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As adoption of electric cars, e-bikes increase and lithium batteries become lighter and last longer, the number of products relying on lithium batteries will only continue to grow.
Though a practical and efficient way to store energy, lithium batteries, if not properly designed, tested and manufactured can fail and catch fire. In addition, the stored energy and flammable electrolyte in the battery means that they must be prepared properly for shipping to reduce the potential risk to the transport system.
To help address this, we’ve put together the LBSR; a manual with all the information manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, freight forwarders and others in the supply chain need to ensure compliance when shipping lithium batteries.
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The LBSR is available in English in print and digital formats. All versions are updated annually. Digital products come with automatic updates for the year and a search function that makes finding up-to-date information easy. And, they're cheaper.
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2024 Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR)
2024 Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR)
What's inside the LBSR?
Making a mistake with marking, labelling or packaging products with lithium batteries can at best cause delays. At worst, the battery could fail or short circuit causing a fire. The LBSR covers all aspects of the shipping process from packaging requirements, labelling, marking and what to do if something goes wrong en route.
- Applicability (definitions, shipper responsibilities, caution, training, dangerous good security)
- Regulations (international legislation, dangerous goods carried by passengers, variations by state and operator, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, subsection 38.3 )
- Classification (UN Numbers, Class 9 substances, classification scenarios, testing)
- Identification (list of dangerous goods, special provisions)
- Packing (combination packaging, quantity limits, UN specifications, overpacks, instructions, examples)
- UN specification packaging performance tests (test frequency, drop test, stacking test, reports, suppliers)
- Marking and labelling (marks, specifications, shipper’s responsibilities, examples)
- Documentation (declaration form instructions and examples, waybills,)
- Acceptance (checklists, refusals)
- Emergency response
Still not sure if the LBSR is for you? Download the full table of contents:
Stay up-to-date
The significant changes that were made to the 11th edition of the LBSR include:
- The provisions for battery-powered mobility aids with lithium batteries (2.2.2.1) have been revised to include reference through a note to the guidance on the end-to-end processes associated with the carriage of mobility aids.
- The List (2.3.1.3) and List of State Variations (2.3.2) and the List (2.3.3.3) and List of Operator Variations (2.3.4) have been revised to include variations to the provisions of these Regulations.
- Packing Instructions 952 has been revised to include requirements that:
- equipment with installed spillable batteries must be packed to maintain orientation of the battery, or the battery must be removed.
- equipment with vehicles that where there is other operational equipment containing dangerous goods that these dangerous goods must be secured.
- Contact details for competent authorities in Appendix C have been updated.