\nrequire retesting are found in§ 38.3.2.1 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria. One of the\ncriteria that requires testing is when a cell or battery differs from the type tested by \"a change\nthat would lead to a failure of any of the tests.\" The type of change that might be considered to\ndiffer from a tested type, such that it might lead to failure of any of the test results, may\ninclude, but is not limited to: 1) a change in the material of the anode, cathode, the separator or\nelectrolyte; 2) a change of protective devices, including hardware and software; 3) a change of\nsafety design in cells or batteries, such as a venting valve; 4) a change in the number of\ncomponent cells; or 5) a change in connecting mode of component cells. A manufacturer of\nlithium batteries should take these types of changes into account when determining whether or\nnot a cell or battery is a new type and requires retesting.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nSincerely,\n~~~\nSenior Regulatory Advisor\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n------------------\n-- ------------------------------ ---\n--\n---------------~----------\n--- -------\n----------~\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject: Monday, November 05, 2012 3:50PM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFW: Request for formal interpretation\nHi Carolyn,\nWe received the following request for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nFrom: Davy Hicks [mailto:Davy@resistacap.com]\nSent: Monday, November OS, 2012 3:44PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSubject: Request for formal interpretation\nRequest for a formal interpretation on a Lithium lon battery,\nWe are a modification center for batteries and we have a question.\nAll we are wanting to do is put a tab on a Lithium lon battery in which this does not add any lithium content or change\nmechanically. The question is can this be shipped normally and with no un testing required?\nI was told over the phone that you guys have talked about this and you have a consensus for this. If you would please\nsend the other parts of this also.\nDavy Hicks\nManufacturing Engineer\nPhone 256-382-9531\nFax 256-382-1921\nwww.resistacap.com\nArcreriitat'ions\nISO 90Vl:l00d\nf:Stl) iJ.·]il;l;lOOJ\n1","truncated":false,"body_characters":3246}