What's the Newest U.S Postal Service Laws-Regs for Shipping Lithium--Li-ion Batteries ?

Anyone know the newest Laws and Regulations
of the U.S. Postal Service regarding the Domestic
and International shipping of any type of lithium-
li-ion batteries and how to find these laws & regs ?

hahaha this topic normally starts a small storm, so i’ll preempt the chaos - the new rule is, say no when they ask, and pay $5 to ship.

I’m trying to shut down some A-hole , whose showing
me the USPS laws & regs from 2012 !. The A-hole
is saying that only 3 batteries can be shipped in
each package and also not in USPS Flat Rate boxes!
There has to be some newer regs somewhere !

I think that the A-hole can’t figure out the difference
in the meaning of the # of cells versus the # of
batteries ! They’re trying to say that only 3 individual
cells can be shipped in each pack. If that’s the case
how are Laptop battery packs with 4 , 6 , 8 , up to 12
li-ion rechargeable cells in them , shipped legally via
the U.S. Mail.

Did some Googling and found this:

http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2015/pb22408/html/updt_008.htm

and this:

The second link involves UPS and not USPS, but it starts by mentioning that there is such a thing as mandatory compliance to the new (US) regulations, for all parties involved, effective february 6th 2015. I hope this gives you enough ammo for some serious A-whooping. BTW: it’s a shame that a postal employee must hear from a customer and a dutch guy that HIS rules of engagement have been changed 0:) => :evil:

Seriously, you can't just print the postage online yourself, then drop it into one of those large bins next to the automated shipping kiosk?

Then you don't have to deal with any people at the post office!

Technically, 3 individual (separate, unconnected) 18650 cells are 3 individual “batteries”. When multiple cells a welded together and closed into a pack they become a single “battery”. So unless the rules specify individual cells, then one (separate) cell is one battery.

Part of the reason battery packs are allowed is that they presume the cells have been professionally welded together and sealed into a pack where the individual cells no longer run as much risk of shorting each other.

But the rules do indeed specify individual cells.

New USPS Mailing Standards For Lithium Batteries Effective March 2nd, 2015

The full March 2nd, 2015 rules update These updates should have been incorporated into “Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail” by now.

Publication 52
See 349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9)
In particular Exhibit 349.222 summarizes the limitations.

Publication 52,
349 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials (Hazard Class 9),
Exhibit 349.222
http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c3_026.htm#ep1016000

Exhibit 349.222

Domestic Lithium Battery Mailability

Surface Transportation

Air Transportation

Mailpiece Limitations1

Lithium-ion or Lithium Polymer Batteries4, 5

Small, rechargeable, consumer-type batteries

Contained in (properly installed in equipment)

Mailable

Mailable

8 cells or 2 batteries

Packed with equipment, but not installed in the equipment

Mailable

Mailable

8 cells or 2 batteries

Without the equipment they operate (individual batteries in originally sealed packaging)

Mailable

Mailable

8 cells or 2 batteries

1. When a mailpiece limitation of 8 cells or 2 batteries is applicable, a mailpiece may contain either 8 cells or 2 batteries, not both.

2. Each cell must not contain more than 1g lithium content.

3. Each battery must not contain more than 2g aggregate lithium content.

4. Each cell must not exceed more than 20 Wh (watt-hour rating).

5. Each battery must not exceed 100 Wh.

6. Each lithium metal or lithium alloy cell or battery must not exceed 0.3 gram of lithium content.

7. Each lithium-ion or lithium polymer cell or battery must not exceed 2.7 Wh.

Please let us know how it goes with this A-hole :bigsmile:

There ya go… Halo has it.

Interested to hear the outcome as well.

Not advisable as this is a Felony and might even be seen as an act of terrorism, invoking the wrath of the “Patriot Act” upon you :open_mouth: (They’ll tell your wife where they’re holding you at when they feel like it, and they might even return what they seized from you except for that shipment which will be held as evidence for your upcoming trial :frowning: )

@ Halo- great info and THANKS!

Phil

lol

but yeah, its a felony… and if it crosses state lines you can be charged in multiple states

you’ll probably get away with it 99.9999% of the time… but you dont want to f with the postal service/government for the cost of a few batteries.

I’ve been gone for a little bit , sorry for my late reply. Your 1st link here about the postal bulletin , looks like just what I need to smack the A-hole with. Thanks !

Halo & 8230 , You are really giving me a big , heavy bat of info to
go headbang and beat his shins with , for that A-hole !
Thanks for your replies.

Glad to help. :beer:

For those actually shipping li-ion by USPS, if you’re package contains more than 4 li-ion cells, you need to label the package. Easiest way is to print a DOT approved li-ion battery handling label such as this

Be sure your label says lithium-ion, not lithium metal.

The labeling requirement can be found in Section 349.222 Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries - Domestic See part “a. General.” numbers 6 and 7