How To Ship Batteries

Learn How To Safely Pack and Ship Batteries

We have assembled this illustrative guide to help you safely pack and ship many kinds of batteries. In some cases, such as with alkaline or certain nonspillable lead-acid batteries, your responsibilities may be limited to simple steps such as: selecting strong outer packaging; carefully protecting battery terminals to prevent sparking or short circuit; and carefully preparing the interior package components to keep tools or other metal objects away from batteries.

Learn How To Safely Pack and Ship Batteries

Lithium Metal Battery Shipper Pre-Approval

Step One: Obtain Pre-Approval from UPS

Provide the following:

  1. Contact name, title, telephone number, and email address
  2. Company Name, UPS Small Parcel account number(s), if applicable, and corresponding shipping address(es)
  3. Anticipated daily air volume (number of parcels)
  4. Certification that employees involved in preparing shipments at all locations are properly trained or, if appropriate, have received adequate instructions according to the applicable regulation set
  5. Which UPS Services do you use? (Small Parcel Service, Air Cargo or Air Freight)
  6. For UPS Small Parcel Air service, customers must review the limitations of the UPS International Dangerous Goods Approved Countries or Territories List and agree to only ship parcels in accordance with those limitations. You may seek approval for exceptions to this limitation by contacting dangerousgoods@ups.com.

View Approved Countries or Territories List | Download the Pre-Approval Application Form

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Step Two: Provide Detailed Information

After you receive an email notifying you of approval from Step 1, submit the following information for each cell or battery you plan to ship:

  1. A UN 38.3 Test Report or other signed certification that verifies compliance:

    • Name and address of the agency performing the testing
    • Location and date where the testing was completed

  2. If not otherwise provided in the UN 38.3 Test Report or certification:

    • Product name(s) of the cell(s) or battery(ies) as displayed on the product(s)
    • Manufacturer's name
    • Part number and or model number corresponding to the Test Report or certification
    • Lithium content of the cell(s) or battery(ies)
    • For identification purposes, digital pictures of the cell(s) or battery(ies)

  3. A detailed description and digital pictures of the inner packaging used for shipping, including methods for prevention of short circuit

  4. Are Overpacks used for shipments complying with 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 173.185 c or IATA PI 968 Section II?

    • If yes, what is the average number of parcels contained in the Overpack?

Email the prompts above to dangerousgoods@ups.com and you will receive an email notification of your approval status.

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General Requirements
  • UPS Small Parcel and UPS Airlines reserve the right to inspect the contents of parcels to ensure compliance with the approved shipping requirements.
  • Customers must repeat the approval process for any new lithium metal cells or batteries that are periodically added to their shipping inventory.
  • UPS retains full discretion to approve or deny this request, and may also rescind approval in its sole discretion, at any time.

If you need assistance, please contact the UPS Hazardous Materials Support Centre at 900 10 24 10 or 91 745 64 00.

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Note

Effective 1 July 2015, all existing customers and new customers who wish to ship lithium metal batteries without equipment (UN3090) via UPS® Air services must obtain pre-approval from UPS Airlines. This requirement is to ensure that proper training has taken place and that all applicable safety regulations are properly followed for such shipments.

The pre-approval requirement applies to lithium metal battery shipments that are fully regulated and require dangerous goods shipping papers. Fully regulated shipments will also require a separate UPS Dangerous Goods Agreement.