ADR packing instruction P903
Heading in ADR: “P903 PACKING INSTRUCTION”
Lithium and sodium ion cells/batteries (UN 3090, 3091, 3480, 3481, 3551, 3552): packaging for loose, packed with, or contained in equipment.
Covers UN 3090, 3091, 3480, 3481, 3551 and 3552, with 4.1.1 and 4.1.3 applied; "equipment" means the apparatus the cells or batteries power. (1) Loose cells and batteries go in removable-head drums, boxes or removable-head jerricans at packing group II performance, protected against damage from movement within the packaging. (2) Cells or batteries of 12 kg gross or more with a strong impact-resistant casing may instead use strong outer packagings, protective enclosures such as crates, or pallets, secured with terminals not load-bearing. (3) Cells or batteries packed with equipment go in packagings meeting (1) placed with the equipment in an outer, or in fully enclosing packagings placed with the equipment in a (1)-type packaging, with the equipment secured. (4) Cells or batteries contained in equipment need strong outer packagings built to prevent accidental operation; large equipment may go unpackaged or on pallets if it protects the batteries equivalently. (5) covers packages holding both packed-with and contained-in equipment. Intentionally active devices that cannot generate dangerous heat (RFID tags, watches, temperature loggers) may travel in strong outer packagings; all cells and batteries must be protected against short circuit.
| Value | Applies when |
|---|---|
| 12 kg | gross mass from which a robust-cased cell or battery may use paragraph (2) |
| Type | Code | Packing groups | Max capacity (L) | Max net mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| drums | 1A2, 1B2, 1N2, 1H2, 1D, 1G | II | — | — |
| boxes | 4A, 4B, 4N, 4C1, 4C2, 4D, 4F, 4G, 4H1, 4H2 | II | — | — |
| jerricans | 3A2, 3B2, 3H2 | II | — | — |
| strong outer packagings, protective enclosures or pallets — inner: robust cells or batteries of 12 kg gross or more, and contained-in-equipment cases | — | — | — | — |
Note. Packagings under (2), (4) and (5) may exceed 400 kg net. A note asks that active devices in a chain including air carriage meet electromagnetic radiation standards. P903a and P903b are printed as deleted.
Refers to: 4.1.1; 4.1.3; 4.1.1.3; 4.1.3.3.
Carried by 6 Table A entries
UN 3090 · UN 3091 · UN 3480 · UN 3481 · UN 3551 · UN 3552
Source: ADR 2025 (ECE/TRANS/352), Volume II, section 4.1.4.1, P903, page 138.
Paraphrase in FreightUtils' own words, not the official text. Not yet reviewed.
ADR 2027 amendments (accepted, applying from 1 January 2027) are not yet reflected on this page.