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REACH, RoHS, CDPH, LEED and EU Requirements​

These testing requirements all are most comprehensive and far-reaching pieces of environmental legislation to come out of the European Union. Middle East Testing Services LLC allows you to verify compliance with the following requirements of

  • REACH as per Regulation (EC) No 1907:2006
  • RoHS as per IEC 62321
  • CDPH Based on California specification 01350
  • LEED as latest version of LEED V4.1, EN 717-1 & EN 16516

UAE ROHS CERTIFICATION

  • In 2015, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a draft for a RoHS regulation that is similar to the Europe RoHS one, with testing assessments: UAE RoHS

The UAE ROHS is the same, in terms of requirements, as the European Union Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in EEE, which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 1, 2011 and entered into force on July 21, 2011. This regulation was published in the Official Gazette on 27 April 2017, according to the UAE Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2017, and came into force on January 1st, 2018. The product scope and categories are very broad and similar to the EU RoHS one.

What does it mean to be UAE RoHS compliant?

The Emirates Standards and Metrology Bureau (ESMA) is in charge of the implementation of this regulation and issues RoHS conformity certificates to companies using one of the following two methods:

Registration Scheme Method

Product Certification Scheme Method

Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS)

Emirates Quality Mark (EQM)

Maximum: 45 models, 1 factory, 1 brand per submission

Maximum: 1000 models. Multiples factories and brands permitted

Is a system of combining assessment of conformity and certification of products

Products that demonstrate compliance receive the Quality Mark of Conformity (“Al Alama”)

Test reports on critical components only must be submitted. Tests must be performed by ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, and follow standard IEC 62321

A self-conformity statement and comprehensive risk assessment documentation must be submitted. The full assessment must follow standards IEC 63000 and IEC 62476 (which is aligned with standard EN 50581)

No onsite audit

Onsite annual audits will also be conducted

Valid for 1 year

Valid for 3 years

 

Scope of regulations

RoHS applies to companies importing EEE on the UAE market. EEE is defined as ‘equipment, which is dependent on electric currents or electromagnetic fields to work properly, and equipment for the generation, transfer and measurement of such currents and fields.  In addition to equipment designed for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current’.

The RoHS regulation covers the following products:

  1. Large household appliances;
  2. Small household appliances;
  3. IT and telecommunication equipment;
  4. Consumer equipment;
  5. Lighting equipment;
  6. Electrical and electronic tools (with the exception of large-scale stationary industrial tools);
  7. Toys leisure and sport equipment;
  8. Medical devices (with the exception of all implanted and infected products);
  9. Monitoring and control instruments including industrial monitoring and control instruments;
  10. Automatic dispensers; and
  11. Other EEE not covered by any of the categories above or, and falling within the definition of article one (products operated by electric power or electromagnetic field and designed to operate at a voltage of not more than 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current).

METS Lab provides expert testing services for the chemicals specified by the RoHS directive and can provide the data and insight necessary for RoHS compliance.

Doing tests for following ten restricted hazardous chemicals :

§  Lead (Pb)

§  Mercury (Hg)

§  Cadmium (Cd)

§  Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))

§  Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)

§  Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

§  Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

§  Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)

§  Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

REACH​

REACH is a European Union Regulation concerning the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals. It applies to all chemicals – not only those used in industrial processes but also those found in products which we use in our daily lives, such as cleaning products and paints, or in articles such as clothes, furniture and electrical appliances.

Since REACH is applicable not only to chemical substances and mixtures, but also includes certain provisions applicable to articles, it is important for consumer product manufacturers and importers to understand their roles and responsibilities within the REACH framework. Substance restriction, authorization, and notification are important factors for an article that will be placed on the common European market. Also, the industry must deal with challenges presented by communication on SVHC within the supply chain and to consumers.

The REACH framework may affect consumer products with regard to substance authorization according to Annex XIV or restriction according to Annex XVII, as well as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) notification according to Article 7, or declaration according to Article 33. Manufacturers and importers must be aware of the fact that the REACH standards are subject to constant change and closely follow the latest requirements. 

Chemical identity data, generated to meet regulatory chemical testing programs requirements is a mandatory requirement for ECHA REACH registered substances for both lead and co-registrants. This data should be submitted in the form of a technical dossier using IUCLID software. 

As a lead registrant, your dossier includes not only your company specific substance identity information but also information that may be required by all the co-registrants, such as the classification and labelling of the substance and the physical-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological data defined in the REACH Annexes. REACH testing programs, data gathering and process can be costly and complex and requires expert assessment of the data and gaps identified. As a member registrant, your IUCLID dossier only includes information about the identity of your own substance such as composition and analytical data.

 

As a member registrant, your dossier includes information about the identity of your own substance such as composition and purity along with the analytical data as evidence to support the composition reported. Members also submit their own specific uses.

Based on our extensive knowledge of global chemical regulatory issues and considerable experience gained during the EU REACH registration deadlines, we continue to offer regulatory chemical testing programs to clients around the world as they look ahead to the UK REACH registration deadlines and the forthcoming revision of the EU legislation REACH Regulation 1907/2006. 

