Tighter transport regulations for lithium batteries will be introduced

According to the Wall Street Journal, United Continental Holdings Co., Ltd. has imposed stricter restrictions on shipping lithium-ion batteries.

Recent experiments have shown that rechargeable batteries can explode when temperatures rise or catch fire in closed containers, so airlines have stopped transporting lithium batteries in standard closed freight containers. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various electronic devices.

A spokesman for United Airlines said the company had decided to enforce stricter transport rules for various reasons, but would continue to transport lithium-ion batteries in unsealed containers and flat containers.

A U. S. spokesman said the shift had little economic impact because lithium battery transport accounted for a tiny fraction of the company's total cargo volume.

However, these new restrictions have far-reaching implications as airlines around the world tighten regulations on the transport of large quantities of different types of lithium batteries in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft. Both Delta and Air France, for example, have stopped transporting lithium-ion batteries in passenger cargo, regardless of their packaging.

However, these strict rules do not apply to electronic equipment and scattered batteries carried by passengers. Airlines still accept the transport of lithium-ion batteries installed inside the equipment.

Internationalspecial safety regulators decided in early 2014 to ban passenger aircraft from transporting lithium metal batteries, with effect from January 2015. Lithium metal batteries are disposable batteries that are usually used in toys and cameras. Compared to more common lithium ion batteries, lithium metal batteries burn at higher temperatures, and once the fire becomes larger, it is extremely difficult to extinguish.

At the same time, a panel of internationalspecial safety experts called for a radical change in packaging and other protective measures to reduce the fire hazard associated with the transport of large quantities of lithium batteries by commercial aircraft, as batteries could catch fire due to internal short circuits, breakage or other types of damage.

It is reported that ICAO officials are discussing experts 'proposals, including placing gels or other cooling objects between battery power sets. If this proposal is implemented, the transport costs and extra weight of the carrier will increase.

To reduce the flammability and explosive risk of batteries, the Panel also urges further reductions in charge standards for lithium-ion batteries by air.

In the past eight years, two cargo planes have crashed due to the fire of lithium batteries and the rapid spread of the fire. Another large cargo aircraft parked on the ground has also been destroyed due to the fire of lithium batteries. In 2010, a Boeing 747 of the United Parcel Transportation Service crashed in Dubai after the fire. Two pilots on board were killed. UAE investigators confirmed that the fire began to burn from a section of the aircraft's main cabin, which contained lithium batteries and other flammable materials.

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