Used Lithium Battery Box

And other non-lead acid batteries

Uniseg Product’s Used Lithium Battery (ULiB^tm) Box is a rota-moulded Cargo box, custom fitted with;

• 2 stainless steel Snap-Flat latches to ensure the latches remain engaged in all circumstances.
• 2 ACP Panels for dangerous good and transport labels.
• Optional – 6 Heavy duty, UV resistant glass filled polypropylene Box feet to make forkliftable. Also enables stable stacking by locating into the lid’s ridges.
• Optional – Battery powered IoT Device for tracking and temperature measurement (available for quantities of 20 or more)
• Optional – 50L bag of CellblockEX Fire suppressant granules, supplied with plastic scoop. Download the SDS for CellblockEX here.

The ULiB^tm Box has UN Certification as a “Rigid plastic combination package containing lithium batteries” for a maximum of 60kg of Lithium batteries (approval number 60195). This makes it suitable for the road and rail transport of Lithium batteries as per the requirements in the “Australian Code for Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADGC Ed 7.8)”.

The ULiB^tm Box can be used for the transport of both new and used or waste lithium batteries provided the ADGC packaging requirements for lithium batteries are met along with other general ADGC requirements when transporting dangerous goods (e.g. labelling, DG Documentation etc.). It can also be used for other battery chemistries not classified as dangerous goods e,g, alkaline, zinc-carbon, NiMh, NiCd (dry only).

Note It cannot be used for the transport of damaged or defective Lithium batteries without the use of a UN certified inner package.

The Box’s dimensions are;

External 900L x 550W x 400H mm. With Forklift Feet 500H mm.

Internal 725L x 456W x 250H mm

Box Weight including signage panels 10kg. With Forklift Feet 15kg and with 1 bag of CellblockEX 28kg.

1. Low Power Lithium Batteries

For low powered batteries, the ULiB^tm box can be supplied with 6 Dry Cell Cartons which are suitable for the storage and transport of these smaller batteries. While the ADGC permits some larger Lithium batteries, we would recommend that only D Size or smaller batteries be packaged in this way. See below “Packaging Requirements for Different Types of Lithium Batteries” for detailed explanation.

2. High Power Lithium Batteries

For high power Lithium Batteries the ULiB^tm Box will be supplied with the fire suppressant, CellBlockEX. The CellBlockEX prevents movement of the batteries during transport and will suppress any battery fires.

Download our recommended instructions on how to package the Lithium batteries, with the CellBlockEX in the ULiB Box.

We would recommend that batteries that are larger than D Size be packaged in this way, however the ADGC doesn’t require this in all instances. See below “Packaging Requirements for Different Types of Lithium Batteries” for detailed explanation.

Used Lithium Battery (ULiB^tm) Box Pricing

Prices for the different ULiB^tm Box configurations are shown below;

Notes

• All prices are AUD and exclude GST
• All prices are ex Perth, Western Australia
• A Discount of 5% applies for quantities of 5 – 10 units, 10% for 10 – 25 & 15% for quantities > 25
• 6 ULiB^tm boxes can be stacked on one standard Australian pallet for transport or 4 ULiB^tm boxes with forklift feet.

Packaging Requirements for Different Types of Lithium Batteries

The “Australian Code for Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADGC Ed 7.8)”, P909 Packing Instruction allows for Lithium batteries to be transported in a strong outer package, that doesn’t require UN Certification, provided its gross mass doesn’t exceed 30kg and the Lithium batteries do not exceed 100Wh or 2g of Lithium content. These “low power” batteries (our term not the ADGCs) can be packaged in a strong cardboard carton such as the one pictured below.

There are many Lithium batteries that don’t exceed these thresholds including most laptop and power tool batteries, however these batteries still represent a significant fire risk and it is our recommendation that only batteries D Size or smaller be transported in this way.

For Used Lithium Ion batteries that exceed 100Wh or 2g of Lithium content and weighing less than 12kg, a UN certified package must be used, such as our ULiB^tm Box.

A strong outer package, but not requiring UN Certification, can be used for waste Lithium Batteries that exceed 12kg provided the battery has a strong, impact resistant casing.

The P909 Packaging Instruction for used lithium batteries destined for recycling or disposal includes a number of Additional Requirements, for transporting the batteries. These apply to each of scenarios outlined above and are as follow:

Additional Requirements

1.  Cells and batteries must be designed or packed to prevent short circuits and the dangerous evolution of heat.

2.  Protection against short circuits and the dangerous evolution of heat includes, but is not limited to,

• individual protection of the battery terminals,
• inner packaging to prevent contact between cells and batteries,
• batteries with recessed terminals designed to protect against short circuits, or
• the use of an electrically non-conductive and non-combustible cushioning material to fill empty space between the cells or batteries in the packaging.

3.  Cells and batteries must be secured within the outer packaging to prevent excessive movement during transport (e.g. by using a non-combustible and electrically non-conductive cushioning material or

Dangerous Good Labelling Requirements for Used Lithium Batteries

Lithium Batteries being transported for disposal or recycling must meet the requirements of the Australian Code for Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail (ADGC). Below are outlined the ADGC’s Labelling requirements, including free downloadable templates.

Threshold Test – Low vs High Power

The ADGC specifies different labelling requirements for low powered versus high powered lithium batteries (this is our terminology not theirs). If Lithium ion batteries (rechargeable) with a Watt-hour rating of not more than 100 Wh* or lithium metal batteries (non rechargeable) with a lithium content of not more than 2 g, you can classify as low power.

* The power rating can be calculated using the formula P = I x V, where I is the current and V the voltage. For example an 18V 5aH power tool battery would have a rating of 90Wh and would therefore be classified as a low power battery.

DG Label for low powered Lithium Batteries

The low power Lithium batteries are exempt from all the other ADGC provisions such as DG Documentation and Emergency Information, provided the Packaging Instructions, outlined above, and the Lithium Battery Mark, below, is attached to the shipment.

DG Label / Marking Template for Low Powered Lithium Batteries for disposal or recycling

Note you will need to insert the relevant UN Number for the type of Lithium batteries being transported. For Lithium Ion Batteries (rechargeable) the UN Number is 3480. For Lithium Metal Batteries (non-rechargeable) the UN Number is 3090.

DG Label for high powered Lithium Batteries

For high power Lithium batteries, those that exceed the Threshold Test above, you can download a DG Label Template, below;

DG Label / Marking Template for High Powered Lithium Batteries for disposal or recycling

Note that high power Lithium batteries, are subject to all the relevant ADGC provisions including the packing instructions, labelling & markings, DG Documentation and Emergency Information. You can find further details concerning these requirements on our sister company Battery Rescue’s webpage “Understanding the transport requirements of used lithium batteries“.