The US Department of Transportation has issued a baggage ban on batteries that bars air passengers from packing loose Lithium batteries as part of checked luggage
Effective Jan 1st, 2008, the rule has been issued to minimize the risk associated with batteries that could overheat and catch fire on board, the department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said.
As per new rules, air travelers can get laptops, digital cameras, cell phones, and other equipment on board or in checked luggage, only if Lithium batteries are installed within these items.
Spare batteries can be brought as carry-on luggage — either stored in plastic bags or in their original retail packaging. And only up to two such spare batteries can be carried per passenger, with each packed separately.
There are some more rules regarding Lithium content.
For instance, passengers can fly with Lithium-ion batteries that contain no more than eight grams of Lithium content. This applies to Lithium-ion batteries in cell phones and laptop computers.
While up to two spare batteries can be carried by each passenger, the total Lithium content of the two batteries’ must be less than 25 grams.
Meanwhile, in case of Lithium-metal batteries, whether they are installed in any device or carried as spare, the maximum Lithium content allowed is two grams per battery. Almost all consumer-type batteries come under the purview of this rule.
Source: TT
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