Shelf-Life Terms
Users Guide
Shelf-Life Shelf-Life (SL): The total period of time
beginning with the date of manufacture, cure,
Management: assembly, or pack that an item may remain in the Shelf-Life Management for
combined wholesale (including manufacture) Batteries and Battery Packs, Federal
Primary & Secondary and retail storage system and still remain Supply Classes 6135, & 6140
suitable for issue to the end user.
Batteries (Batteries include: alkaline, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium,
nickel metal hydride, lithium, silver-zinc, carbon-zinc,
Shelf-Life Item: An item of supply possessing mercury, magnesium, thermal; and battery packs)
deteriorative or unstable characteristics to the
degree that a storage time period must be Determining Shelf-Life Codes
assigned to ensure that it will perform Check the DOD Federal Logistics
satisfactorily in service. There are two types of Information System (FLIS) using the
shelf life items: National Stock Number (NSN), Item Name
Code (INC), or Item Name (IN) to
Type I Shelf-Life Item: An individual item of determine the shelf-life codes (SLC). If
supply, which is determined through an FLIS is not accessible, use FedLog to check
evaluation of technical test data and/or actual for the information. For additional
experience, to be an item with a definite non- information, contact the DLIS Shelf-Life
extendible period of shelf-life. A one position Point of Contact (POC).
alpha code (non-extendible), except code “X”, is
assigned to a Type I SL item. When an item is not a shelf-life item, it will
Product Center 5 be identified by a SLC of “0” (zero). If
Type II Shelf-Life Item: An individual item of
Defense Supply Center Richmond such an item is suspected to be sufficiently
supply having an assigned shelf-life time period deteriorative, the SLC of 0 in the FLIS may
8000 Jefferson Davis Highway that may be extended after completion of be invalid and a SLC challenge should be
Richmond, VA 23297 inspection, test, or restoration action. A one forwarded to the DSCR Shelf-Life POC.
position numeric code (extendible) or code “X”
is assigned to a Type II SL item. Hazardous items of supply shall require
special storage and handling in accordance
with DLAI 4145.11 (see References).
For discrepancies or questions concerning
Product Center 5 manages primary and shelf-life codes, contact the HTIS, or
secondary batteries (Federal Supply Classes DSCR Shelf-Life POC at 804-279-5845
6135, and 6140) and assigns shelf-life time sles.dscr@dla.mil.
periods for these commodities. As an active
participant in DOD’s initiatives in shelf-life
management, Product Center 5 offers this
brochure as a basic guide and information
resource on shelf-life management issues .
Guidelines laboratory testing is required nine (9) months Points of Contact
prior to the re-test date for those items. The
General Condition and Serviceability testing is performed to determine whether the Shelf-Life Program
Inspection Requirements item remains suitable for use by the end-user.
DOD, sles.dod@dla.mil, 703-767-1585
The battery and cases should be clean, DLA, sles.dla@dla.mil, 703-767-2529
secure, free from leaks and corrosion, Shelf-Life Extension & Disposal
Army, sles.army@dla.mil, 570-895-7685
distortion, and/or other deterioration. When Type I shelf-life items reach the Navy, sles.navy@dla.mil, 717-605-1506
expiration date, they can no longer be issued for AF, sles.airforce@dla.mil, 478-926-4005
Labels should be legible and securely use and are to be processed for reutilization, MC, sles.marine@dla.mil, 703-695-8947
attached to the battery or battery recycling, or disposal without delay to your GSA, sles.gsa@dla.mil, 703-308-6532
package. Labels should include: servicing DRMO. Contact your facility FAA, sles.faa@dla.mil, 202-267-8840
environmental office to classify the hazardous USCG, sles.uscg@dla.mil, 202-267-2183
NSN material in order to turn-in to the DRMO. If
Battery part number DTRA, sles.dtra@dla.mil, 505-846-8917
assistance is needed for classification of the
Manufacturer and CAGE code DRMS, sles.drms@dla.mil, 1-888-352-2255
hazardous waste, contact the Hazardous
Contract number/Lot number Technical Information Service (HTIS) or the DSCR, sles.dscr@dla.mil, 804-279-5845
Date manufactured, and either DRMO/DRMS Shelf-Life POC. DLIS, sles.dlis@dla.mil, 1-877-352-2255
expiration or inspect/test date
When Type II shelf-life items reach their Websites
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) inspect/test-date, check the DOD Quality Status http://www.shelflife.hq.dla.mil
List (QSL) or Federal Standard 793 for GSA http://www.drms.dla.mil
If needed, obtain an MSDS for the hazardous managed items, for SL extensions. The QSL, in http://www.navsea.navy.mil
material from the Hazardous Material http://pubs.ala.usmc.mil/pubs/20710010000.pdf
the Test Due column, contains extension
Information Resource System (HMIRS). The information for Type II items that have been
HMIRS is available on the Web at HTIS
laboratory tested. This extension information is
http://www.dlis.dla.mil/hmirs/ and on the valid only if the stock to be extended has been DSN 695-5168; Comm. 1-800-848-4847;
HMIRS CD-ROM. Both MSDS sources allow properly stored per the applicable storage 804-279-5168; Fax 804-279-4194
product information search using NSN, standards. The QSL is available online on the http://www.dscr.dla.mil/htis/
manufacturer, supplier, CAGE code, shelf-life website (see Websites).
specification number, or part number. To obtain HMIRS
a copy of the CD-ROM, or if you have any When Type II shelf-life items fail laboratory DSN 695-4371; Comm. 804-279-4371
questions regarding HMIRS, contact the HTIS testing, , they can no longer be issued for use http://www.dlis.dla.mil/hmirs/
or your Focal Point listed in the HMIRS website. and are to be processed for reutilization,
recycling, or disposal without delay to your References
servicing DRMO. Contact your facility’s DOD 4140.27-M, Shelf-Life Management Manual, May 2003
Laboratory Testing environmental office to classify the hazardous DLAD 4155.37/AR702-18/NAVSUPINST 4410.56A/AFMAN
23-110/MCO 4450.13A, Material Quality Storage Standards
Testing is an element of inspection that material prior to turning it in to the servicing Policy for Shelf Life Material, March 2004
DRMO. If assistance is needed for classification DLAI 4145.11/TM 38-410/NAVSUP PUB 573/AFJMAN 23-
generally denotes the determination, by technical 209/MCO 4450.12A, Storage and Handling of Hazardous
means, of properties or elements of chemicals or of the hazardous waste, contact the HTIS or Materials, January 1999
other chemical products (hazardous or non- DRMO/DRMS Shelf-Life POC. TM 9-6140-200-14, Operator’s Unit, Direct Support and
General Support Maintenance Manual for Lead –Acid Storage
hazardous) or of their components. It also Batteries, September 1998
involves the application of established scientific TB 43-0134, Technical Bulletin, Battery Disposition and
Disposal, March 2002
principles and procedures. For items in storage, Federal Standard 313, Material Safety Data, April 1996