Verpackungsanweisung 978

Passenger and cargo aircraft only for UN 3552 (contained in equipment) only

1. Introduction

This entry applies to sodium ion batteries contained in 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

Equipment must be packed in strong rigid outer packagings that conform to Part 4;1.1.1, 1.1.3.1 and 1.1.10 (except 1.1.10.1). Large equipment can be offered for transport unpackaged or on pallets when the cells or batteries are afforded equivalent protection by the equipment in which they are contained.

Table 978-I

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

I.2 Additional requirements

- The equipment must be secured against movement within the outer packaging and must be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation.

- Where multiple pieces of equipment are packed in the same outer packaging, each piece of equipment must be packed to prevent contact with other 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                    Aluminium                 Aluminium
Fibreboard                   Fibre                     Plastics
Natural wood                 Other metal               Steel
Other metal                  Plastics            
Plastics                     Plywood
Plywood                      Steel
Reconstituted wood
Steel

II. SECTION II

Cells and batteries contained in 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.

Devices such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, watches and temperature loggers, which are not capable of generating a dangerous evolution of heat, may be transported when intentionally active. When active, these devices must meet defined standards for electromagnetic radiation to ensure that the operation of the device does not interfere with aircraft systems. The devices must not be capable of emitting disturbing signals (such as buzzing alarms, strobe lights, etc.) during transport.

II.1 General requirements

Equipment must be packed in strong rigid outer packagings that conform to Part 4;1.1.1, 1.1.3.1 and 1.1.10 (except 1.1.10.1). Large equipment can be offered for transport unpackaged or on pallets when the cells or batteries are afforded equivalent protection by the equipment in which they are contained.

Table 978-II

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

II.2 Additional requirements

- The equipment must be secured against movement within the outer packaging and must be equipped with an effective means of preventing accidental activation.

- Cells and batteries must be protected so as to prevent short circuits.

- Where multiple pieces of equipment are packed in the same outer packaging, each piece of equipment must be packed to prevent contact with other equipment.

- 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.

 - This requirement does not apply to:

  - packages containing only button cell batteries installed in equipment (including circuit boards); and

  - packages containing no more than four cells or two batteries installed in equipment, where there are not more than two packages in the consignment.

- Where a consignment includes packages bearing the battery mark (Figure 5-3), the words "sodium ion batteries, in compliance with Section II of PI978" must be placed on the air waybill, when an air waybill is used. Where packages of Section II sodium ion batteries from multiple packing instructions are included on one air waybill, the compliance statement for the different lithium battery types and/or packing instructions may be combined into a single statement provided that the statement identifies the applicable sodium ion battery type(s) and packing instruction numbers.

- Any person preparing or offering cells or batteries for transport must receive adequate instruction on these requirements commensurate with the functions for which they are responsible.

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.