CDPH​

For manufacturers who are new to product emissions testing, the first step is often the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method, a revised and expanded standard based on California Specification 01350.

The Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions From Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, an expanded standard for what is commonly known as California Specification 01350, is one of the most widely used standards to evaluate building and interior products for low chemical emissions.

Materials are prepared according to standard usage instructions and conditioned for 10 days prior to chamber testing. The samples are then introduced into a dynamic environmental chamber for volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements at the 11-, 12- and 14-day equilibrium times. Air samples from the chamber are analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry for VOCs and high-performance liquid chromatography for formaldehyde and other aldehydes. The data reports include emission rates for the product and predicted indoor concentrations in various environments, such as in the office, classroom and residential areas. Predicted concentrations for 36 listed VOCs are compared to the maximum allowable levels. These levels are derived from the Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (chRELs) published by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

Benefits

The CDPH Standard Method is referenced by some of the most widely used green building rating systems and codes, including LEED, IgCC, CalGreen, ASHRAE 189.1 and others. This enables manufacturers to make an investment in a product emissions test that meets a broad range of requirements.

As a world leader in product emissions testing, UL Solutions has evaluated more than 70,000 products and cataloged more than 10,000 chemicals from those product emissions. Our state-of-the-art technology allows us to measure chemicals in a wide range of products with the utmost precision. Our familiarity with both national and international emissions testing standards, green building codes and rating systems enables UL Solutions to partner with manufacturers to conduct product emissions testing in ways that maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness.

LEED​

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.

A building is LEED-certified once it has achieved a certain number of credits—which then earn points—by implementing green building practices that address carbon, energy, water usage, waste, transportation, materials, and health and indoor environmental quality, according to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The more points a building earns, the higher it climbs on the LEED certification scale. 

When you choose to certify your building with LEED®, you’re choosing to build a healthier and more sustainable future. LEED projects prioritize more efficient, low impact building design and construction, over traditional construction practices, in an effort to reduce material waste, reuse materials where possible, and incorporate resources used. Beyond taking greater environmental responsibility, owners of LEED-certified buildings also benefit from tremendous energy- and cost-saving opportunities.

 

LEED v4.1

LEED v4.1 is the next generation standard for green building design, construction, operations and performance.

  • Ensures that all building stakeholders – developer, property manager, occupant and the community benefit from sustainable design, construction, operations and performance.
  • Supports projects to implement sustainable and healthy building practices to realize environmental, economic, social and community benefits for decades to come.
  • Emphasizes integrative design to ensure better design, translation of design into high quality construction, optimize operations and high performance of a building.
  • Helps buildings deliver higher quality beyond market practices by incorporating innovative design, technologies, construction and material selection strategies.
  • Focuses on both performance oriented sustainable strategies and outcomes.
  • Helps buildings consume fewer resources, reduce operating costs, increase value and create safer and healthier environments for its occupants.
  • Helps buildings reduce their GHG/carbon emissions.
  • Helps buildings use toxin free materials to deliver cleaner indoor air to improve productivity, focus and reduce respiratory illnesses of its occupants.
  • Prioritizes sustainable materials, helping manufacturers to design, produce and deliver building materials that reduce a building’s environmental impact. LEED v4.1 also helps manufacturers reduce energy, water, waste during manufacturing, carbon footprint during distribution and transportation and overall carbon emissions through the entire production lifecycle.

EN 717-1

EN 717-1 defines a method for determining the formaldehyde emissions of individual engineered wood boards and panels. EN 717-1 defines a method for determining the formaldehyde emissions of individual engineered wood boards and panels. A square metre of a flat product is placed in a test chamber having a volume of one cubic meter, then the amount of formaldehyde it releases is measured. The air of the chamber may not contain more than 0.1 ppm, and various associations insist on an even stricter ceiling of 0.03 ppm. SWISS KRONO products boast a value of only 0.01 ppm, or well below the official limit, and contain only the formaldehyde that naturally occurs in wood. Strictly speaking, SWISS KRONO OSB only has a value of 0.005 ppm as the test chamber has a background concentration of 0.005 ppm of formaldehyde before a sample is placed in it.

 

EN 16516 standard

It specifies a horizontal reference method for the determination of emissions of regulated dangerous substances from construction products into indoor air. This method is applicable to volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, very volatile aldehydes and ammonia.

It indicates reference method for the determination of emissions into indoor air from construction products of volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds and very volatile aldehydes based on the use of a test chamber.

 

EU Requirements

 

In the EU, there are three officially (legally) recognized European Standardization Organizations (ESOs). These produce “harmonized EN (European Norm) standards” . EU-wide standards and technical specifications exist for a number of product categories. You must ensure your products comply with any relevant EU rules before they can be traded freely in the EU. EU law sets essential requirements to ensure products traded in the EU meet high health, safety, and environmental standards.

Requirements can cover:

  • the product itself
  • the product’s manufacturing process
  • the product’s performance