☣️ UN 3556 • CLASS 9
UN 3556 — Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered
Placard: Lithium Battery / Miscellaneous. ERG Guide 147. Training/quick-reference only — use current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident-specific actions.
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⚠️ This page is a quick-reference aid. For real incidents: stage upwind, isolate, deny entry, request Hazmat early, and consult the current ERG + SOP/SOG.
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UN 3556 Quick Details
UN 3556
Product name: Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered
DOT Class: 9
Placard type: Lithium Battery / Miscellaneous
ERG Guide: 147 (check current ERG)
Initial isolation: ERG 147: Initial isolation 25m (75 ft) all directions; if fire involved, isolate 800m (0.5 mi) radius; large spill/fire may require 1600m (1 mi) downwind evacuation; thermal runaway may take hours to develop
Common Hazards of UN 3556
- Lithium ion and sodium ion batteries contain flammable liquid electrolyte that may vent, ignite and
- May burn rapidly with flare-burning effect.
- May ignite other batteries in close proximity.
- Contact with battery electrolyte may be irritating to skin, eyes and mucous membranes.
- Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
- Burning batteries may produce toxic hydrogen fluoride gas (see GUIDE 125).
- Fumes may cause dizziness or asphyxiation.
Chemical Identity & Physical Properties
| Also known as | Electric vehicleEVLithium-ion battery powered vehicleLi-ion battery vehicleBattery electric vehicleBEV |
| Appearance | Complete motor vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck, etc.) powered by internal lithium-ion battery packs. Batteries contain flammable liquid electrolyte and may vent flammable vapors if damaged or overheated. |
| Flash Point | Not applicable (complete vehicle); electrolyte typically has flash point around -40°C to 0°C (-40°F to 32°F) |
| Boiling Point | Not applicable (complete vehicle) |
| Vapor Density | Not applicable (complete vehicle); electrolyte vapors heavier than air if vented |
| Water Reactivity | Minimal reaction under normal conditions; damaged batteries may react with water producing toxic and flammable gases; thermal runaway not significantly affected by water |
Chemical details are general reference only. Always verify with current SDS, ERG, and SOP/SOG.
Fireground Response Guidance — UN 3556
Extinguishing Media
Class D extinguishing agents for metal fires (lithium), copious amounts of water for cooling (if water available), dry sand; avoid halogenated agents
PPE Requirements
⚠️ Level B minimum for fire response; full structural firefighting gear with SCBA; thermal imaging to detect hot spots; maintain distance due to potential explosion/projectile hazards from battery cells
Isolation & Evacuation
ERG 147: Initial isolation 25m (75 ft) all directions; if fire involved, isolate 800m (0.5 mi) radius; large spill/fire may require 1600m (1 mi) downwind evacuation; thermal runaway may take hours to develop
Always confirm protective actions with the current edition of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG Guide 147).
First Actions for a UN 3556 Incident
- CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper
- Keep unauthorized personnel away.
- Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
- Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.
- Isolate spill or leak area for at least 25 meters (75 feet) in all directions.
- Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.
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📋 Copy & Share Field Card
UN 3556 — Vehicle, lithium ion battery poweredHAZMAT RADIO NOTE — UN 3556
Product: Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered
Class 9 / Lithium Battery / Miscellaneous / ERG 147
PPE: Level B minimum for fire response; full structural firefighting gear with SCBA; thermal imaging to detect hot spots; maintain distance due to potential explosion/projectile hazards from battery cells
ISOLATION: ERG 147: Initial isolation 25m (75 ft) all directions; if fire involved, isolate 800m (0.5 mi) radius; large spill/fire may require 1600m (1 mi) downwind evacuation; thermal runaway may take hours to develop
ACTION: Stage upwind · Isolate · Deny entry · Request HazmatRADIO
Use for: Quick radio or face-to-face size-up. Short, structured, field-ready.
=== IC HAZMAT BRIEFING ===
UN 3556 — Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered
Class: 9 | Placard: Lithium Battery / Miscellaneous | ERG Guide: 147
Appearance: Complete motor vehicle (car, motorcycle, truck, etc.) powered by internal lithium-ion battery packs. Batteries contain flammable liquid electrolyte and may vent flammable vapors if damaged or overheated.
Water Reactivity: Minimal reaction under normal conditions; damaged batteries may react with water producing toxic and flammable gases; thermal runaway not significantly affected by water
Extinguishing: Class D extinguishing agents for metal fires (lithium), copious amounts of water for cooling (if water available), dry sand; avoid halogenated agents
PPE: Level B minimum for fire response; full structural firefighting gear with SCBA; thermal imaging to detect hot spots; maintain distance due to potential explosion/projectile hazards from battery cells
Isolation: ERG 147: Initial isolation 25m (75 ft) all directions; if fire involved, isolate 800m (0.5 mi) radius; large spill/fire may require 1600m (1 mi) downwind evacuation; thermal runaway may take hours to develop
— Key Hazards —
• Lithium ion and sodium ion batteries contain flammable liquid electrolyte that may vent, ignite and
• May burn rapidly with flare-burning effect.
• May ignite other batteries in close proximity.
— First Actions —
• CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper
• Keep unauthorized personnel away.
• Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
• Ventilate closed spaces before entering, but only if properly trained and equipped.
SOURCE: allfirefighter.com/hazmat/un/3556 | Always use current ERG + SOP/SOGIC BRIEFING
Use for: Incident command briefing, staging area whiteboard, or pre-entry team brief. Full chemical + response details.
UN3556 Vehicle, lithium ion battery powered Cls9 ERG147 | allfirefighter.com/hazmat/un/3556SMS / 160 CHAR
Use for: Quick text to command or incoming units. Fits in a single SMS. Includes link to full page.
⚠️ Quick-reference only. Always use current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident-specific actions.
Page: https://allfirefighter.com/hazmat/un/3556
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Frequently Asked Questions about UN 3556
Lithium ion and sodium ion batteries contain flammable liquid electrolyte that may vent, ignite and May burn rapidly with flare-burning effect. May ignite other batteries in close proximity. Contact with battery electrolyte may be irritating to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Burning batteries may produce toxic hydrogen fluoride gas (see GUIDE 125). Fumes may cause dizziness or asphyxiation.
CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind, uphill and/or upstream.
Level B minimum for fire response; full structural firefighting gear with SCBA; thermal imaging to detect hot spots; maintain distance due to potential explosion/projectile hazards from battery cells
Water reactivity: Minimal reaction under normal conditions; damaged batteries may react with water producing toxic and flammable gases; thermal runaway not significantly affected by water. Recommended extinguishing: Class D extinguishing agents for metal fires (lithium), copious amounts of water for cooling (if water available), dry sand; avoid halogenated agents.
ERG Guide 147 recommendation: ERG 147: Initial isolation 25m (75 ft) all directions; if fire involved, isolate 800m (0.5 mi) radius; large spill/fire may require 1600m (1 mi) downwind evacuation; thermal runaway may take hours to develop
No. This is a training/quick-reference aid only. Always consult the current ERG Guide 147 and your department SOP/SOG for incident-specific protective actions.
Sources (high level): DOT/PHMSA marking & class concepts + ERG usage principles.
This page does not reproduce ERG guide text—always consult the current ERG for incident-specific protective actions.