Think you’re safe from fires by smoking an e-cigarette? Think again | PropertyCasualty360

Excellent article on E-Cigarette safety by PropertyCasualty360.com.  As I continue to research this technology and how it would impact Air Cargo or Passenger Bags / operations, I continue to be concerned as to how unregulated this technology is, globally.

Fortunately, their use on aircraft is forbidden, but they can still be in passenger bags and there have been incidents where modified devices have been accidentally activated while in transit, over heated and eventually the battery vented / combusted.  Additionally, these devices ship in cargo and in mail, which is concerning considering there is no requirement they be UL tested and certified.  Also, there is the potential that the installed batteries or after market batteries are not tested in accordance with the required UN 38.3 test standards.  Which is a huge risk, particularly when being transported in cargo or mail.

The article is quoted as saying,

"The USFA noted that currently there is no regulation, code or law that applies to the safety of electronics or batteries in e-cigarettes. Although many consumer products are required to be tested by a nationally recognized test laboratory such as UL, there are no such requirements for e-cigarettes."

read more in the article at the link below.

Think you’re safe from fires by smoking an e-cigarette? Think again | PropertyCasualty360

E-cig charging devices now start one fire each week | Daily Mail Online

"Describing the dangers of incompatible chargers, he said: ‘You plug in an e-cigarette that doesn’t use an awful lot of current into a charger that does and ... the device starts to heat up."

Good article put out by the Daily Mail Online from the UK.  It includes some good graphics on the dangers of E-Cigs when using incompatible chargers.  The lithium batteries on these devices are small, but they pack a serious punch.  As with any Lithium battery, if you use a charger that pushes too much power into the battery, and it is not designed to hand that amount, the battery will heat up.  The heat causes the battery to fail and go into thermal runaway.  Eventually it will vent and possibly combust.

Always use brand name batteries, from reputable sources with the same voltage which the device and charger is designed to use.  Another part of the problem is using cheap knockoff batteries that may or may no have gone through the required testing for safety.

read more about it here.

E-cig charging devices now start one fire each week  | Daily Mail Online

The belt that charges your handset (and keeps your pants up) | Digital Trends

New Technology

Just when you thought you knew everything about lithium batteries....new technology springs up and hits you upside the head!  www.digitaltrends.com reports on a new item hittingthe streets!

“It looks, feels and weighs about the same as a really nice belt….but comes with a mighty 2,100mAh of hidden charge and can charge pretty much any device,” the Nifty team says.

The belt that charges your handset (and keeps your pants up) | Digital Trends

ANALYSIS: Lithium ion battery fix prompts mixed reviews for 787 operators - 11/17/2014 - Flight Global

787 Lithium Ion Battery

A good article about the 787 Lithium Battery issue and the current status.  It is from www.flightglobal.com


"Eighteen months after the US Federal Aviation Administration lifted the grounding order on the Boeing the 787-8 fleet, the two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries installed in the aircraft produce mixed reactions among operators."



ANALYSIS: Lithium ion battery fix prompts mixed reviews for 787 operators - 11/17/2014 - Flight Global:



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Press Release – FAA Proposes $168,000 Civil Penalty Against Medstar Health, Inc.

Undeclared Lithium Batteries

The FAA alleges that on Dec. 6, 2012, MedStar Health offered a cardboard box containing 180 lithium-ion batteries to FedEx Corp. for shipment by air



Press Release – FAA Proposes $168,000 Civil Penalty Against Medstar Health, Inc.:



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New IATA Rules for Paint and Coatings Industry : Products Finishing

Special Provision A192

Good short article from www.pfonline.com about the new special provision related to paint.

New IATA Rules for Paint and Coatings Industry : Products Finishing

This will definitely make the shipping of paint and paint related materials easier, without compromising safety.

A192—is a new special provision that is assigned to Paint, Paint related material, Paint, corrosive,
flammable, Paint related material, corrosive, flammable, Paint, flammable, corrosive, Paint related
material, flammable, corrosive, Printing ink and Printing ink related material. The special provision
allows the shipper to just use the “related material” proper shipping name on the Shipper's Declaration and the package marking when substances assigned to the standard entry and to the “related material” entry are in the same package.  

By citing this SP, a shipper may one use one Proper Shipping Name to describe the contents, if all the commodities are from the same UN Number (UN1263).  This will apply to the Declaration as well as the markings on the package.

New Technologies in Mobility Devices.

An article about new technologies in mobility devices.  The Uni-cub and the Walking Assist Device are on the way.  Soon to be found in a baggage compartment near you.

The walk assist device is similar to existing exoskeletal devices, but smaller and less cumbersome. The Uni-Cub (a sit on electric powered unicycle) specs indicate that it is powered by a lithium ion battery, but did not provide the size or specifications, though it is written that it is good for 90 minutes of use.  It does indicate that the battery is easily removed with the touch of a button, which makes it easy to transport per the regulations.  The article below is a good read on the topic.

photo courtesy of:  http://www.extremetech.com/

Who’s riding Honda’s motorized unicycles? Today, it’s rock stars—but tomorrow it might be your grandma - Quartz

Honda's page on the Uni-Cub provides a bit more detail on the device:  http://world.honda.com/UNI-CUB/

The media is touting it as the latest technology which will replace the Segway as a popular device.  This is a good article by extremetech.com on the device.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186683-move-aside-segway-hondas-uni-cub-could-make-walking-a-thing-of-the-past

The Uni-Cub has not been released yet, but it is on the way and I can imagine that there will be people who will want to travel with it.  Honda reports that the device will weigh 25kg (55lbs) which makes it easily portable as a mobility device and the battery removal, makes it clear that Honda has designed it with this in mind.

Keep an eye open for this!

transporting by air a specimen to be tested for Ebola | Toronto Star

All of the regulatory bodies, worldwide have provided guidance on transporting Ebola, which is a regular Division 6.2 Dangerous Goods.

The communications have been out for a while and the guidance is there.  Unfortunately things like this happen, it is a part of transporting DG, not just Ebola.  Just the nature of the item, makes it news worthy.

View the article here:

Air Canada pilot balked at transporting specimen to be tested for Ebola | Toronto Star:



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Mg-ion batteries could prove that two electrons are better than one | Article from ExtremeTech

Mg-Ion Batteries on the Horizon?  

A good article explaining how Li-Ion batteries work and the future possibilities in battery technology.
"Given the enormous possible benefits of switching from lithium to magnesium, it seems like a foregone conclusion that it will happen eventually"


Magnesium-ion batteries could prove that two electrons are better than one | ExtremeTech:



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