{"operation":"document","citation":"22-0131","title":"Powin — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2023-01-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"22-0131 response to Powin concerning 172.101, 172.102.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0131.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0131.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-22-0131","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/77116/220131.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJanuary 9, 2023\nMr. Thomas Kerr\nProgram Manager\nPowin\n20550 SW 115th Ave\nTualatin, OR 97062\nReference No. 22-0131\nDear Mr. Kerr:\nThis letter is in response to your December 6, 2022, email and letter requesting clarification of\nthe Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to use of\nhazardous materials (HM) description “UN3536, Lithium batteries installed in cargo transport\nunit” and the associated use of the term cargo transport unit (CTU) as it relates to this HM\ndescription.\nYou state that your company has designed and manufactured a power storage unit called the\nPowin Stack750 Centipede Energy Segment. This unit contains lithium batteries with a\nmaximum energy capacity of 750 kWh per segment, and weighs 20,000 lbs. You also state that\nthe unit includes a fully-integrated direct current block, independent sensors (i.e., gas and\ntemperature), and a fire suppression system. Finally, you provide diagrams that demonstrate\nduring vessel, rail, and highway transportation, the unit would be secured to a either a truck-\ntrailer, flat-rack, roll-on / roll-off, or bulk freight configuration. Your company is seeking\nclarification that the unit secured to a flat-rack, roll-on / roll-off, truck-trailer, or as bulk-freight\nmeets the transportation requirements and is appropriately described and classed using UN3536.\nBased on the information and illustrations provided, it is the opinion of this Office that the\nStack750 Centipede Energy Segment secured to a flat-rack, roll-on / roll-off, truck-trailer, or as\nbulk-freight is appropriately described and classed, as “UN3536,\n\n<<>>\n\nLithium batteries installed in cargo transport unit lithium ion batteries or lithium metal batteries,\n9” and meets the transportation requirements of special provision 389 assigned to the HM\ndescription.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nBaker\n22-0131\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: UN3536 Cargo Transport Unit (CTU) Definition\nDate: Thursday, December 8, 2022 1:58:10 PM\nAttachments: image001.png\nDOT Letter of Interpretation.pdf\nHi Alice,\nPlease see the attached interpretation request.\nLet us know if you need anything.\nRegards,\n-Breanna\nFrom: Thomas Kerr \nSent: Tuesday, December 6, 2022 6:12 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) \nSubject: UN3536 Cargo Transport Unit (CTU) Definition\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do\nnot click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content\nis safe.\nBreonna.\nThank you for your time to discuss UN3536 Cargo Transport Unit Definition. As requested, please\nfind my Letter of Interpretation request.\nI look forward to your response,\nBest regards,\nThomas\nThomas Kerr\nProgram Mgr - NPI\ne: thomas.kerr@powin.com\nc: 503.320.3153\n\n<<>>\n\n+1.50 3.598 .6659 www.powin.com 20550 SW 115th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062\nNovember 30, 2022\nTO\nRe: Letter of Interpretation for UN3536 definition of Cargo Transport Unit.\nU.S. Department of\nTransportation\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE,\nWashington, DC 20590\nTo whom it may concern,\nPowin, a designer and manufacturer of the Stack750TM CentipedeTM Energy\nSegment utility-scale Power Storage Units, is requesting interpretation of\nUN3536's definition of Cargo Transport Unit (CTU). The interpretation would\ninclude transport by vessel, rail, and highway. It is Powin's goal for the Letter of\nInterpretation to record that a Stack750 Centipede Energy Segment secured to a\nCTU meets the requirements of UN3536, and to synchronize those results across\nthe UN, IMO, and other associated international bodies.\nFROM\nThomas Kerr\nProgram Manager\nPowin\nThe Powin Stack750 Centipede Energy Segment's maximum energy capacity is 750\nkWh DC per segment, and weighs 20,000 pounds. The cabinets dimensions are\nroughly 10'H x 6'W x 8'L and have an ISO block in each of the four lower corners\nthat serve as hoist attachment points. See Figure 1 below.\nFigure 1 Powin Stack750 Centipede\nThe Powin Stack750 Centipede Energy Segment is comprised of state-of-the-art\nmodular and scalable architecture. This includes a fully integrated DC block,\nindependent sensors (gas & temperature) and a fire suppression system. It is\ncapable of supporting commercial & industrial projects up to and including large\nutility-scale projects. The internal batteries are secured via racks and are cooled\nby an air conditioning system.