un panel oks ban on lithium battery shipments on planes over fire risk - lithium ion rechargeable battery
WASHINGTON—
A United Nations team on Monday approved a temporary ban on the delivery of rechargeable lithium batteries on passenger planes because they could trigger a strong fire that could destroy the aircraft.
Montreal's decision-
Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization-
But most countries follow the agency's standards.
The ban came into effect on April 1.
Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said: "As ICAO continues to carry out separate work on new lithium battery packaging performance standards, this temporary ban will continue to be in effect and is currently expected to be in force by 2018," President of the ICAO Council
Ministry of Transport spokesman Namrata Kolachalam described the ban as "a necessary action to protect passengers, crew and aircraft from current aviation safety risks ". ”Lithium-
From mobile phones and laptops to some electric cars, ion batteries are widely used in various products. About 5.
4 billion lithium
Ion batteries were manufactured worldwide in 2014.
The battery is made up of two or more batteries.
Most of the batteries are shipped on a cargo ship, but they are shipped by air.
Airlines to and from the United StatesS.
According to the United States Federal Aviation Administration, the number of passengers receiving lithium battery transportation every year is 26 million.
The aviation authorities have long known that batteries can be self-contained.
Ignite and produce a fire of more than 1,100 degrees.
This is close to the melting point of aluminum used in aircraft manufacturing.
Tests by the FAA show that the gas emitted by overheated batteries may accumulate in cargo containers, resulting in an explosion, causing the aircraft fire extinguishing system to be paralyzed and the fire cannot be controlled.
As a result of the test, an organization representing aircraft manufacturers --
Including two of the world's largest Boeing and Airbus
Last year, the company said that the design of the passenger aircraft was not designed to withstand the fire of lithium batteries, and continued acceptance of battery transportation was an "unacceptable risk ".
More than other types of batteries, li-
Easy short circuit for ion batteries-
If the circuit is damaged, exposed to extreme temperatures, overcharging, packaging is too close, or contains manufacturing defects.
When they're short
Circuit, the battery may experience an uncontrolled temperature rise called "heat out of control.
"This in turn can spread short.
Connect to nearby batteries before the whole shipment is overheated and emits explosive gas.
It is not uncommon for thousands of batteries to be transported in one container.
Three cargo planes were destroyed and four pilots were in-
Flight fire accident investigators since 2006 say these fires are either caused by batteries or become more serious due to their proximity.
The Federation of International Airlines Pilots Association lobbied the ICAO Council to extend the ban to freight companies, but failed.
"It's been a long time since, and the risks these batteries pose in transit are reasonable," said Mark Rogers of the North American Airline Pilots Association . ".
"We are now calling on ICAO to recognize that there is the same risk for cargo aircraft and to extend the ban to all aircraft until a safe means of transport can be implemented.
"In addition to prohibiting the shipment of passenger aircraft, ICAO has also approved a requirement that the batteries shipped on the cargo aircraft be charged at no more than 30 cents and impose new restrictions on small packaged batteries.
Dozens of airlines have voluntarily stopped accepting battery shipments, but some have opposed the ban.
Royal Dutch Airlines introduced to lower Airlines
According to an aviation official familiar with the demonstration, the ICAO level team opposed the ban.
Air France and Royal Dutch Airlines
Dutch holding company
Delegates from the Netherlands and France voted against the ban last fall.
The official has no right to speak publicly, but only if he cannot be named.
Dutch officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The battery industry and manufacturers of consumer electronics that rely on batteries also oppose the ban.
For example, this ban does not apply to batteries packed inside the device, such as laptops with built-in batteries.
Battery industry officials did not immediately comment.
This decision by the International Civil Aviation Organization allowed the Ministry of Transport to proceed with the development of regulations for the implementation of the ban.
On 2012, Congress passed a law at the request of industry prohibiting the ministry from issuing any lithium battery air transport regulations that are stricter than the ICAO standard, unless a collision display was initiated by the battery.
Critics of the clause say it is almost impossible because most of the evidence in the crash was burned by the fire. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla.
The person who wrote the clause said that since the battery is an international industry, there should be a single international standard because it would be too confusing if the shipper did not comply with multiple rules.