DGR 7.1 — Lithium Battery, Excepted Quantity & Limited Quantity Marks

Lithium Battery Markings & Excepted Quantity/Limited Quantity Markings

Modern air cargo logistics frequently involves high-volume shipments of consumer electronics, pharmaceutical samples, and small-quantity chemical reagents. To facilitate the safe, streamlined movement of these items, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations incorporate simplified marking regimes for Lithium Batteries, Excepted Quantities (EQ), and Limited Quantities (LQ). These specialized marks replace standard UN specification packaging codes and full hazard class labels with specific graphical emblems that communicate compliance with reduced-quantity air transport packing instructions.

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Lithium Battery Mark Specifications & Regulatory Evolution

Lithium batteries (lithium ion under UN 3480/3481 and lithium metal under UN 3090/3091) represent one of the most common dangerous goods categories in global air freight. The mark is required in two distinct places, and the exam tests the distinction:

• Section II of Packing Instructions 966, 967, 969 and 970 — batteries packed with or contained in equipment. The mark is the only hazard communication on the package.
• Section IB of Packing Instructions 965 and 968 — standalone cells and batteries. Here the mark is required in addition to the Class 9 lithium battery hazard label and the Cargo Aircraft Only label.

PI 965 and PI 968 no longer have a Section II (removed with the 63rd edition, transition ended 31 March 2022), so there is no such thing as a "Section II standalone lithium battery shipment" and no mark-only route for UN 3480 or UN 3090.

         +---------------------------------------------------+
         | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
         | *                                               * |
         | *    [ GRAPHIC: BATTERY GROUP WITH ONE          * |
         | *      DAMAGED/FLAMING CELL & INTACT CELL ]     * |
         | *                                               * |
         | *    UN 3481                                    * |
         | *                                               * |
         | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
         +---------------------------------------------------+
           Border: Red Hatched Border (Minimum 5 mm wide)
           Standard Size: 100 mm x 100 mm (Reduced: 100 x 70 mm)

Technical Design Requirements

• Hatched Border: The mark must feature a square or rectangular border with red diagonal hatching. The hatching width must be at least 5 mm.
• Central Battery Graphic: A stylized icon depicting a group of batteries, with one battery cell damaged and emitting flames alongside intact cells.
• UN Number Identification: The UN number(s) preceded by the letters "UN" (e.g., UN 3481 for lithium ion batteries packed with equipment) must be clearly printed within the mark.
• Dimensions: The mark must be a rectangle or square with minimum dimensions of 100 mm wide × 100 mm high. Where the package size requires it, the dimensions and line thickness may be reduced to not less than 100 mm wide × 70 mm high.
• Legacy mark: The previous rectangular mark of 120 mm × 110 mm (reduced size 105 mm × 74 mm) may continue to be used, so both designs are compliant and both may appear in exam illustrations.

Regulatory Evolution: Retirement of Telephone Number

Important IATA DGR Revision: In previous editions of the DGR, the Lithium Battery Mark required a mandatory telephone number for additional information. Recent revisions to the IATA DGR retired the mandatory telephone number requirement, making telephone contact numbers optional. Today, compliant marks focus exclusively on the red hatched border, battery graphic, and clear UN number identification.

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Excepted Quantities (EQ) Package Mark

Dangerous goods shipped under the Excepted Quantities provisions of IATA DGR Section 2.6 (very small quantities such as 1 mL or 1 g inner packagings) are exempt from formal UN packaging specs, shipper's declarations, and standard hazard labels. However, the outer package MUST display the Excepted Quantities Mark.

         +---------------------------------------------------+
         | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
         | *                                               * |
         | *                   ( E )                       * |
         | *                                               * |
         | *                 Class 3                       * |
         | *                                               * |
         | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
         +---------------------------------------------------+
           Border: Red or Black Hatched Border (100 mm x 100 mm)
           Central Symbol: Circle enclosing stylized 'E'
           Text Below: Primary Hazard Class/Division Number

Key Elements of the EQ Mark

1. Border: Red or black hatched square border, minimum 100 mm × 100 mm.
2. Circled 'E' Emblem: A stylized letter "E" enclosed inside a solid circle.
3. Hazard Class Number: The primary hazard class or division number(s) of the dangerous goods must be printed below the circled 'E' (e.g., Class 3 or Division 6.1).
4. Shipper / Consignee Info: The name and physical address of the shipper or consignee must be marked on the package if not displayed elsewhere.

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Limited Quantities (LQ) Air Transport Mark

Small-quantity consignments prepared under IATA DGR Section 2.7 (Limited Quantities) benefit from combined inner packaging exemptions while utilizing robust consumer-grade outer packagings. Packages shipped under LQ provisions by air must display the Limited Quantities Air Mark.

                     /\                     
                    /  \                    
                   /TOP \                   
                  /BLACK \                  
                 /CORNER  \                 
                /   \  /   \                
               /     \/     \               
              /      Y       \              
             /       /\       \             
            /       /  \       \            
           /BOTTOM   \/   RIGHT \           
          / BLACK         BLACK  \          
         / CORNER        CORNER   \         
        /__________________________\        
        Standard Diamond Size: 100 mm x 100 mm
        Distinguishing Feature: BOLD 'Y' IN CENTER

Distinguishing Feature: The Central 'Y' Symbol

• Air Transport vs. Ground Transport: Ground transport (ADR/DOT) limited quantity marks feature a simple diamond with black top and bottom points and a white center. Air transport Limited Quantity marks MUST display a bold letter 'Y' in the center of the diamond.
• Significance of 'Y': The 'Y' symbol certifies that the package complies with the "Y" packing instruction shown in Column G of Table 4.2 (e.g., Y341), including the 1.2 m drop test and the 24-hour stacking test.
• Dimensions: Diamond shape set at 45° with minimum dimensions of 100 mm × 100 mm and a border line width of at least 2 mm. Reduced dimensions of 50 mm × 50 mm are permitted on small packages.

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Comparison of Specialized Exception Marks