ST/SG/AC.10/C.3/2009/*
page 3
UN/SCETDG/XX/INF.
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE TRANSPORT OF
DANGEROUS GOODS AND ON THE GLOBALLY
HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
AND LABELLING OF CHEMICALS
Working group on lithium batteries
Kyoto 9 to 11 November 2009
ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) FOR DOCUMENTATION PURPOSES
1.2m Drop Test for package contains lithium cells or batteries
Transmitted by Expert of China
Background
1. For the packages contained lithium cells or batteries that need to be transported by air or by sea, they have to fulfill the requirements of ICAO PI 965/966/968/969 or IMO IMDG CODE sp188. Both mention the packing requirement as follows:
“Each package must be capable of withstanding a 1.2 m drop test in any orientation without:
• damage to cells or batteries contained therein;
• shifting of the contents so as to allow battery to battery (or cell to cell) contact;
• release of contents. ”
2. In the requirement, it does not specify the test conditions for the 1.2 m drop test. This results in inconsistent interpretation for the same package depending on how the drop test was conducted and results interpreted. For instance, in which orientation shall the package be dropped? How many drops shall be done to one package? Different laboratories may have different conducting ways so that the test results will vary greatly. As a result, a specified test method for 1.2m drop test is important and necessary.
Proposal
3. The sub committee is invited to think of the introduction of a specialized 1.2m drop test method which demonstrated as below:
Test to be performed on: The completed package contains lithium cells or batteries as prepared for transport which under requirements of UN Model Regulation, ICAO TI, IMO IMDG CODE and other regulations.
Note: For the package contains equipment needed performing the drop test according to the regulations above, a substitute may be used for the drop test in place of the original equipment provided it has no influence on the package safety and, its size, weight, hardness, setting mode and gravity center yield similar, or more restrictive, results than if the package was tested with the original equipment.
Test purpose: Simulate possible drops during normal transport conditions.
Test equipment: The drop tester shall fulfill the following requirements:
l The impact surface of the drop tester shall be non-resilient, horizontal, integral and massive enough to be immovable;
l The impact surface of the drop tester shall be flat to be kept from local defects capable of influencing the test results;
l The impact surface of the drop tester shall be rigid enough to be non-deformable under test conditions and not liable to become damaged by the test;
l The impact surface of the drop tester shall sufficiently large to ensure that the test package falls entirely upon the surface;
l The lifting apparatus of the drop tester shall not induce damage on test package during the test; and
l The releasing apparatus of the drop tester shall ensure the test package drops freely during the test.
Test procedure: Drop the package from 1.2m height onto the impact surface of the drop tester according to following requirements:
l For cubic package (for example a box): 5 drops one each on top surface, bottom surface, long side, short side and a corner;
l For cylindrical package (for example a drum): 5 drops one each on top plane, bottom plane, surface, top and bottom circumference;
l There is one drop shall be done when the equipment is over the battery; and
l For other than flat drops, the center of gravity must be vertically over the point of impact. Where more than one orientation is possible for a given drop, the orientation most likely to result in failure of the packaging must be used.
Criteria for passing the 1.2 m drop test: Each package must be capable of withstanding the test without:
l Damage or leakage to cells or batteries contained therein;
l shifting of the contents so as to allow battery to battery (or cell to cell) contact or short-circuit;
l Release of contents.
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