Environmental requirements Flame retardants

Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained via the Internet, using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/

Environmental requirements

Flame retardants

Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chloride and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.

The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.

Cadmium**

Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.

Mercury**

Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may 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 today there is no commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing this exception when a Mercury free alternative is available.

CFCs (freons)

The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the manufacture and assembly of the product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere, causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer (malignant melanoma) as a consequence.

Lead**

Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses, causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO'99 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.

*Bio-accumulative is defined as substances which accumulate within living organisms.

**Lead, Cadmium and Mercury are heavy metals which are Bio-accumulative.

Medical Requirement

Classifications:

In accordance with UL 2601-1/IEC 60601-1, the product is cssified as Continuous duty Class I equipment, which is not protected against ingress of liquids. The product is not suitable for use in the presence of a flammable anaesthetic mixture with air or with oxygen or nitrous oxide.

EMC

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for medical devices to the IEC 601-1-2:1994. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a typical medical installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to other devices in the vicinity. However, there is no guarantee that