Class 9 hazmat: lithium batteries, UN2990 & marking

A definitive Class 9 guide covering lithium battery entries UN3480 and UN3481, state-of-charge checks, UN2990, package marks, and carrier-ready shipping.

What Is Class 9 Hazmat?

Class 9 is the DOT category for miscellaneous hazardous materials: materials that present a transportation hazard but do not meet another class definition. It includes lithium batteries and many other materials and articles. A Class 9 designation does not create one universal packaging, label, mark, or placard rule—the exact proper shipping name, UN number, mode, quantity, and special provisions control.

UN3480 and UN3481: identify the battery shipment first

UN3480 is used for lithium-ion batteries shipped by themselves. UN3481 covers lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment or contained in equipment. These are not interchangeable: the battery configuration, watt-hour rating, number of cells or batteries, shipment mode, and any applicable exception affect how the shipment is prepared.

Before tendering a lithium-battery shipment, confirm the battery chemistry, whether it is alone or with equipment, the applicable UN entry, its watt-hour rating, the number of batteries in each package, test-summary availability, and the current rules for the mode of transport. A carrier’s acceptance policy can be more restrictive than the baseline regulation.

State of charge and condition

State-of-charge limits are mode- and shipment-specific. Air rules can impose a 30% state-of-charge limit for lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped by themselves, subject to the current applicable provisions and exceptions. Ground transportation has different requirements, and damaged, defective, or recalled batteries need a separate review. Do not assume that a battery ready for standard ground shipment is acceptable by air, or that a recalled battery can move under a new-battery process.

The lithium battery mark, Class 9 label, and placard

Package marks, hazard labels, and vehicle placards communicate different things. The lithium battery mark identifies qualifying packages and includes the applicable UN number; it is not a substitute for the Class 9 label when the full requirements apply. The Class 9 label is used on packages when required by the entry and quantity. Vehicle placarding depends on the exact material, table status, aggregate quantity, mode, and any applicable exception. Verify each communication step against the current rule rather than treating a battery symbol as a universal clearance to ship.

UN2990: a Class 9 entry beyond batteries

UN2990 is Life-saving appliances, self-inflating, a Class 9 entry. It is a useful reminder that a broad class name is not a shipping description. A shipment under UN2990 must follow the packaging, marking, paper, and special-provision requirements for that entry—not battery rules.

Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries

Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries can have additional packaging and acceptance requirements because their condition can increase transportation risk. Confirm the current applicable provisions, use the required packaging, and obtain carrier acceptance before arranging a pickup. Never describe a damaged battery as a routine new-battery shipment to simplify a tender.

Class 9 shipping checklist

Identify the exact proper shipping name, UN number, and battery configuration.
Confirm the current special provisions, mode rules, and state-of-charge conditions.
Use the applicable packaging, lithium battery mark, labels, and marks.
Prepare shipping papers when the shipment requires them.
Confirm carrier acceptance, especially for standalone or damaged batteries.

For a broader class reference, see the nine hazard classes chart. For Class 8 acids and bases, see Class 8 corrosive shipping.