English-29
English
The requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment,
ergonomics, usability, emission of electrical and magnetic fields, energy
consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands concern restrictions on the presence and
use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame retardants,
CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The
product must be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged
to have an environmental plan which must be adhered to in each
country where the company implements its operational policy. The
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.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for
example, in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields,
physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
Environmental Requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires,
casings and housings. In turn, they delay the spread of fire. Up to thirty
percent of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame
retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride
and these are related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs,
which are suspected to give rise to severe health effects, including
reproductive damage in fisheating birds and mammals, due to the
bioaccumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found in
human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus
development may occur.
TCO’99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than
25 grams must not contain flame retardants with organically bound
chlorine and bromine. Flame retardants are allowed in the printed circuit
boards since no substitutes are available.
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.
TCO’99 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement
has yet been developed.