Special provision 188 of IMDG Code exempt lithium metal, lithium alloy, lithium-ion cells and batteries from other provisions of IMDG Code provided they meet all the provisions of SP 188. The first criteria is lithium content and watt-hour ratings as below
- Lithium metal or lithium alloy cell – lithium content not more than 1 g.
- Lithium metal or lithium alloy battery, the aggregate lithium content is not more than 2 g.
- Lithium-ion cell, the watt-hour rating is not more than 20 Wh.
- Lithium-ion battery, the watt-hour rating is not more than 100 Wh.
Below are the formulas for calculating same.
Calculate the watt-hour (Wh) rating
Calculate with voltage (V) and ampere hour (Ah)
(V) x (Ah) = Wh
Calculate with voltage (V) and milliampere-hour (mAh)
(V) x (mAh ÷ 1000) = Wh
Calculate the lithium content
Calculate with ampere-hours (Ah)
Ah x 0.3 = lithium metal in grams
Calculate with milliampere-hours (mAh)
(mAh ÷ 1000) x 0.3 = lithium metal in grams
For batteries multiply grams by number of cells in the battery.
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Conversion between Lithium content and Wh rating is old way of thinking.
“Lithium-equivalent content” was deleted about ten years ago from world-wide harmonized regulations.
– Lithium metal cells and batteries use ONLY “lithium content” (in gram).
– Lithium ion cells and batteries use ONLY “Wh rating”.
Dear Kazumasa,
Thank you for your valuable comment. I see this conversion as an example in Transport Canada and some other forwarders notices.
Can you guide me where I can find the latest guidelines about finding “lithium content”
Regards/Shashi
Please see the definition of UN Tests and criteria 38.3.2.3
7th rev. is used from this year (2021)
You can get it from UNECE site for free.
When Lithium battery regulation started as DG, Lithium-equivalent content was used.
But after separation Lithium metal battery and Lithium ion battery, we stop conversion, from my memoory.
Thank you
Hi I would like to ship small machines with battery installed around 100wh to different country? what is the best way of doing it?
By Air or sea?
Better you get in touch with a good freight forwarder for guidance.