Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, emission of electric and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical safety.
Environmental criteria impose restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, and other materials . The product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental policy which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational policy.
Energy requirements include a demand that the computer 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 computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labeled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields as well as physical and visual ergonomics.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The complete environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
Current information regarding TCO’99 approved and labeled products may also be obtained via the Internet, using the address: http://www.tcodevelopment.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 chlorine, and those flame retardants are chemically related to PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chlorine and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to health effects, including reproductive damage in
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