13
Using the IATA Rules to Test, Package, and Label
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations provide requirements for testing, packaging, and
labeling of lithium batteries. These regulations are found in Packing Instructions PI-965 – PI-970.
IATA Packing Instructions PI-965, PI-966, and PI-967 apply specifically to
air shipment
of lithium ion batteries. They
provide specific requirements for the materials used and the “survivability” of packaging and
over packs
to
potential damage, provision for safety venting, and prevention of short circuits when cells, batteries, products
packaged with batteries and products containing batteries are packed for transportation by air.
Table 8 and Table 9 list IATA PI-965 – PI-967 requirements for packaging batteries for air transport. The complete
set of instructions can be found on the IATA.org web site:
http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/dgr/Pages/lithium-batteries.aspx
Table 8 – International Air Transport Association (IATA) packaging and quantity restrictions (PI-965)
Requirement
PI-965 – Lithium Ion Cells and Batteries
Section 1A*
(Class 9)
Section 1B
(Cell ≤ 20
Wh) and
Max. # Cell
> 8/pkg
Section 1B
(Batt. ≤ 100
Wh) and
Max. # Batt.
> 2/pkg
Section II
Cells and/or
batteries ≤ 2.7
Wh and
Max. #
Cell/Batt.
No Limit/pkg
Cell
(2.7 Wh < Cell
≤ 20 Wh) and
Max. # Cell
≤ 8/pkg
Batt.
(2.7 Wh < Batt.
≤ 100 Wh) and
Max. # Batt. ≤
2/pkg
Capacity Labeling
Yes **
–
Yes***
Batteries Only***
–
Yes***
Meet the requirements
of the UN Manual of
Tests and Criteria, Part III,
subsection 38.3
Yes
Max quantity - Passenger
Aircraft
5 kg Net
10 kg Gross
2.5 kg Net
N/A
N/A
Max quantity - Cargo
Aircraft††
35 kg Net
10 kg Gross
2.5 kg Net
N/A
N/A
Outer Pack Standards
General
Packing
Requirements
5.0.2 AND
Packing Group
II
performance
Standards
5.0.2.4,
5.0.2.6.1,
5.0.2.12.1
5.0.2.4,
5.0.2.6.1,
5.0.2.12.1
5.0.2.4,
5.0.2.6.1,
5.0.2.12.1
5.0.2.4,
5.0.2.6.1,
5.0.2.12.1
Inner packaging required
to enclose battery
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Prevent accidental
activation
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Prevent short circuits
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Provide Safety Venting
Yes
No
No
No
No
(A123 Yes)
(A123 Yes)
(A123 Yes)
(A123 Yes)
1.2 m drop test (pack +
content)
NA (see
performance
standard for
Packing Group
II)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
