Battery testing
“The most recent update of UN 38.3 went
into effect at the start of 2019, and it
includes several key changes”
lithium-ion batteries continues to grow.
Detailed test reports from trusted partners
are critical too. It is important to partner
with a knowledgeable, experienced testing
lab to assess the safety of these batteries
under UN 38.3.
Intertek provides testing to UN 38.3
requirements, to ensure the safety of
lithium batteries during shipping. With
years of experience in battery testing, the
company is familiar with the requirements
of UN 38.3 and prepared to assess batteries
using knowledgeable staff and state-of-theart
technology. \\
Rich Byczek is the global technical director for
Intertek Transportation Technologies and is part of
several battery industry standards committees
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AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // SHOWCASE 2020 163
longer allowed as cargo on passenger
aircraft, and packaging must be labeled for
cargo aircraft only. For cargo aircraft
shipments, lithium-ion batteries shipped
alone must be set at or below 30% state of
charge (SOC). Note these two restrictions
do not apply to batteries shipped in/with
devices (UN3481).
Untested batteries, such as test samples
for UN 38.3 or low production/prototype
samples, may still be shipped by air, if the
shipper is granted a special permit by the
competent authority. In all other cases,
these untested parts must be transported
as a fully regulated Class 9 shipment.
Whether you are a supplier or shipper, it
is important to know and adhere to UN
38.3, especially as the use of lithium and
configuration. A test summary must also
be produced that defines the minimum
information to be included in a compliance
declaration for a cell or battery.
Additionally, it notes the requirement for
the name and title of the signatory as an
indication of validity. The summary is in
addition to the normal test report that
would be created by the testing laboratory.
The test report summary must be
available from the shipper upon request by
an authority. The enforcement date for test
report summaries is currently January
2020. Manufacturers and distributors
should always request copies of full test
reports from their cell and battery
suppliers as supporting evidence.
Several other regulatory changes
recently went into effect, beyond the UN
38.3 test. A new lithium battery handling
label has been introduced which displays
the UN code and a contact number for
more information about an individual
shipment as well as a separate Lithium
battery version of the Class 9 placard.
Older versions may not be used as of
January 2019. Additionally, standalone
lithium ion batteries (UN3480) are no
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