{"operation":"document","citation":"19-0080","title":"Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-10-28","effective_on":null,"summary":"19-0080 response to Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0080.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0080.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0080","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/72816/190080.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nOctober 28, 2019\nJoshua Galvarino\nNAFT A Dangerous Goods Coordinator Lead\nTransportation Compliance\nMercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.\nP.O. Box 100\nTuscaloosa, AL 3 5403\nReference No. 19-0080\nDear Mr. Galvarino:\nThis letter is in response to your June 13, 2019, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to lithium ion batteries\ntransported by ground within the United States. Specifically, you describe and provide\nphotographs depicting a large lithium ion battery assembly that weighs over 12 kg and is\nenclosed in a strong outer casing with some hoses protruding. You also describe and provide\nphotographs depicting a packaging concept in which the battery is bolted into a wooden crate\n( one per crate) to prevent movement during transportation, and the wooden crate fully encloses\nthe battery when assembled.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ 1. You ask whether the battery assembly configuration pictured and described in your letter\nsatisfies the \"strong outer casing\" requirement as specified in § 173. l 85(b )( 5).\nA 1. The answer is yes. Based on the photographs and information you provided, the battery\nassembly is fully enclosed in a metal casing. This appears to meet the requirements of a\nstrong, impact-resistant outer casing as specified in§ 173.185(b)(5).\nQ2. You ask whether lithium ion batteries that meet the requirements of§ 173. l 85(b )( 5) are\nalso subject to the inner packaging requirements specified in§ 173.185(b)(3)(i).\nA2. The answer is no. The inner packaging requirements specified in§ 173. l 85(b )(3)(i)\napply to those batteries that do not meet the requirements of§ 173.185(b)(5).\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3. A3. Q4. A4. You ask whether the use of United Nations (UN) specification packaging without inner\npackagings is authorized when packaging lithium ion batteries in accordance with\n§ 173.185(b)(5).\nThe answer is yes. While this section allows for the use of non-UN specification\npackaging for larger lithium batteries, they are still authorized as strong outer packagings.\nYou ask whether the packaging concept you have described satisfies the requirements of\n§ 173.185(b)(5).\nThe answer is yes. Lithium ion batteries that weigh 12 kg (26.5 pounds) or more and\nhave a strong, impact-resistant outer casing and assemblies of such batteries, may be\npacked in protective enclosures (for example, in fully enclosed or wooden slatted crates),\ninstead of packages meeting the UN performance packaging requirements in\n§ 173. l 85(b )(3)(ii) and (iii). Batteries or battery assemblies must be secured to prevent\ninadvertent movement, and the terminals may not support the weight of other\nsuperimposed elements.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nJanua~, lke~a CTR (PHMSA)\n1\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nThursday, June 13, 2019 6:02 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Request for Official Interpretation of Title 49 CFR\nInterpretation Request Photos.pdf\nHello Alice and lkeya, ,\nPlease see the email below and the attached document for a letter of interpretation request.\nSincerely,\nLynsie, HMIC\nFrom: joshua.galvarino@daimler.com [mailto:joshua.galvarino@daimler.com]\nSent: Thursday, June 13, 2019 12:02 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: Request for Official Interpretation ofTitle 49 CFR\nHello,\nI am contacting you to obtain clarification of packaging requirements for shipping a large format lithium ion battery by\nground in the US. Our battery assembly weighs over 12kg and has a strong outer casing which fully encloses all cells. The\nbattery assembly has multiple hoses protruding from the assembly. Pictures of the battery are attached to this request.\nDoes this battery assembly configuration satisfy the \"strong outer casing\" requirement mentioned in section\n§173.18S(b)(S)?\nAre lithium ion batteries which meet the requirements of section §173.18S(b)(S), subject to the inner packaging\nrequirements specified in section §173 .18S(b)(3)(i)?\nIf the requirements of section §173.18S(b)(S) are satisfied, is the use an approved UN specification packaging, without\ninner packaging, acceptable?\nThank you for your time and guidance.\nBest regards,\nJosh Galvarino\nNAFTA Dangerous Goods Coordinator Lead\nTransportation Compliance\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nMercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. (MBUSI)\nGlobal Service Parts\n11146 Will Walker Rd.\nVance, Alabama 35490\nOffice: +1205 507 3773\nCell: +1205 579 0647\nFax: +1205 507 3721\nEmail : joshua.galvarino@daimler.com\nThis message (including any attachments) may contain confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose, and is protected by law. Any\ndisclosure, copying, or distribution of this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended addressee, please inform\nus immediately that you have received this e-mail in error, and delete it. Statements referencing regulatory requirements may not be current as regulations are\nsubject to change. Please reference the latest released regulations. We thank you for your cooperation.\nIf you are not the addressee, please inform us immediately that you have received this e-mail by mistake, and delete it.\nWe thank you for your support.\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":5596}