Decision (executive): Yes — run this drill at minimum once per corridor per calendar year. Test article: retired EVE LF304 prismatic LFP cell (3.2 V nominal / 304 Ah; 4000 cycles to ≥80% at 25 °C; 173.7 × 71.7 × 207.2 mm; 5,450 g) sourced from a de-commissioned pack, referenced to the EVE LF304 official product page (revision date stamped on cover: 2025-03-18) and the EVE LF304 OEM abuse-test profile (manual rev. LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1, 2024-11-05). Governing instruments: UN Model Regulations Rev. 23 (2023), ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.23 and UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Rev. 7, ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7 on the classification side; IMDG Code Amendment 41-22 (2024) on the ocean leg; 49 CFR Parts 171–180 (PHMSA) on the U.S. leg, with CBP filing rules at entry. Equipment/location: retired EVE LF304 cell in a contracted Chinese export yard → U.S. West Coast port → inland consignee; horizon = 14-day drill cycle. Evidence date: 2026-09-22. Limitation: all duty/VAT figures are PENDING — look up via the USITC HTS search and EU TARIC consultation; CN-side duty regime not addressed in this revision; air-leg substitution via IATA DGR is named but not developed.
| Decision axis | Value | Source basis (specific document) |
|---|---|---|
| Run the drill? | Yes — once per corridor per calendar year minimum | UN Model Regulations Rev. 23 (ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.23); IMDG Code Amdt. 41-22 (2024) |
| Test article | Retired EVE LF304 prismatic LFP cell (3.2 V / 304 Ah; 4000 cycles ≥80% @25 °C; 173.7×71.7×207.2 mm; 5,450 g) from a de-commissioned pack | EVE LF304 official product page (rev. 2025-03-18) |
| OEM manual reference | EVE LF304 Datasheet rev. LF304-DS-2.4 (2025-03-18); abuse-test profile LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 (2024-11-05) — held by OEM | EVE LF304 product page (rev. tag); OEM abuse-test profile LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 supplied on request (model assumption — revision per OEM) |
| Classification rule | UN 3480 / UN 3481 with applicable Special Provisions; UN 38.3 series in Rev. 7 | UN Model Regulations Rev. 23 (ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.23); UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Rev. 7 (ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7) |
| Ocean-leg rule | IMDG Code Amdt. 41-22 (2024 ed.) | IMO IMDG Code Amendment 41-22 (2024) — publisher landing: IMO Dangerous Goods |
| U.S. leg rule | 49 CFR Parts 171–180 (PHMSA, 2024 ed.); CBP entry filing | PHMSA 49 CFR HMR; CBP Tips for New Importers and Exporters |
| Insurer clauses | IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A) (2009 ed., revised 2024) | IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A) |
| Air-leg fallback | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, current edition | IATA DGR programme |
| Duty / VAT figures | PENDING — see lookup path below | USITC HTS; EU TARIC |
This guide defines a repeatable maintenance process for staging, executing, and documenting a thermal-runaway drill on lithium-ion cells, modules, or battery shipments routed from China to the United States. The objective is not to validate a product; it is to validate that the response system (people, paperwork, equipment, and communication paths) functions against the regulator framework that already governs the corridor.
The corridor scope is bounded by the Chinese origin exporter, the ocean leg, the U.S. port of entry, and the inland leg to the consignee. Any drill carried out under this guide must be planned against the named rule sets in the Claim-row footer at the end of this page; nothing here substitutes for the underlying regulation.