\nThe Energy Segment meets the requirement of UNDG ref [1] section 2.9.4 and has\nbeen tested to UN1973 to evidence compliance. Cells and battery packs have both\nbeen tested to UN38.3.\n1\n\n<<>>\n\n+1.50 3.598 .6659 www.powin.com 20550 SW 115th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062\nThe cabinet is secured per Figure 2 when loaded on a tractor trailer for highway transport.\nFigure 2 - Energy Segments on Trailer (diagram provided by ATS)\nWhen transported by rail or vessel, a Flat-Rack or RORO would be used as shown in Figure 3. Lashing would be achieved as\nshown in Figure 2, above.\nFigure 3 - Flat-Rack (credit: marineinsight.com)\nFor cabinet loading and unloading from CTUs, and as Bulk Freight transport, the hoist-lift plan as shown in Figure 4 is\nrecommended:\nFigure 4 - Powin Energy Segment Lifting Plan\n2\n\n<<>>\n\n+1.50 3.598 .6659 www.powin.com 20550 SW 115th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062\nAt Issue is the intention of the UN3536 definition of CTU. The definition of a Cargo Transport Unit (CTU) in the UNDG ref.\n[1] page 26 \"means a road transport tank or freight vehicle, a railway transport tank or freight wagon, a multimodal\nfreight container or portable tank, or MEGC\".\nThe UNDG [1] definition does not strictly call out compliance to ISO 1496 Freight Containers, but it also does not relieve\nthe reader of the requirement. In fact, ref. [2] page 34 specifically presents a picture of an ISO Container.\nIn ref. [3] there is significant discussion within the UN Expert Working Group around the title for UN3536 with the\nfollowing title changes discussed:\n• Closed Cargo Transport Unit\n• Transportable Battery Power System\n• Transport Unit\n• Power Storage Unit\n• Cargo Transport Unit\nPowin believes that the Power Storage Unit designation is more appropriate for the intended purpose of UN3536. The\ntitle Cargo Transport Unit should be reserved for the various transportation modes contained in the definition above.\nPowin meets the requirements for UN3536 which includes the following from ref. [2]:\nTransport Requirements - § 172.102, Special Provision 389:\n The lithium batteries must be of a type that have successfully passed the UN38.3 tests and contain the necessary\nsystems to prevent overcharge and over discharge between the batteries.\n The lithium batteries must be securely attached to the interior structure of the cargo transport unit (e.g., by\nmeans of placement in racks, cabinets, etc.) in such a manner as to prevent short circuits, accidental operation,\nand significant movement relative to the cargo transport unit under the shocks, loadings, and vibrations normally\nincident to transport.\n Hazardous materials necessary for the safe and proper operation of the cargo transport unit (e.g., fire\nextinguishing systems and air conditioning systems), must be properly secured to or installed in the cargo\ntransport unit and are not otherwise subject to the requirements of the HMR.\n Hazardous materials not necessary for the safe and proper operation of the cargo transport unit must not be\ntransported within the cargo transport unit.\nRequired Hazard Communication - § 172.102, Special Provision 389:\n The batteries inside the cargo transport unit are not subject any marking or labeling requirements.\n The cargo transport unit must display the UN ID number (3536) on an orange panel, white square on point, or a\nClass 9 placard.\n The cargo transport unit must be placarded on two opposing sides with the Class 9 placard.\n Transportation by aircraft is forbidden, unless approved by the Associate Administrator.\n3\n\n<<>>\n\n+1.50 3.598 .6659 www.powin.com 20550 SW 115th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062\nIn conclusion, UN3536 is the only option that accurately represents Powin Energy Segment configuration of racks securing\nbatteries and includes allowance for the air conditioning system. It Is Powin's goal for the Letter of Interpretation to record\nthat a Stack750 Centipede Energy Segment secured to a Flat-Rack, RORO, truck-trailer, or as bulk-freight meets the\nrequirements of UN3536, and to synchronize those results across the UN, IMO, and other associated international bodies.\nSincerely,\nThomas Kerr\nProgram Manager\nPowin\n4\n\n<<>>\n\n+1.50 3.598 .6659 www.powin.com 20550 SW 115th Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062\nReferences\n[1] ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.22 (Vol. I), \"Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (Vol. I),\" 2021.\n[Online]. Available: https://unece.org/info/Transport/pub/364867.\n[2] PHMSA, \"Lithium Battery Guide for Shippers,\" 2021. [Online]. Available:\nhttps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2022-09/Lithium-Battery-Guide-FN.pdf.\n[3] ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2019/8, \"UN3536 \"Lithium Batteries Installed in Cargo Transport Unit,\" 2019. [Online].\nAvailable: https://unece.org/DAM/trans/doc/2019/dgac10c3/ST-SG-AC.10-C.3-2019-8e.pdf.\n5","truncated":false,"body_characters":9574}