Lithium Battery Training in Essex & Nationwide

Practical training for businesses that ship, store, sell or recycle lithium batteries. Get classification, packaging and paperwork right, and keep batteries moving safely.

Lithium & sodium-ion
Damaged & waste batteries
On-site at your premises

Enquire About Lithium Training

Why Lithium Battery Training Matters

Lithium batteries are in almost everything, from phones and power tools to e-bikes, scooters and vehicles. For transport they are Class 9 dangerous goods, and the rules change depending on the battery type, its size, how it's packed and its condition.

Mistakes are common and costly: rejected shipments, enforcement action and, at worst, fires. Anyone involved in shipping fully regulated batteries must be trained for their role under ADR chapter 1.3.

Lithium Battery UN Numbers Explained

Every battery shipment starts with the right UN number.
It depends on the chemistry and whether the battery is on its own or with equipment.

UN 3480

Lithium-ion

Lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own, such as spare or replacement batteries.

UN 3481

Lithium-ion

Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment, or contained in equipment such as laptops and tools.

UN 3090

Lithium metal

Lithium metal batteries shipped on their own, such as non-rechargeable coin cells.

UN 3091

Lithium metal

Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment, or contained in equipment.

UN 3551 / 3552

Sodium-ion · new

Sodium-ion batteries on their own (UN 3551), or packed with or contained in equipment (UN 3552). Added in ADR 2025.

Vehicles

UN 3556 · 3557 · 3558

Vehicles such as e-bikes, e-scooters and electric cars, powered by lithium-ion (UN 3556), lithium metal (UN 3557) or sodium-ion (UN 3558) batteries.

Coming in ADR 2027: new UN 3563 and UN 3564 for batteries installed in cargo transport units, and a new special provision (SP 410) for hybrid lithium-ion/sodium-ion batteries. See what's changing

Which Rules Apply to Your Batteries?

A simplified guide to the main routes for shipping lithium batteries by road.
Start at the top and work down.

1Is the battery damaged or defective?

Yes

SP 376 – Damaged / defective P908 packaging (P911 if liable to react dangerously or overheat). Extra markings required.
No
2Is it being sent for disposal or recycling?

Yes

SP 377 – Disposal / recycling Can be packed to P909 and marked "for disposal" or "for recycling". Used batteries being collected may qualify for SP 636.
No
3Is it within the small battery limits?Ion: 20 Wh cell / 100 Wh battery · Metal: 1 g cell / 2 g battery

Yes

SP 188 – Small batteries Most ADR rules don't apply if every condition is met. Lithium battery mark in most cases.
No
Fully regulated Class 9 UN38.3-tested batteries, the correct UN number, P903 packaging (UN-approved in most cases), Class 9A hazard label, UN number marking and a transport document.

Simplified guide. Special provisions have further conditions, and air and sea rules differ. If in doubt, ask us.

Road, Sea & Air

The rules differ by transport mode. We cover the ones your shipments use.

ADRRoad – UK and European deliveries
IMDGSea – container and ferry shipments
IATAAir – the strictest rules, including state-of-charge limits

Small Battery Exemption

Special Provision 188 removes most ADR requirements for small cells and batteries, but only if every condition is met.

SP 188 size limits
	Cell	Battery
Lithium-ion / sodium-ion	20 Wh	100 Wh
Lithium metal	1 g	2 g

Conditions include UN38.3 testing, short-circuit protection, strong packaging and, in most cases, the lithium battery mark. Batteries not contained in equipment also need packaging that passes a 1.2 m drop test and a 30 kg package limit.

Damaged, Defective & Waste Batteries

These carry the highest risk and have their own rules:

Damaged or defective (SP 376): special packaging to P908, and extra markings
Liable to react dangerously, produce flame or overheat in transport: stricter P911 packaging, or only under conditions set by the competent authority
For disposal or recycling (SP 377): can be packed to P909, with "for disposal" or "for recycling" markings

Assessing a battery's condition correctly is the first step. We show you how.

What You'll Learn

Battery types, chemistries and their hazards
Classification and choosing the right UN number
UN38.3 testing and the test summary
Watt-hour ratings and lithium content
SP 188 and other special provisions
Packing instructions and approved packaging
The lithium battery mark and Class 9 labels
Transport documents
Damaged, defective and end-of-life batteries
Safe handling, storage and emergency response

Who Should Attend?

Warehouse, dispatch and packing staff
Online retailers and distributors
Manufacturers and importers of battery-powered products
E-bike, scooter and mobility businesses
Waste, recycling and repair operations
Freight forwarders and logistics teams

We tailor each course to the batteries and products your team actually handles.

Shipping batteries and not sure you're compliant?

Speak to our team. We'll review what you ship and how, and tell you what needs to change.

Call 0203 137 3014

Lithium Battery Training Across Essex

Based in Essex, we deliver lithium battery training on-site for businesses throughout the county. We also train nationwide, including the East Midlands and Lincolnshire.

Chelmsford
Colchester
Basildon
Southend-on-Sea
Thurrock
Harlow
Brentwood
Braintree

Lithium Battery FAQs

Are lithium batteries dangerous goods?

Yes. Lithium batteries are Class 9 dangerous goods under ADR, IMDG and IATA, whether shipped on their own, packed with equipment or contained in equipment. Small cells and batteries that meet every condition of Special Provision 188 are relieved from the other ADR requirements.

Do my staff need lithium battery training?

Anyone involved in shipping fully regulated lithium batteries must be trained for their role under ADR chapter 1.3. That includes staff who classify, pack, mark, label, load or document the shipments. Even when you rely on SP 188 for small batteries, staff need to understand its conditions to apply it correctly.

What is Special Provision 188?

SP 188 is an exemption for small cells and batteries: up to 20 Wh per cell and 100 Wh per battery for lithium-ion and sodium-ion, or 1 g and 2 g of lithium for lithium metal. If every condition is met, the other ADR requirements do not apply. The conditions include UN38.3 testing, short-circuit protection, strong packaging and, in most cases, the lithium battery mark.

How do I ship damaged or defective lithium batteries?

Damaged or defective batteries fall under Special Provision 376. They need specific packaging (P908 or LP904) and “damaged/defective” markings. Batteries liable to rapidly disassemble, react dangerously, produce a flame or overheat need P911 or LP906, or conditions set by the competent authority. Damaged or defective lithium batteries are forbidden by air.

Do you cover sodium-ion batteries?

Yes. ADR 2025 brought sodium-ion batteries (UN 3551 and UN 3552) into the same framework as lithium-ion batteries, and our training covers both.

Can lithium battery training be delivered on-site?

Yes. We deliver lithium battery training at your premises in Essex and across the UK, tailored to the batteries and products you handle.

Book Lithium Battery Training

Speak directly to a practising Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, not a sales adviser.

Call us0203 137 3014
WhatsAppMessage us on WhatsApp
Emailinfo@dgsa.net
Training locationsOn-site at your premises, at venues across Essex and the UK, or remotely

Call 0203 137 3014

…or complete the enquiry form.