RoHS Compliance

RoHS FAQ's
 Q: What is the RoHS Directive?
A: The RoHS Directive is properly known as the Directive of the European Parliament on “The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment ". It establishes limits for the content of six types of hazardous material in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in Europe after July 1, 2006.

Q: What are the six substances?A: The substances are lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This includes both metals and compounds of lead, cadmium and mercury. The RoHS Directive sets maximum concentration levels allowable of these substances in the "homogenous materials" of electrical and electronic equipment covered by the legislation. The maximum concentration levels in homogenous materials for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls , and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers is 0.1 percent by weight, and 0.01 percent by weight for cadmium.

Q: What does "homogenous material" mean?A: Homogenous material is defined as material that cannot be “mechanically disjointed” into different materials (materials cannot be separated into other materials by mechanical means such as cutting, crushing, grinding or abrasive processes). Materials such as plastics, metals, coatings, etc. should not contain the restricted substances.

Q: Is it true that an electronic assembly with less than 0.1% lead by weight would be non-compliant if any components on it have solder plating that contains more than 0.1% by weight itself?A: Yes, because the concentration limits apply to homogeneous materials and the solder plating is one material.

Q: What does the RoHS Directive require affected companies to do?A: RoHS requires companies who place electronic or electrical goods on the European market after July 1, 2006 to ensure that they do not contain levels of the six specified hazardous substances above the permitted levels.

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