The table below sequences the drill from scope confirmation through dossier archive. One owner per step; input and output documents use the literal filenames listed in the checklist further down.
| Step# | Action | Owner | Input doc | Output doc | Done-when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm scope and applicability (UN class, SP, mode) | Trade Compliance Lead | TV-R14-IN-01_ScopeNote.md | TV-R14-OUT-01_ScopeConfirmation.pdf | Classification line matches UN 3480 / 3481 entry, SPs cited, modes enumerated. |
| 2 | Assemble drill dossier skeleton | Documentation Officer | TV-R14-OUT-01_ScopeConfirmation.pdf | TV-R14-Dossier_Index.md | Every row of the document checklist below has a placeholder pointer. |
| 3 | Notify OEM technical contact and insurer | Logistics Coordinator | TV-R14-Dossier_Index.md | TV-R14-OUT-02_DrillNotice.pdf | OEM ack-receipt email and insurer note reference LF304-DS-2.4 / LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 logged with timestamp. |
| 4 | Pre-stage thermal monitoring (sensors + logger) | HSE Officer | EVE LF304 datasheet LF304-DS-2.4 (2025-03-18) | TV-R14-OUT-03_SensorCalLog.csv | Calibration timestamps continuous; logger buffer cleared and re-armed. |
| 5 | Stage containment assets at yard | Yard Supervisor | TV-R14-OUT-03_SensorCalLog.csv | TV-R14-OUT-04_ContainmentChecklist.pdf | Each asset row signed and dated; Class D extinguisher pressure in band per NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. |
| 6 | Execute drill on retired EVE LF304 test article | Drill Conductor | EVE abuse-test profile LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 (2024-11-05), TV-R14-OUT-04_ContainmentChecklist.pdf | TV-R14-OUT-05_DrillLog.pdf | Trigger event recorded, temperature trace archived, no injuries, no uncontained release. |
| 7 | Capture evidence (photos, witness list, logs) | Documentation Officer | TV-R14-OUT-05_DrillLog.pdf | TV-R14-OUT-06_EvidencePack.zip | All media hashed, witness signatures collected, file inventory checksum recorded. |
| 8 | Decommission and dispose of test article | Licensed Waste Handler | EVE LF304 disposal guidance (LF304-DISP-1.0), waste manifest | TV-R14-OUT-07_DisposalManifest.pdf | Manifest countersigned by handler; consignment reach licensed facility. |
| 9 | After-action review (AAR) | Drill Conductor | TV-R14-OUT-06_EvidencePack.zip, TV-R14-OUT-07_DisposalManifest.pdf | TV-R14-OUT-08_AAR-Memo.pdf | Findings, owners, and dates captured for every corrective action. |
| 10 | Archive dossier for audit window | Documentation Officer | Full output set | TV-R14-Archive_Bundle.zip | Bundle sealed with SHA-256 hash, archive location logged in index. |
Use these filenames verbatim. The naming convention is fixed so that the dossier is searchable across drill iterations.
TV-R14-IN-01_ScopeNote.mdTV-R14-IN-02_EVE-LF304-SpecSheet.pdf — EVE LF304 product page https://www.evemall.com/prismatic-lfp-cell/square-lithium-iron-phosphate-battery/lf304 (rev. 2025-03-18 stamped on cover; corresponds to datasheet LF304-DS-2.4)TV-R14-IN-02b_EVE-LF304-AbuseTestProfile.pdf — EVE LF304 abuse-test profile LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 (2024-11-05), held by EVE Energy (model assumption — revision per OEM)TV-R14-IN-03_INS-CargoPolicy.pdf — marine cargo policy referencing IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A)TV-R14-IN-04_Carrier-IMDG-Dec.pdf — carrier IMDG declaration referencing IMDG Code Amdt. 41-22 (2024)TV-R14-IN-05_Yard-PlotPlan.dwgTV-R14-OUT-01_ScopeConfirmation.pdfTV-R14-Dossier_Index.mdTV-R14-OUT-02_DrillNotice.pdfTV-R14-OUT-03_SensorCalLog.csvTV-R14-OUT-04_ContainmentChecklist.pdfTV-R14-OUT-05_DrillLog.pdfTV-R14-OUT-06_EvidencePack.zipTV-R14-OUT-07_DisposalManifest.pdfTV-R14-OUT-08_AAR-Memo.pdfTV-R14-Archive_Bundle.zipRequest a buyer-specific quote / RFQ
The timeline is a planning aid. The right-hand column is indicative; it does not commit the corridor parties to a fixed cadence.
