IEC/TC 111 - Environmental standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems

This part of IEC 62321 specifies two different techniques for the determination of TCEP tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) in plastics, the GC-MS or LC-MS method; both of which are suitable for quantitative analysis. These two techniques have been evaluated for use with polyurethane, Polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene materials containing TCEP between 200 mg/kg to 2 000 mg/kg. Use of the methods escribed in International Standard for other polymers and concentration ranges has not been specifically evaluated. These test methods do not apply to plastics materials having a processing temperature higher than 230 ℃. NOTE TCEP starts thermal decomposition at approximately 230 ℃. Polymer types which have a processing temperature into shapes of plastics (e.g. pellets, moulded parts, or sheets etc.) not exceeding the decomposition temperature can contain TCEP. Py-TD-GC-MS is another technique, suitable for the screening of TCEP in plastics (See Annex A).

IEC 62321-3-4:2023 specifies procedures for the screening of di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in polymers of electrotechnical products by using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and thermal desorption mass spectrometry (TD-MS). High performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV), thin layer chromatography (TLC) and thermal desorption mass spectrometry (TD-MS) techniques are described in the normative part of this document. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is described in the informative annexes of this document.

IEC 62321-12:2023 specifies a reference test method for the simultaneous determination of polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and four phthalates: di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in polymers of electrotechnical products. The extraction technique described in this document is the ultrasonic-assisted extraction used for simultaneous extraction for sample preparation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is considered as the reference technique for the measurement of the simultaneous determination of analytes in the range of 25 mg/kg to 2 000 mg/kg. The test method using ultrasonic-assisted extraction followed by GC-MS detection has been evaluated by the tests of polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylate rubber (ACM), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene (PE) materials. This document has the status of a horizontal publication in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

IEC 62430:2019 describes principles, specifies requirements and provides guidance for organizations intending to integrate environmental aspects into the design and development in order to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of their products. This document applies to processes on how ECD (environmentally conscious design) are integrated into the design and development. This document applies to any organization, regardless of its size, type or sector. This document does not provide requirements for assessing the conformity of individual products. This horizontal standard is primarily intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 108. One of the responsibilities of a technical committee is, wherever applicable, to make use of horizontal standards in the preparation of its publications. The contents of this horizontal standard will not apply unless specifically referred to or included in the relevant publications. IEC 62430:2019 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2009. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: a) Scope is extended from electrotechnical product and systems to all products including services. b) As a consequence of the scope expansion, non-electrotechnical products, services in particular, are taken into account to modify requirements. c) Clause 6 is added as a guidance.

This document specifies the procedure, content, and form relating to material declarations for products and accessories of organizations operating in and supplying to the electrotechnical industry. Process chemicals, emissions during product use and product packaging material are not in the scope of this document. The main intended use of this document is to provide data up and down the supply chain that: - allows organizations to assess products against substance compliance requirements, - allows organizations to use this information in their environmentally conscious design process and across all product life cycle phases. This document specifies mandatory declaration requirements and also provides optional declaration requirements. This document does not suggest any specific method or process to capture material declaration data in the supply chain. However, it provides a data format used to transfer information within the supply chain. Organizations have the flexibility to determine the most appropriate method to capture material declaration data without compromising data utility and quality. This document is intended to allow reporting based on engineering judgement, supplier material declarations, and/or sampling and testing.

This part of IEC 62321 specifies the screening analysis of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) in polymers of electrotechnical products using the analytical technique of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a pyrolyser/thermal desorption accessory (Py/TD-GC-MS). This test method has been evaluated through the analysis of PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) materials containing deca-BDE between 100 mg/kg and 1 000 mg/kg and individual phthalates between 100 mg/kg to 4 000 mg/kg as depicted in Annex J. Use of the methods described in this document for other polymer types, PBBs (mono-deca), PBDEs (mono-deca) and phthalates or concentration ranges other than those specified above has not been specifically evaluated. This document has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [1]1.

This part of IEC 62321 specifies two techniques for the determination of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in polymers of electrotechnical products. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) test method is described in the normative part of this document. The GC-MS method is suitable for the determination of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). A method using high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is given in informative Annex A. These test methods have been evaluated for use with EPS (expanded polystyrene foam), XPS (extruded polystyrene foam) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) within the concentration ranges as specified in Table 1. The use of this method for other types of materials or concentration ranges outside those specified below has not been evaluated. [Table 1] This document has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

This part of IEC 62321 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of the IEC 62321 series. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and can be updated on a regular basis. This document describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance of concern. This document does not provide: - full guidance on each and every product that could be classified as electrotechnical product. Since there is a huge variety of electrotechnical parts, with various structures and compositions, along with the continuous innovations in the industry, it is unrealistic to attempt to provide procedures for the disjointment of every type of part; - guidance regarding other routes to gather additional information on certain substances in a product, although the information collected has relevance to the sampling strategies in this document; - safe disassembly and mechanical disjointment instructions related to electrotechnical products (e.g. mercury-containing switches) and the recycling industry (e.g. how to handle CRTs or the safe removal of batteries). See IEC 62554 [1] 1 for the disjointment and mechanical sample preparation of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps; - sampling procedures for packaging and packaging materials; - analytical procedures to measure the levels of certain substances. This is covered by other standards (e.g. other parts of the IEC 62321 series), which are referred to as "test standards" in this document; - guidelines for assessment of compliance. This document has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108 [2].

