Shipping Batteries By Air? Cutting Corners Could Be Costly!
- By Mike Bond
- 26 feb 2013
In this economy, it's easy to see why some shipping professionals might feel they can't afford to obey extensive rules for shipping batteries by air. But smart shippers know they simply can't afford NOT to: Each violation can result in thousands of dollars in fines.
It can leave businesses feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place – either abide the rules for transporting lithium and other batteries and take a financial loss or ignore them and risk liability in the event of a catastrophic accident.
Before you feel tempted to cut corners when shipping batteries by air, make sure you understand the repercussions and know what could be at stake.
With countless shipments made around the world each day, some might wonder what difference letting a few packaging regulations slip could make – especially since lithium and other batteries were shipped long before the IATA regulations came into place.
The fact is, the IATA regulations exist for very good reasons. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “ most lithium batteries manufactured today contain a flammable electrolyte and have a higher energy density. They can overheat and ignite under certain conditions and, once ignited, can be difficult to extinguish. In addition, although an infrequent event, a lithium battery is susceptible to thermal runaway, a chain reaction leading to a violent release of its stored energy.” This can occur when batteries are loose packed, packed with metal, allowed to overheat or otherwise triggered to short circuit. During shipping – especially on a plane – the ignition of one battery can have serious consequences:
In response to incidents like these, IATA developed rules that generally require individualized interior packing and extra-sturdy interior packaging when shipping batteries by air. For businesses that have been discovered violating the regulations, consequences have been severe:
Despite the risks, it's not hard to figure out why some shippers would take the chance. The odds of an accident might seem remote, the time required for properly packaging and shipping batteries by air may seem exorbitant and, let's face it, all of those materials cost money.
The good news is that abiding the IATA regulations doesn't have to be as time-consuming or expensive as you think. Something as simple as investing in quality bubble wrap, reliable 4G boxes and easy-to-read “Overpack” labels can get you on your way.
It's up to each shipper to keep their materials, staff and customers safe. Cutting corners can cost you money and potentially jail time! Buy good materials and visit our guide to shipping batteries by air – you'll find yourself on the right side of the regulations quickly and with little cash out of your pocket.
It can leave businesses feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place – either abide the rules for transporting lithium and other batteries and take a financial loss or ignore them and risk liability in the event of a catastrophic accident.
Before you feel tempted to cut corners when shipping batteries by air, make sure you understand the repercussions and know what could be at stake.
Rules for Shipping Batteries By Air – And Consequences
With countless shipments made around the world each day, some might wonder what difference letting a few packaging regulations slip could make – especially since lithium and other batteries were shipped long before the IATA regulations came into place.
The fact is, the IATA regulations exist for very good reasons. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “ most lithium batteries manufactured today contain a flammable electrolyte and have a higher energy density. They can overheat and ignite under certain conditions and, once ignited, can be difficult to extinguish. In addition, although an infrequent event, a lithium battery is susceptible to thermal runaway, a chain reaction leading to a violent release of its stored energy.” This can occur when batteries are loose packed, packed with metal, allowed to overheat or otherwise triggered to short circuit. During shipping – especially on a plane – the ignition of one battery can have serious consequences:
- A United Parcel Service cargo plane with a fire raging on board, and carrying a large quantity of lithium batteries, crashed near Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Sept. 3, 2010, killing both pilots.
- A 2011 FAA report describes how an airport worker hooked up an energized ground-power unit to a Cessna Citation CJ4 (525C), the first business jet certified with a lithium-ion main-ship battery. Moments later, a fire erupted.
- This time last year, a lithium battery short circuit was blamed when an Apple iPhone 4 began glowing red and smoking before having a minor combustion during a flight over Australia.
In response to incidents like these, IATA developed rules that generally require individualized interior packing and extra-sturdy interior packaging when shipping batteries by air. For businesses that have been discovered violating the regulations, consequences have been severe:
- Federal aviation authorities leveled a $175,000 fine against MIT after a researcher shipping 33 devices with lithium batteries via Federal Express failed to label the box for hazardous materials. The box caught fire at FedEx’s Medford, Mass., facility on Aug. 25, 2009.
- In a 2006 incident, FedEx personnel in Memphis discovered smoke coming from one of four boxes containing 250 loose-packed nickel metal hydride batteries. Weight from the loose batteries had damaged the box; a lack of short circuit protection caused four batteries to ignite en route from London to St. Louis, Mo. English authorities later fined the shipper ₤2800, more than $4,000.
Shipping Batteries By Air Made Easy
Despite the risks, it's not hard to figure out why some shippers would take the chance. The odds of an accident might seem remote, the time required for properly packaging and shipping batteries by air may seem exorbitant and, let's face it, all of those materials cost money.
The good news is that abiding the IATA regulations doesn't have to be as time-consuming or expensive as you think. Something as simple as investing in quality bubble wrap, reliable 4G boxes and easy-to-read “Overpack” labels can get you on your way.
It's up to each shipper to keep their materials, staff and customers safe. Cutting corners can cost you money and potentially jail time! Buy good materials and visit our guide to shipping batteries by air – you'll find yourself on the right side of the regulations quickly and with little cash out of your pocket.
