US PHMSA Guide to Lithium Battery Risk

Written By: Atanu Das on Tuesday, May 2, 2023

In the guidebook PHMSA talks about how damaged or defective batteries can pose more of a risk than non-damaged cells. These can be involved in a thermal runaway fire and be harder to extinguish.

For shippers, these batteries can be identified if they:

• Have sustained physical or mechanical damage.
• Have been identified previously as being defective for safety reasons.
• Have leaked or vented (or are currently leaking or venting).
• Are suspected to be damaged or defective but cannot be diagnosed prior to transport. • Do not conform to the type tested according to the applicable provisions of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Part 3 sub-section 38.3.

Here are some graphics from the guide to help you with visual identification: