MSDS and SDS: the document that travels with the consignment
The safety data sheet describes the cell, its hazards and how to handle a damaged or leaking one. For lithium-ion consignments it sits alongside the UN classification, normally UN3480 for cells alone or UN3481 for cells packed with or in equipment.
| Field | What it says |
|---|---|
| What it is | A material safety data sheet in the sixteen-section format used for chemical products |
| UN3480 | Lithium-ion cells or batteries shipped on their own |
| UN3481 | Lithium-ion cells packed with equipment, or contained in equipment |
| Not the same series | Lithium-metal consignments use the UN3090 / UN3091 series instead |
| What it must match | The actual shipping configuration — cells alone, with equipment, or in equipment |
| Who issues it | The cell manufacturer or the supplier, based on the composition of the cell |
Specification basis: the standard text and its current edition. Figures and dates quoted on this page are limited to what each document states, and no certificate is claimed beyond what is held on file.
What it is for
The safety data sheet is a handling document. It tells a warehouse, a carrier and an emergency responder what the cell contains, what happens if it is damaged, and what to do about a fire or a leak. It is not a transport approval and it does not replace UN 38.3.
The number has to match the box
The classification depends on how the cells are packed. Cells shipped alone are one entry; cells packed together with the equipment they power are another; cells installed inside equipment are a third. A data sheet written for one configuration does not describe the other two.
This is where consignments get held at acceptance: the paperwork describes a configuration that is not what is on the pallet.
Before you accept a document
How to check it
- Confirm the UN number on the paperwork matches what is actually packed.
- Check the revision date; composition and classification change over a model's life.
- Check that the document names the cell type being supplied.
Questions
MSDS / SDS in practice
Is an MSDS the same as a UN 38.3 test summary?+
Is a safety data sheet legally required for batteries?+
Does it have to say UN3480?+
This page describes how each standard is applied in practice when lithium cells are bought and shipped. It is a summary for procurement, not the standard text itself, and it does not replace your carrier's acceptance check or your own compliance review.
Related
The other standards
Need to know what is held for a model?
Send the designation. The answer is which documents exist, which are on file, and which would have to be obtained.