March 2004
Based on answers of questionnaire [RoHS03] from annex, prepared and sent for EFSOT-project, different proposals on low level labeling have been made for :
If the product fulfills RoHS requirements: All restricted materials are under the tolerated limit. If there are some restricted materials, so it is regulated by Annex [boards] , by exemptions.
Problems: If for some materials the restriction is fulfilled, but not for others, so the label have to be modified in the little letters or by notes.It is not clear whether the components are usable under higher soldering temperatures.Difficult to print with the older needle printers.
If products are lead-free as defined above, possible in black-white. It is usable only for lead (Pb). For each other material, a new prohibition sign should be defined.
Compare [JESD97]
This warning makes sense if Bi is in the content because it could disturb in the smelting process of copper smelters. Only specialized smelters have processes, which could delete Bi from Lead.Optional use Pb or Bi or In to indicate the use of this material in solder
If product fulfills all EU-directive requirements, where a compliance test is available RoHS directives have not any compliance test, ce-marking is not applicable for RoHS.
E.g. blue should be the color for lead-free devices, a lead containing board should be green
Info-labeling is objected to satisfy:
1. Legal requirements, i.e. to give information about legality of electronic devices
2. Technical requirements, i.e. to support the service inside and outside the supply chain.
Therefore, a labeling method that represents these requirements must be found. Labeling number shows that one electronic device fulfils RoHS requirements if it is attached in the device. This is a good approach to show that the device complies with RoHS. But there is a possibility that the RoHS-committee add more hazardous materials in their list making the old labeling not reliable. Labeling number and CE-label are principally the same; they describe the lead-free status of the device. However, there is no information about which lead-free materials are used. These methods fulfil the legal requirements but do not fulfil the technical requirements to provide positive information about the material used in the device.
The CE-label declares that a device fulfil all EU-directives and therefore legal to be used. Many devices sold in the market have used this label for legal requirements. It will be hard to distinguish whether one device is legal or not in the future, if the directives and national acts keep changing.
Both labeling number provide the positive information of the used materials in a device. This method can help supporting the technical requirements. Combined with labeling number or CE-label at the outer packaging of the device, both will provide a labeling that fulfill as well legal as technical requirements mentioned above.
AUTHOR: Dr. Irina Stobbe, TU Berlin, Germany (11/2004)
Proposals and Comments Made by Other Organizations or Projects and EFSOT [next chapter]
- Components
- Boards
- Assemblies
- Devices
- Packing/ Wrapping
RoHS compliance
If the product fulfills RoHS requirements: All restricted materials are under the tolerated limit. If there are some restricted materials, so it is regulated by Annex [boards] , by exemptions.
Problems: If for some materials the restriction is fulfilled, but not for others, so the label have to be modified in the little letters or by notes.It is not clear whether the components are usable under higher soldering temperatures.Difficult to print with the older needle printers.
Pb-prohibition sign for components and boards
If products are lead-free as defined above, possible in black-white. It is usable only for lead (Pb). For each other material, a new prohibition sign should be defined.
Distinguishing different lead free products
Compare [JESD97]
- e0 or no sign -eutectic SnPb containing product, usable for higher temperature·
- e1 - SnCuAg-family
- e2 - Sn alloys, no Bi or Zn content
- e3 - Sn
- e4 - Precious metals (i.e.Ag, Au, NiPd, NiPdAu)
- e5 - SnZn, SnZnX (no Bi)
- e6 - contains Bi
- e7 - low temperature solder ( < 150 °C melting Point) containing In (not Bi)
- e8, e9 unassigned at this time
Explicit solder indication
Warning sign for problematic materials
This warning makes sense if Bi is in the content because it could disturb in the smelting process of copper smelters. Only specialized smelters have processes, which could delete Bi from Lead.Optional use Pb or Bi or In to indicate the use of this material in solder
Common serial number + LF or other indicating characters
Assuming the CE-label
If product fulfills all EU-directive requirements, where a compliance test is available RoHS directives have not any compliance test, ce-marking is not applicable for RoHS.
Color code on board
E.g. blue should be the color for lead-free devices, a lead containing board should be green
Comments
Info-labeling is objected to satisfy:
1. Legal requirements, i.e. to give information about legality of electronic devices
2. Technical requirements, i.e. to support the service inside and outside the supply chain.
Therefore, a labeling method that represents these requirements must be found. Labeling number shows that one electronic device fulfils RoHS requirements if it is attached in the device. This is a good approach to show that the device complies with RoHS. But there is a possibility that the RoHS-committee add more hazardous materials in their list making the old labeling not reliable. Labeling number and CE-label are principally the same; they describe the lead-free status of the device. However, there is no information about which lead-free materials are used. These methods fulfil the legal requirements but do not fulfil the technical requirements to provide positive information about the material used in the device.
The CE-label declares that a device fulfil all EU-directives and therefore legal to be used. Many devices sold in the market have used this label for legal requirements. It will be hard to distinguish whether one device is legal or not in the future, if the directives and national acts keep changing.
Both labeling number provide the positive information of the used materials in a device. This method can help supporting the technical requirements. Combined with labeling number or CE-label at the outer packaging of the device, both will provide a labeling that fulfill as well legal as technical requirements mentioned above.
AUTHOR: Dr. Irina Stobbe, TU Berlin, Germany (11/2004)
Proposals and Comments Made by Other Organizations or Projects and EFSOT [next chapter]
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