BATTERIES: D, C, A, AA, & AAA don’t need to be taped – everything else must have ends taped!
The Federal Department of Transportation is now enforcing a requirement that All Batteries have their contacts insulated prior to being shipped over public roads after consolidation.See below for description of the current regulations or Click here for more details.
UPDATES TO CURRENT DOT REGULATIONS per 49 CFR 173.102 Special Provision 130.
EFFECTIVE DATE NOTE: This change becomes effective February 13, 2009.
130. Dry batteries not specifically covered by another entry in the .101 Table must be described using this entry. Batteries described as "Batteries, dry, sealed, n.o.s" are hermetically sealed and generally utilize metals (other than lead) and/or carbon as electrodes. These batteries are typically used for portable power applications. The rechargeable (and some non-rechargeable) types have gelled alkaline electrolytes (rather than acidic) making it difficult for them to generate hydrogen or oxygen when overcharged and therefore, differentiating them from non-spillable batteries. "Batteries, dry, sealed, n.o.s." are not subject to any other requirements of this subchapter except for the following:
(1) Incident reporting requirements. For transportation by aircraft, a telephone report in accordance with .15(a) is required if a fire, violent rupture, explosion or dangerous evolution of heat (i.e., an amount of heat sufficient to be dangerous to packaging or personal safety to include charring of packaging, melting of packaging, scorching of packaging, or other evidence) occurs as a direct result of a dry battery. For all modes of transportation, a written report submitted, retained, and updated in accordance with .16 is required if a fire, violent rupture, explosion or dangerous evolution of heat occurs as a direct result of a dry battery or battery-powered device;
(2) Batteries and battery-powered device(s) containing batteries must be prepared and packaged for transport in a manner to prevent:
(i) A dangerous evolution of heat;
(ii) Short circuits, including but not limited to the following methods:
(a) Packaging each battery or each battery-powered device when practicable, in fully enclosed inner packaging's made of non-conductive material;
(b) Separating or packaging batteries in a manner to prevent contact with other batteries, devices or conductive materials (e.g., metal) in the packaging's; or
(c) Ensuring exposed terminals or connectors are protected with non-conductive caps, non-conductive tape, or by other appropriate means; and
(iii) Damage to terminals. If not impact resistant, the outer packaging should not be used as the sole means of protecting the battery terminals from damage or short circuiting. Batteries must be securely cushioned and packed to prevent shifting which could loosen terminal caps or reorient the terminals to produce short circuits. Batteries contained in devices must be securely installed. Terminal protection methods include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Securely attaching covers of sufficient strength to protect the terminals;
(b) Packaging the battery in a rigid plastic packaging; or
(c) Constructing the battery with terminals that are recessed or otherwise protected so that the terminals will not be subjected to damage if the package is dropped.
(3) When transported by aircraft, for a battery whose voltage (electrical potential) exceeds 9 volts:
(i) When contained in a device, the device must be packaged in a manner that prevents unintentional activation or must have an independent means of preventing unintentional activation (e.g., packaging restricts access to activation switch, switch caps or locks, recessed switches, trigger locks, temperature sensitive circuit breakers, etc.); and
(ii) An indication of compliance with this special provision must be provided by marking each package with the words "not restricted" or by including the words "not restricted" on a transport document such as an air waybill accompanying the shipment.