For a couple of hair-raising reports of the long-established dangers of
lithium cells not installed in equipment, try a google search on "ntsb
lithium" - the first two results are the ones to look at, namely
www.ntsb.gov/events/2006/PhiladelphiaPA/Exhibits/350561.pdf and
www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2005/HZB0501.pdf. The following clarification is
taken from one of the footnotes to the second result, the NTSB report into a
cargo fire on a Fedex MD-11 at Memphis in 2004.
Lithium is a combustible alkali metal that self-ignites in air at 352°
Fahrenheit (F). When exposed to water, lithium reacts exothermically and
releases hydrogen, creating a dangerous fire risk. Fires involving lithium
are extremely difficult to extinguish. Extinguishers using water, gas, or
certain dry chemicals cannot control this type of fire. The DOT classifies
lithium metal as a division 4.3 material (dangerous when wet). Lithium metal
may not be shipped on passenger aircraft but may be shipped on cargo
aircraft, provided each package weighs no more than 15 kilograms.
--
Piers
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Winsor Crosby
Sent: 29 December 2007 17:33
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: TSA: Safe Travel with Batteries and Devices
The only news items I have seen about fires with lithium ion batteries have
concerned installed batteries, either being used or being recharged. Yet the
ban only affects uninstalled batteries? How does an unsafe device, if you
accept that, become safe when it is inside a battery compartment? We have a
nice sample group here. Has anyone's spare camera battery burst into flames?
Just another hoop to jump through to make you feel like something is being
done for your safety. Is the banning cameras and painting photographers as
terrorists instead of perverts the next step?.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
On / December 29, 2007 CE, at 9:03 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> This cargo hold ban affects both primary lithium and lithium-ion
>
> <http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm>
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