What to do if something happens with lithium cells and batteries , they are defective or damaged or the case of fire occurs?
In this article, we at LITHIUM BATTERY SERVICE present tested transport packaging of various sizes in the dangerous goods sector for defective/damaged and safety-critically defective lithium cells and lithium batteries.
The systems have been tested and approved by the BAM (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung).
Here is a listing of different companies that offer very different solutions for different applications:
- ALEX BREUER GmbH presents the GBOX Extra for non-critically damaged/defective lithium batteries of different sizes and shapes up to 12.7 kg. More informations can be found here:
https://www.alexbreuer.de/produkt/gbox-extra-lithiumbatterien-p908/
-The company ZARGES offers several Alu Boxes for different applications.
The ZARGES Alu Box K 470 Akku Safe Universal for critically defective lithium batteries will be launched in July 2021. It is suitable for smaller lithium batteries as used in e-bikes and tools.
The box has been fire tested with nominal energies above 1000 Wh and is therefore also suitable for critically defective lithium batteries. Of course, you can also transport prototypes (ADR P910), damaged or defective batteries (ADR SV 376, P908), critically defective batteries (ADR SV 376, P911) and batteries for disposal and recycling (ADR P909). Or use the box for storage. Fire tests with nominal energies over 1,000 Wh have been tested. The box has been approved by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing BAM.
Here the linkt to the new box:
https://www.zarges.com/en/products/k-470-universal-battery-box
More info especially about the transport containers for lithium batteries directly on the Zarges website at:
https://www.zarges.com/en/solutions/lithium-batteries/
- The company GENIUS-GROUP offers steel containers with PyroBubbles, which are approved for battery weights up to 400 kg. The consequences of thermal runaway are regulated by overpressure valves.
https://www.genius-group.de/produkte/genius-transportbehaelter/
- LOGBATT with SafetyBATTbox XL has a solution for battery weight up to 1026kg, covering automotive, truck, home storage energy storage, marine, industrial trucks and forklifts.
Other applications and boxes for lithium batteries can be found here:
https://www.logbatt.shop/products/safety-battbox-xl-1
- Also the company GELKOH offers a solution in the field of recovery and rescue. However, in larger dimensions, designed for electric vehicle. The LiBaRescue recovery system for e-vehicles and lithium-ion batteries.
This is a non-flammable, textile recovery system that envelops the entire vehicle. The tests and applications can be found on this page from Gelkoh:
https://www.gelkoh.de/produkte/retten/
-- The company REMONDIS/RETRON has developed the storage and transport container RETRON. On this page you can see in the video for which applications the system is made:
https://www.retron.world/ueber-uns/#c215666
The employees of the company Zarges, Genius, LogBatt work with the checklist articles of our Lithium-Battery-Service portal to advise their customers on the selection of the right packaging and on questions regarding the shipping of lithium cells and lithium batteries.
We as Lithium-Battery-Service offer for all shipping cases on all modes of transport (road according to ADR, sea according to IMDG Code and air according to ICAO TI/IATA DGR) the appropriate checklist article for shipping preparation - also for damaged/defective cells/batteries in road and sea transport. These are prohibited in air transport.
You can find the checklist articles for damaged/defective lithium cells and lithium batteries via FIND A SINGLE CHECKLIST
First enter the type of cell or battery, then the selection DEFECTIVE CELLS/BATTERIES.
Then you can select the mode of transport:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/checklist?tab=1
Air transportation of defective/damaged lithium cells and lithium batteries and safety-critical defective lithium cells and lithium batteries is prohibited because of safety reasons.
If you wish to transport a safety-critical defective lithium cell or lithium battery in a not ADR state, please contact the national competent authority.
What is damaged/defective?
We have already presented you the clear definition of the UN Committee of Experts on this in our blog article of August 14, 2018:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/newsblog/regulations/clear-definition-on-damaged/defective-by-the-un-subcommittee-of-experts-special-provision-376
Remember, if you are shipping NEW lithium cells and lithium batteries, you should conduct a risk assessment with the manufacturer of the cells/batteries and develop work instructions for your logistics and returns department. Because when it comes to a warranty case, you should already have clear processes in place to find out if the lithium cell or lithium battery is still OK or whether it is defective/damaged or even safety critical defective. So you can tell the customer exactly what to do.
However, we have deliberately not included a checklist for assessing defects or damage, as such an assessment always requires a risk assessment by a specialist who knows the cell or battery and its structure/chemistry.
We can provide you with a sample risk assessment so you can see what something like this might look like. To do so, simply email us at:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/contact/consulting
If you need an expert for your in-house dangerous goods assessments to help you determine if a lithium cell or lithium battery is still OK, damaged/defective, or safety critical damaged/defective, just contact us at:
https://www.lithium-batterie-service.de/en/contact/consulting
