Restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances in the construction of various types of electrical and electronic equipment.
The RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC legislation (commonly called English RoHS: Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) was adopted in February 2003 by the European Community. From this date all the old laws of each member state have been replaced by the “RoHS Directive”.
The legislation imposes restrictions on the use of certain hazardous substances in the construction of various types of electrical and electronic equipment.
It has become mandatory from 1 July 2006.
RoHS applies to products manufactured or imported into the EU.
Substances concerned
Directive RoHS is often referred to as Pb-free or lead-free (ie, “lead free”), but places restrictions on the use of the following six substances:
- Lead
- Mercury
- Cadmium
- Hexavalent chromium (Chromium VI)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PBBs)
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
Details and examples
The maximum concentrations are 0.1% (except for cadmium which is limited to 0.01%) by weight of homogeneous material. This means that the limits do not apply to the weight of the finished product, or even to a component, but to any single substance that could (theoretically) be separated mechanically. For example, the insulation around an electrical cable comprising the electronic device.
Another example, a radio comprises a container, screws, washers, electronic cards, speakers, etc.. An electronic card is composed of the printed circuit, integrated circuits, resistors, switches, etc.. A switch has a housing, a lever, a spring, contacts, etc. connecting pins. The contact will contain a strip of copper with a surface coating.
All that can be identified as different material must comply with the limit imposed. So, if it appears that the contact of the coating was gold with 2300 ppm of cadmium, then the entire radio would not respect the requirements of the Directive.
Equipment covered by Directive
The Directive applies to the following equipment Large Appliances
- Small appliances
- IT and telecommunications equipment
- Consumer equipment
- Equipment for lighting (including lamps)
- Electronic and Electrical Equipment
- Toys, leisure and sports equipment
- Vending Machines
Exemptions from the Directive
- The batteries are not included within the scope of RoHS, therefore NiCd and lead batteries are allowed (even if they have been replaced by Nickel-Metal Hydride NiMH batteries)
- Plant and equipment, industrial fixed
- Lead
- Ceramic Components
- Some specific alloys
- Glass used in cathode ray tubes (CRT) in certain electronic components and fluorescent tubes
- Mercury
- Certain types of lamps
- Applications in Automotive
The RoHS legislation for stainless steels
As for stainless steels, chromium is in them is trivalent state, while other substances are not present.
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