Lithium Battery Packaging
Lithium ion batteries are the power source for ever greater numbers of products, with everything from phones and MP3 players, to batteries for industrial equipment and even electrical cars using them due to their efficiency, cost, and performance.
However, with greater use has come increased reports of safety incidents, due to both the high “densities” of energy they can contain, plus an increased risk of combustion and fires.
To tackle this, a raft of UN and IATA regulations (International Air Transport Association) were introduced, governing what could be shipped, and how (i.e. detailed criteria that the lithium battery packaging must meet).
Zarges 40582 cases / fireproof battery boxes
The Zarges 40582 case – part of the K470 range of aluminium containers – has been designed to satisfy the requirements of this new legislature, absorbing the energy released during a fire.
The interior of the 40582 case is coated with an intumescent material (i.e. one that foams when heated), meaning the cases’ interior swells up to prevent the fire from spreading further.
The other benefit of this is that the temperature of the fireproof battery box exterior does not exceed 100°C, and any smoke is contained within the case as well (preventing alerts being raised).
Zarges 40582 cases have also been tested under the strictest conditions (including UN3480 Class 9 hazardous goods) to ensure all regulatory requirements are met.
Besides this, Zarges lithium battery transportation cases are durable and robust, making the resistant to impact and shock, as well passing the required drop tests for specific types of transit.
This is also in addition to all of the usability benefits inherent in these aluminium cases. This includes easy loading and unloading thanks to the hinged lids, being resealable with the easy to use clasps (which also makes it possible to lock the cases), as well as being easy to transport thanks to their light weight and comfortable handles.
Flame retardant foam and / or Cirrux inserts
However, just as critical to the success of your lithium ion battery packaging / cases, is that of the interior.
As standard, the fireproof battery boxes are supplied with “Cirrux” interior padding, which helps to contain any fires within the specific compartment where it occurs. Similarly to the cases interior coating, the absorbent material filters out solid components from the battery gases. It also allows liquid constituents to condense on the fibres’ surface, preventing any leaked flammable gases from igniting.
This is also an ideal solution if you are transporting lithium batteries by air, road or sea that vary in size and shape (as the Cirrux can be simply wrapped around these different configurations).
If you are shipping high volumes of the same battery however, an alternative option is to use Plastazote® foam inserts and, in particular, fire-retardant grades.
Whilst the principal of containing any fire and ignitable material within a specific compartment of the Zarges 40582 cases interior is the same, there are a number of inherent benefits of this material.
Firstly, the foam can be designed to provide calculated levels of protection from impact, shock and vibration – something which can be critical if transporting damaged or defective batteries.
The foam recessed can also be shaped to exactly match the profile of the batteries to be placed within, further reducing movement (and potential impact) within the case. This also improves usability in terms of packing and retrieval of the batteries.
Key benefits of Zarges 40582 lithium battery packaging
- Approved for transporting lithium batteries by road, air, and sea
- Available with Cirrux inserts featuring intumescent (foaming when heated) coating
- Also supplied with flame resistant foam inserts to also provide enhanced impact protection
- Standard case with 2 aluminium dividers for up to 3 batteries of up to 500 Wh
- Easily re-sealable allowing for flexibility
- Successfully fire tested, with flames contained and not spreading to adjacent batteries
- Exterior case temperature at the container surface remains below 100°C
- Tested and meets UN3481, UN3480 and UN3090 Class 9 goods requirements
- High level of stability and impact resistance due to 3 fully welded aluminium profile frames.
- Easy to use, with quick loading and unloading
- Designed for approximately 100 uses / trips when shipping lithium batteries by air / ground
