SAE AS6413

This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) specifies the testing requirements, including test equipment, to demonstrate a package of lithium-ion (UN3480) cylindrical cells of a format of 21700 or smaller intended for air transport contains the potential hazardous effects to the aircraft resulting from the failure of a cell within the package. The test described in this standard is intended to force a cylindrical lithium-ion cell into thermal runaway using thermal energy applied to the exterior of a cell. It is understood that, in the future, technology may be developed that will prevent cells from going into thermal runaway by this standard’s test protocol. The scope of this standard may be expanded as more technology and information become available. The fire protection capabilities and certification of original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) airframes and systems were developed considering the carriage of general cargo and not the unique hazards associated with the carriage of dangerous goods, including lithium batteries. The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established a prohibition on the transport of lithium batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft as a temporary measure until controls were put into place that establish an acceptable level of safety. The SAE G27 committee was established at the request of ICAO to develop a package performance standard for lithium cells and batteries, UN3090 and UN3480, as cargo in air transportation.