The transportation of lead acid batteries by road, sea and air is heavily regulated in most countries. Lead acid is defined by United Nations numbers as either: The definition of ‘non-spillable’ is important. A battery that is sealed is not necessarily non-spillable.
If you do not ship this product type regularly, it would be wise to contact your chosen carrier in order to double check if they have any specific restrictions or packaging and labeling regulations. This diagram from UPS provides useful guidance on how to package wet lead acid batteries before shipping.
Most Sealed Lead Acid batteries using Gel or Absorbent Glass Matt (AGM) technology is classed as non-spillable while even a ‘sealed’ standard lead acid battery with liquid electrolyte is spillable.
Non-spillable lead acid batteries (those that use Gel or Absorbent Glass Matt technology) require the same packaging as those filled with acid with the following differences: No acid proof liner is required. The box must be clearly marked “Non-spillable battery”.
Several documents are required for shipping batteries internationally. These include: Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD): This document details the shipment, including the UN number, shipping name, hazard class, packaging group, and quantity. Required for all battery types.
Due to such risks, lithium batteries are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods, while other types of batteries can fall into other classes of dangerous goods. This means they are subject to regulations on packaging, labelling, quantity limits, training, and reporting. Which transport modes can be used to ship batteries?