All; Mike Mertinooke suggested I take a look at GE Plastics website. Anybody interested, there is a press release with mention of the ROHS Directive and what GE Plastics is doing.
http://www.geplastics.com/press_pack/03_05_17.html This is also the reason behind GE Plastics' development of chlorine and bromine free, flame retardant, environmental friendly engineering thermoplastics. These developments effectively anticipate upcoming legislation, stemming from the European Union directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), for example. New materials such as LEXAN 925 and LEXAN EXL 9330 polycarbonate, GELOY DHRA 222 alloy, CYCOLOY CH6410 alloy, as well as Thermocomp PCAF04FRHH, already meet the projected new demands that will be made on materials particularly in respect of applications in the appliances, business machines (computers, printers, scanners, faxes) and telecommunications sectors. I’m sure there are many others making bromine-free flame retardant plastics. The biggest difficulty I see is for manufacturers who must replace existing plastic enclosures. The bromine-free plastics may have different physical properties, like shrink rate, etc., that may require expensive re-tooling. Best to be planning ahead now… Doug Massey Product Safety Engineer Advanced Compliance Solutions Ph. (770) 831-8048 FAX (770) 831-8598 Visit our web home at http://www.acstestlab.com <http://www.acstestlab.com/> From: owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org [mailto:owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org] On Behalf Of Doug Massey Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 12:08 PM To: richwo...@tycoint.com; itl-...@itl.co.il; emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject: RE: ETSI new rules for 2004 Richard and Richard and All: The ROHS and WEEE Directive links are: ROHS: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri en/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en00190023.pdf WEEE: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/ n/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en00240038.pdf The ROHS Directive not only bans lead in solder, but also these other environmentally unfriendlies: Mercury (relays, sensors) – already banned in Sweden Cadmium (NiCD batteries) Poly-brominated biphenyls (PBB) Poly-brominated biphenyls (PBDE) These last two are the main ingredients that give many thermoplastic materials their flame retardant characteristics. I know that lead-free solders are now readily available – I hear it’s more expensive, and process control is more difficult, but it looks like this ban will present no major obstacles for manufacturers. Also, there are a bevy of exemptions listed in the ROHS Annex: 7. — Lead in high melting temperature type solders (i.e. tin-lead solder alloys containing more than 85 % lead), — lead in solders for servers, storage and storage array systems (exemption granted until 2010), — lead in solders for network infrastructure equipment for switching, signalling, transmission as well as network management for telecommunication, But what impact will the ban on PBBs and PBDEs have on the plastics industry? Are there readily available V-1 or V-0 rated plastics available that are PBB or PBDE – free? Or will we need to start designing products that rely on limited energy rather than fire enclosures to limit the spread of flame? Does anybody have any information regarding PBB and PBDE - free plastics rated V-1 or V-0? Also, has anyone considered how manufacturers will certify their compliance to the ROHS Directive? Should a manufacturer declare compliance to the ROHS in a DoC backed up by a product evaluation? I think that many manufacturers will, and they will display this ROHS – DoC in their product literature and marketing. The WEEE Directive places a large responsibility on the member states to coordinate collection and disposal sites for used electronics, and places the financial burden for these activities on the manufacturers and distributors – I assume in the form of taxes or disposal fees. I think there are still many open issues facing these Directives, and their adoption and enforcement will be painful for everyone. However, I for one applaud the Community for taking proactive steps to help protect the environment for our descendants. It generally takes the passage of regulations to force the manufacturing community to develop new, safer methods of achieving the same product performance. When manufacturers have to make product changes for a market as large as the EU/EFTA, those changes will end up in all of their products, so in effect, the Community is impacting the global environment in a positive way. Of course, being a cynical type fellow, I would expect that many manufacturers and distributors will comply with the WEEE Directive by simply accepting the returned consumer electronics, and shipping boatloads of them to one of the rural landfills here in Georgia. Caio Doug Massey Product Safety Engineer Advanced Compliance Solutions Ph. (770) 831-8048 FAX (770) 831-8598 Visit our web home at http://www.acstestlab.com <http://www.acstestlab.com/> From: owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org [mailto:owner-emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org] On Behalf Of richwo...@tycoint.com Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 8:50 AM To: itl-...@itl.co.il; emc-p...@majordomo.ieee.org Subject: RE: ETSI new rules for 2004 Richard, effective 1 July 2006, lead solder will not be allowed per the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, 2002/95/EC. Also refer to the EU Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), 2002/96/EC. Richard Woods Sensormatic Electronics Tyco International From: Stone, Richard [mailto:rst...@xl.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 8:03 AM To: ITL-EMC User Group; Emc-Pstc Group (E-mail) Subject: ETSI new rules for 2004 hello group, anyone have any word or update on required( ? ) lead free process for components being soldered on PC boards, does it apply to anyhting else, parts used prior to solder process or anything else pertaining to this? A european ETSI new requirement? heard rumors a few months ago, and nothing since.. thanks for your time, Richard, Richard A. Stone Excel Switching Corporation Compliance 75 Perseverance Way Hyannis, MA. 02601 508 862 3311 ph. 508 862 3020 fax rst...@xl.com This email message and any attachments to it contain confidential information that is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, printing, or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please delete it or inform the sender. From: ITL-EMC User Group [mailto:itl-...@itl.co.il] Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2003 3:03 AM To: Emc-Pstc Group (E-mail) Subject: 47 CFR Part 90 Dear All, Does anyone know where I can download the latest version of FCC Rule 47 Part 90 (47CFR90) in pdf format? I would prefer to download the whole part in one file. Thanks to anyone who can assist. Regards David Shidlowsky Technical Writer EMC Laboratory ITL (Product Testing) Ltd. Kfar Bin Nun Israel Tel: +972-8-9797799 Fax: +972-8-9797702 Email: dav...@itl.co.il http://www.itl.co.il http://www.i-spec.com This e-mail message may contain privileged or confidential information. 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