| Phase | Day | Activity | Cadence owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-drill | D-14 | Scope confirmation (Step 1) | Trade Compliance Lead |
| Pre-drill | D-10 | Dossier skeleton (Step 2) | Documentation Officer |
| Pre-drill | D-7 | Drill notice issued (Step 3) | Logistics Coordinator |
| Pre-drill | D-3 | Thermal monitoring pre-stage (Step 4) | HSE Officer |
| Pre-drill | D-1 | Containment staging (Step 5) | Yard Supervisor |
| Drill day | D-Day | Execute drill (Step 6) | Drill Conductor |
| Drill day | D-Day | Capture evidence (Step 7) | Documentation Officer |
| Post-drill | D+1 | Decommission and dispose (Step 8) | Licensed Waste Handler |
| Post-drill | D+3 | AAR convened (Step 9) | Drill Conductor |
| Post-drill | D+5 | Archive dossier (Step 10) | Documentation Officer |
No hard prices are listed. The slots below name the cost category and the named source(s) that would substantiate the figure in a buyer-specific quote. All duty / tariff / VAT figures are PENDING until the HS code is confirmed at RFQ (see lookup path above).
| Cost slot | What it covers | Indicative basis | Source basis (specific document) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor calibration labour | Pre-drill instrument check | PENDING — quote per OEM service rate | EVE LF304 datasheet LF304-DS-2.4 (2025-03-18) — calibration envelope |
| Class D extinguisher inspection | Pre-drill containment readiness | PENDING — quote per third-party inspector | NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers — inspection clauses |
| Yard time (drill day) | Use of containment yard, utilities | PENDING — quote per yard operator | Yard operator tariff schedule |
| Licensed waste handling | Disposal of test article | PENDING — quote per licensed handler | Licensed handler manifest fee schedule |
| Insurer admin fee | Drill notice processing | PENDING — quote per insurer | IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A) |
| Documentation labour | Compilation and archive | PENDING — quote per internal rate card | Internal cost-accounting reference |
| U.S. import duty (CN-origin cells) | CBP entry duty + Section 301 exposure | PENDING — confirm at USITC HTS | USITC HTS search; USTR Section 301 four-year review |
| EU re-route duty / VAT (if applicable) | TARIC duty + EU VAT | PENDING — confirm at EU TARIC | EU TARIC consultation |
1. Is this drill a substitute for UN 38.3 testing?
No. UN 38.3 (UN Manual of Tests and Criteria ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7) is a design-type qualification. The drill rehearses the response to an event that UN 38.3 is designed to prevent.
2. Can the drill be executed on a production shipment?
No. Use a retired cell or a de-commissioned pack — in this guide a retired EVE LF304 LFP cell identified by the OEM. A production consignment must not be placed in a thermal-runaway state for rehearsal purposes.
3. Who is the owner of the dossier?
The Documentation Officer (Step 2, Step 7, Step 10). The Trade Compliance Lead owns the scope record (Step 1) and is the signatory for the scope confirmation.
4. What is the retention period for the archive bundle?
Retain for the period required by IMDG Code Amdt. 41-22, 49 CFR Parts 171–180, and the marine cargo policy — whichever is longer. Confirm all three before archiving.
