Regulatory Information cont.
04
Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues:
ecology, ergonomics, emission of electrical and
magnetical fields, energy consumption and electrical
safety.
Ecological criteria impose restrictions on the presence and
use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame
retardants, and other substances. The product must be
prepared for recycling and the manufacturing site(s) shall
be certified according to ISO14001 or EMAS registered.
Energy requirements include a demand that the system
unit and/or display, after a certain period of inactivity,
shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one
or more stages. The length of time to reactivate the system
unit shall be reasonable for the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental
demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of
electrical and magnetical fields as well as work load and
visual ergonomics.
Below you will find a brief summary of the ecological
requirements met by this product. The complete
ecological criteria document can be found at TCO
Development’s website http://www.tcodevelopment.com or
may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email : [email protected]
Information regarding TCO’99 approved and labelled
products may also be obtained at
http://www.tcodevelopment.com
Ecological requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants may be present in printed wiring board
laminates, cables, and housings. Their purpose is to
prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30%
by weight of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of
flame retardant substances. Many flame retardants
contain bromine or chlorine, and these flame retardants
are chemically related to PCBs (polychlorinated
biphenyls). Both the flame retardants containing bromine
or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to
health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating
birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative*
processes when not disposed of in accordance with strict
standards for disposal.
TCO’99 requires that plastic components weighing more
than 25 grams shall not contain flame retardants with
organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants
are allowed in the printed wiring board laminates due to
the lack of commercially available alternatives.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the
colour-generating layers of certain computer displays.
TCO’99 requires that batteries, the colour-generating
layers of display screens, and the electrical or electronics
components shall not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and
switches. TCO’99 requires that batteries shall not contain
any mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present
in any of the electrical or electronics components
associated with the labelled unit. There is however one
exception. Mercury is, for the time being, permitted in the
back light system of flat panel monitors as there today is
no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on
removing this exception when a mercury free alternative is
available.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens,
solders and capacitors. TCO’99 permits the use of lead
due to the lack of commercially available alternatives, but
in future requirements TCO Development aims at
restricting the use of lead.
_____________________________________________
* Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which
accumulate in living organisms.
**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals
which are bio-accumulative.
