# Matthews Associates, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 13-0156 - **title:** Matthews Associates, Inc — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2013-09-06 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 13-0156 response to Matthews Associates, Inc concerning 173.185. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0156.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0156.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0156 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130156.pdf **body:** <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 SEP 0 6 1013 Mr. George Foucher Vice President Quality Assurance Matthews Associates, Inc. 220 Power Court Sanford, FL 32771 Ref. No.: 13-0156 Dear Mr. Foucher: This is in response to your email dated July 26, 2013, concerning requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for testing of lithium ion batteries. The specific requirements you address are contained in Section 38.3 of the United Nations (UN) Manual of Tests and Criteria and are implemented through the provisions of § 173.185. Specifically you ask whether a failure of a test chamber to maintain the conditions specified in the test procedure constitute a "no test" or an "under test" and what actions are required. The UN Manual of Test and Criteria describe procedures for conducting a series of tests designed to simulate certain transport and abuse conditions. Test T.1 (Altitude Simulation) simulates air transport under low-pressure conditions. The procedure requires test cells and batteries to be stored at a pressure of 11.6 kPa or less for at least six hours at ambient temperature (20 ± 5 °C). In your letter, you stated that while performing an annual calibration of the altitude chamber, it was determined that the pressure sensor had a 3% error and the pressure during tests reached 11.95 kPa during the 6 hour test. This increased pressure was not constant during the entire 6 hour test rather it was the maximum observed pressure during the test. The procedure for the altitude simulation test requires the cells or batteries to be stored at a pressure of 11.6 kPa or less for 6 hours. The test procedure permits lower pressures, but not higher pressures. Results from tests conducted on cells at a higher than permitted pressures are not valid. To compensate for a known percentage error in the test sensor, you may consider subjecting cells and batteries to a lower pressure or conducting more frequent calibration of test equipment to ensure accuracy. I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office. s&1ffi . . Dc!mer Billings ~ Senior Regulatory Advisor Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) From: Sent: To: Subject: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Monday, July 29, 2013 2:24 PM Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) FW: 49 CFR 173.185 Interpretation Request Hi Carolyn, This caller requested we submit this e-mail as a formal letter of interpretation. Thanks, Victoria From: George Foucher [rnailto:GFoucher@maifl.com] Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 4:18PM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Cc: Arvin Blank; Phil Perreault; Judy Perreault Subject: RE: 49 CFR 173.185 Interpretation Request Dear Sir or Madam, Please respond with your interpretation of the following: Company Information: Mathews Associates, Inc. manufactures battery assemblies, including both lithium metal (primary) and lithium-ion (rechargeable). We also perform testing in accordance with "The Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria", Section 38.3 "Lithium metal and Lithium-ion batteries in our "A2Z" test lab. Relevant Reference from "The Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria" I Revision 5, Amendment 1 I Section 38.3.4 excerpt: 38.3.4.1 Test T 1: Altitude simulation 38.3.4.1.1 Purpose This test simulates air transport under low-pressure conditions. 38.3.4.1.2 Test procedure Test cells and batteries shall be stored at a pressure of 11.6 kPa or less for at least six hours 1 ------·· ----· <<>> at ambient temperature (20 ± 5 °C}. 38.3.4.1.3 Requirement Cells and batteries meet this requirement if there is no leakage, no venting, no disassembly, no rupture and no fire and if the open circuit voltage of each test cell or battery after testing is not less than 90% of its voltage immediately prior to this procedure. The requirement relating to voltage is not applicable to test cells and batteries at fully discharged states. Situation: When performing our annual calibration of the altitude chamber, it was shown that the pressure sensor was off 3% at the 11.6 kPa pressure (50,000 feet) required for Tl altitude. Based on the 3% sensor deviation, the actual pressure made excursions up to a pressure of almost 11.95kpa (49,200 ft} during the 6 hour test. This pressure was not constant during the entire 6 hour test due to the vacuum pump cycling but was the maximum pressure realized during the test. Question: We would like to know if this would be classified as a no test or under test and what actions by Mathews, if any, are needed? Thank you, ~fl-7~ 1lta p~ 2~.4~ Mathews Associates, Inc. 220 Power Court Sanford, FL 32771 USA PH: 407-323-3390 Fax: 407-323-3115 e-mail: gfoucher@maifl.com Website: www.maifl.com This transmittal may contain company confidential, proprietary and/or information regulated by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and may be subject to U.S. Government Export Control Laws. This information is intended for use only by the recipient. Transfer of this information to any foreign party, whether in the U.S. or abroad, without Department of State approval and/or licensing is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator, George J. Foucher, (407)323-3390, to return all the original copies. Thank You. IT AR: This transmittal may contain company confidential, proprietary and/or information regulated by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and may be subject to U.S. Government Export Control Laws. This information is intended for use only by the recipient. Transfer of this information to any foreign party, whether in the U.S. or abroad, without Department of State approval and/or licensing is prohibited. 2 - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 5929