Billions of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries1 are shipped by air every year, with that number likely to increase in coming years with worldwide demand.2
The increase in numbers may well be accompanied by an increase in fire risks associated with mishandling of the batteries as they are packed for shipment.
An online guidance document, published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is aimed at reducing those risks by explaining international requirements for the safe transport by air of dangerous goods and describing methods of complying with the requirements as they relate specifically to lithium batteries.
“Lithium batteries are safe to transport, provided that they are designed, tested, manufactured and packaged in accordance with the global transport safety standards,” said Kevin Hiatt, IATA senior vice president for safety and flight operations.
When those safety standards are ignored, however, IATA said in its document…