5. Does the drill replace the IMDG-declared carrier's procedures?
No. The drill supplements carrier procedures; it does not override them. Carrier acceptance decisions remain with the carrier.
| Claim | Source (specific document) | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion batteries are assigned to UN 3480 (lithium-ion cells and batteries) or UN 3481 (lithium-ion batteries contained in or packed with equipment), per the UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. | UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Rev. 23 (2023), ST/SG/AC.10/1/Rev.23 | UNECE Model Regulations Rev. 23 |
| Lithium batteries are subject to the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (UN 38.3 series), Revision 7. | UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7 | UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (Rev. 7) |
| The CN→US ocean leg is governed by the IMDG Code (Amendment 41-22, 2024 ed.) for the sea portion. | IMDG Code Amendment 41-22 (2024 ed.), International Maritime Organization | IMO Dangerous Goods (IMDG) |
| The U.S. land leg is governed by 49 CFR Parts 171–180 (PHMSA). | 49 CFR Parts 171–180, Hazardous Materials Regulations (PHMSA) | PHMSA 49 CFR HMR |
| U.S. Customs and Border Protection filing at entry applies; classification is to be confirmed at the USITC HTS and duty / Section 301 exposure at USTR. | USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule; USTR Section 301 four-year review | USITC HTS; USTR Section 301 review |
| WCO HS Nomenclature 2022 edition provides the chapter/heading frame used by USITC HTS and EU TARIC. | WCO Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, 2022 edition | WCO HS Nomenclature 2022 edition |
| The drill test article is a retired EVE LF304 prismatic LFP cell (3.2 V / 304 Ah; 4000 cycles to ≥80% at 25 °C; 173.7 × 71.7 × 207.2 mm; 5,450 g), per EVE LF304 datasheet LF304-DS-2.4 (rev. 2025-03-18). | EVE Energy — LF304 official product page / datasheet LF304-DS-2.4 (2025-03-18) | EVE LF304 product page |
| The OEM abuse-test profile referenced at Step 6 is LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 (2024-11-05); held by EVE Energy (model assumption — revision per OEM, supplied on request). | EVE LF304 abuse-test profile LF304-AT-PROFILE-2.1 (2024-11-05), EVE Energy | EVE Energy (corporate) — profile on request (model assumption) |
| Cell-to-system safety interface in stationary/ESS contexts is governed by IEC 62619:2022 ed2 (secondary lithium cells and batteries for industrial applications). | IEC 62619:2022 ed2 — Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications incl. stationary/ESS (TC 21/SC 21A) | IEC 62619:2022 ed2 |
| Stationary storage installations additionally reference UL 1973 (batteries for stationary and motive auxiliary power) and NFPA 855 (installation of stationary energy storage systems); UL 9540A is the thermal-runaway fire-propagation test method. | UL 1973 (Batteries for Use in Stationary and Motive Auxiliary Power Applications); NFPA 855; UL 9540A | UL 1973; NFPA 855; UL 9540A |
| Class D extinguisher inspection clauses follow NFPA 10 (Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers). | NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers | NFPA 10 |
| Marine cargo insurance clauses follow the Institute Cargo Clauses (A) issued by the IUA. | IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A), 2009 ed. (revised 2024) | IUA Institute Cargo Clauses (A) |
| Air-leg reference (where used as an alternative corridor) is IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, current edition. | IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, current edition | IATA DGR programme |
| Drills must be executed on a retired cell or de-commissioned pack, not on a production consignment. | UN Model Regulations Rev. 23 (no production release); EVE LF304 product page (retired-cell sourcing) | UN Model Regulations Rev. 23; EVE LF304 |
| Filenames in the dossier are fixed; deviations are raised as AAR findings. | This guide's own document-checklist section; UN Manual of Tests and Criteria Rev. 7 (audit trail) | UN Manual Rev. 7 |
| Archive retention follows the longer of the IMDG, 49 CFR, and policy retention windows. | IMDG Code Amdt. 41-22; 49 CFR Parts 171–180; IUA Cargo Clauses (A) | IMO IMDG; PHMSA 49 CFR HMR; IUA |
| Cost figures for drill execution are not stated as hard prices in this guide; they are PENDING slots requiring buyer-specific quotes; duty / tariff / VAT figures are PENDING until HS code is confirmed. | USITC HTS; EU TARIC; USTR Section 301 review | USITC HTS; EU TARIC; USTR Section 301 |
Evidence pack reference date: 2026-09-22. Done.