Packing Instruction 977

Passenger and cargo aircraft only for UN 3552 (packed with equipment) only

1. Introduction

This entry applies to sodium ion batteries packed with equipment.

Section I of this packing instruction applies to sodium ion cells and batteries that are assigned to Class 9. Certain sodium ion cells and batteries offered for transport and meeting the requirements of Section II of this packing instruction, subject to paragraph 2 below, are not subject to other additional requirements of these Instructions.

A single cell battery as defined in Part III, sub-section 38.3.2.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria is considered a "cell" and must be transported according to the requirements for "cells" for the purpose of this packing instruction.

For the purpose of this packing instruction, "equipment" means apparatus for which the cells or batteries will provide electrical power for its operation.

2. Batteries forbidden from transport

The following applies to all cells and batteries in this packing instruction:

Cells or batteries identified as being damaged or defective in accordance with Special Provision A154 are forbidden for transport.

I. SECTION I

Each cell or battery must meet the provisions of 2;9.4.

I.1 General requirements

- Part 4;1 requirements must be met.

Table 977-I

|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        UN number                      |   Net quantity per package     |
|   and proper shipping name            |--------------------------------|
|                                       |   Passenger   |     Cargo      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| UN 3552 Sodium ion batteries          | 5 kg of       | 35 kg of       |
| packed with equipment                 | sodium ion    | sodium ion     |
|                                       | cells or      | cells or       |
|                                       | batteries     | batteries      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

I.2 Additional requirements

- Cells and batteries must be protected against short circuits. This includes protection against contact with conductive materials within the same packaging that could lead to a short circuit.

- Cells or batteries must:

 - be placed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery, then placed in a packaging of a type shown below that meets the Packing Group II performance requirements, then placed with the equipment in a strong, rigid outer packaging; or

 - be placed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery, then placed with the equipment in a packaging of a type shown below that meets the Packing Group II performance requirements.

- The equipment must be secured against movement within the outer packaging.

- The number of cells or batteries in each package must not exceed the number required for the equipment's operation, plus two spare sets. A "set" of cells or batteries is the number of individual cells or batteries that are required to power each piece of equipment.

- Batteries manufactured after 31 December 2025 must be marked with the Watt-hour rating on the outside
case.

I.3 Outer packagings

Boxes                       Drums                   Jerricans

Aluminium (4B)              Aluminium (1B2)         Aluminium (3B2)
Fibreboard (4G)             Fibreboard (1G)         Plastics (3H2)
Natural wood (4C1, 4C2)     Other metal (1N2)       Steel (3A2)
Other metal (4N)            Plastics (1H2)
Plastics (4H1, 4H2)         Plywood (1D)
Plywood (4D)                Steel (1A2)
Reconstituted wood (4F)
Steel (4A)

II. SECTION II

Cells and batteries packed with equipment, when complying with Section II of this packing instruction, are only subject to the following additional provisions of these Instructions:

- Part 1;2.3 (General  Transport of dangerous goods by post);

- Part 5;2.4.16 (Shipper's responsibilities - Special marking requirements for lithium batteries or sodium ion batteries);

- Part 7;4.4 (Operator's responsibilities - Reporting of dangerous goods accidents and incidents);

- Part 7;4.5 (Operator's responsibilities - Reporting of undeclared and misdeclared dangerous goods); and

- Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this packing instruction.

Cells and batteries may be offered for transport provided that each cell and battery meets the provisions of 2;9.4 a),
e) and f) and the following:

1) for cells, the Watt-hour rating (see the Glossary of Terms in Attachment 2) is not more than 20 Wh;

2) for batteries, the Watt-hour rating is not more than 100 Wh.

- the Watt-hour rating must be marked on the outside of the battery case except for those batteries manufactured before 1 January 2026.

II.1 General requirements

Table 977-II

|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                       |  Package quantity (Section II) |
|             Contents                  |--------------------------------|
|                                       |   Passenger   |     Cargo      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Net quantity of cells or              |    5 kg       |    5 kg        |
| batteries per package                 |               |                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|

II.2 Additional requirements

- Cells and batteries must:

 - be placed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery, then placed in a strong rigid outer packaging that conforms to Part 4;1.1.1, 1.1.3.1 and 1.1.10 (except 1.1.10.1); or

 - be placed in inner packagings that completely enclose the cell or battery, then placed with the equipment in a strong rigid outer packaging that conforms to Part 4;1.1.1, 1.1.3.1 and 1.1.10 (except 1.1.10.1).

- Cells and batteries must be protected against short circuits. This includes protection against contact with electrically conductive material within the same packaging that could lead to a short circuit.

- The equipment must be secured against movement within the outer packaging.

- The number of cells or batteries in each package must not exceed the number required for the equipment's operation, plus two spare sets. A "set" of cells or batteries is the number of individual cells or batteries that are required to power each piece of equipment.

- Each package of cells or batteries, or the completed 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.

- Each package must be marked with the battery mark (Figure 5-3).

- the package must be of such size that there is adequate space to affix the mark on one side without the mark being folded.

- The words "sodium ion batteries, in compliance with Section II of PI977" must be placed on the air waybill, when an air waybill is used. Where packages of Section II batteries from multiple packing instructions are included on one air waybill, the compliance statement for the different battery types and/or packing instructions may be combined into a single statement provided that the statement identifies the applicable battery type(s) and packing instruction numbers.

- Where a package contains a combination of batteries contained in equipment and batteries packed with equipment that meet the limits for cells or batteries of Section II, the following additional requirements apply:

 - the shipper must ensure that all applicable parts of both packing instructions are met. The total mass of batteries contained in any package must not exceed 5 kg;

 - the words "sodium ion batteries, in compliance with Section II of PI977" must be placed on the air waybill, when an air waybill is used.

- Any person preparing or offering cells or batteries for transport must receive adequate instruction on these requirements commensurate with their responsibilities.

II.3 Outer packagings

Boxes                        Drums                     Jerricans

Aluminium                    Aluminium                 Aluminium
Fibreboard                   Fibre                     Plastics
Natural wood                 Other metal               Steel
Other metal                  Plastics            
Plastics                     Plywood
Plywood                      Steel
Reconstituted wood
Steel

II.4 Overpacks

When packages are placed in an overpack:

a) the packages must be secured within the overpack;

b) the intended function of each package must not be impaired by the overpack; and

c) the battery mark (Figure 5-3) required by this packing instruction must either be clearly visible or the mark must be reproduced on the outside of the overpack and the overpack must be marked with the word "Overpack" in lettering of at least 12 mm high.