IEC 62321-7-2:2017 describes procedures to measure hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), quantitatively in samples of polymers and electronics. This method employs organic solvent to dissolve or swell the sample matrix, followed by an alkaline digestion procedure to extract Cr(VI) from samples. Studies have shown that organic/alkaline solution is more effective than acidic solution in extracting Cr(VI) from soluble and insoluble samples. Minimal reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) or oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) occurs under alkaline conditions. The first edition of IEC 62321:2008 was a ‘stand-alone’ standard that included an introduction, an overview of test methods, a mechanical sample preparation as well as various test method clauses. This first edition of IEC 62321-7-2 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321:2008, forming a structural revision and generally replacing Annex C. IEC 62321-7-2 is the final replacement part of the corresponding clauses in IEC 62321:2008.

IEC 62321-8:2017 specifies two normative and two informative techniques for the determination of di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP) in polymers of electrotechnical products.

IEC 63000:2016 specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer compiles in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions

IEC 62321-7-1:2015 describes a boiling water extraction procedure intended to provide a qualitative determination of the presence of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in colourless and coloured corrosion-protection coatings on metallic samples. In this procedure, when Cr(VI) in a sample is detected below the 0,10 g/cm2 LOQ (limit of quantification), the sample is considered to be negative for Cr(VI). Since Cr(VI) may not be uniformly distributed in the coating even within the same sample batch, a "grey zone" between 0,10 g/cm2 and 0,13 g/cm2 has been established as "inconclusive" to reduce inconsistent results due to unavoidable coating variations. In this case, additional testing may be necessary to confirm the presence of Cr(VI). When Cr(VI) is detected above 0,13 g/cm2, the sample is considered to be positive for the presence of Cr(VI) in the coating layer.

IEC 62321-6:2015 specifies one normative and two informative techniques for the determination of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in polymers of electrotechnical products. The test methods are: - The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); - The ion attachment mass spectrometry (IAMS) technique and - The high-pressure liquid chromatography technique. This first edition of IEC 62321-6 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321:2008, forming a structural revision and generally replacing Annex A.

IEC 62321-3-2:2013 specifies the screening analysis of the total bromine (Br) in homogeneous materials found in polymers and electronics by using the analytical technique of combustion ion chromatography (C-IC).

IEC 62321-3-1:2013 describes the screening analysis of five substances, specifically lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), total chromium (Cr) and total bromine (Br) in uniform materials found in electrotechnical products, using the analytical technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.

IEC 62321-4:2013 describes the use of four test methods for mercury in polymers, metals and electronics, namely CV-AAS (cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry), CV-AFS (cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry) ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

IEC 62321-5:2013 describes the four test methods for lead, cadmium and chromium in polymers, metals and electronics, namely AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry), AFS (atomic fluorescence spectrometry), ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) as well as several procedures for preparing the sample solution from which the most appropriate method of analysis can be selected by experts.

IEC 62542:2013 specifies generic terms and definitions that are related to environmental standardization within the IEC. It serves as a glossary of terminology to be considered for environmental aspects of relevant work in IEC. The terms cover environmental issues that are relevant for electrotechnical products across all product life cycle stages. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

IEC 62321-1:2013 refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It provides guidance on the disassembly procedure employed for obtaining a sample. This first edition of IEC 62321-1 is a partial replacement of IEC 62321, forming a structural revision and replacing Clauses 1 to 4.

This European Standard specifies a marking • of electrical and electronic equipment in accordance with Article 11(2) of Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE); NOTE This is in addition to the marking requirement in Article 10(3) of this Directive which requires producers to mark electrical and electronic equipment put on the market after 13 August 2005 with a ‘crossed-out wheeled bin’ symbol. • that applies to electrical and electronic equipment falling under Annex IA of Directive 2002/96/EC, provided the equipment concerned is not part of another type of equipment that does not fall within the scope of this Directive. Annex IB of Directive 2002/96/EC contains an indicative list of the products, which fall under the categories set out in Annex IA of this Directive; • that serves to clearly identify the producer of the equipment and that the equipment has been put on the market after 13 August 2005. The definition of a technical carrier medium for identifying the producer, such as a barcode, electronic data medium or microchip, is not covered by this standard.

IEC 62321-2:2013 provides strategies of sampling along with the mechanical preparation of samples from electrotechnical products, electronic assemblies and electronic components. These samples can be used for analytical testing to determine the levels of certain substances as described in the test methods in other parts of IEC 62321. Restrictions for substances will vary between geographic regions and from time to time. This Standard describes a generic process for obtaining and preparing samples prior to the determination of any substance which are under concern.

This European Standard specifies the technical documentation that the manufacturer needs to compile in order to declare compliance with the applicable substance restrictions. The documentation of the manufacturer’s management system is outside the scope of this European Standard.

IEC 62474:2012 specifies the procedure, content, and form relating to material declarations for products of companies operating in and supplying the electrotechnical industry. Process chemicals and emissions during product use are not in the scope of this International Standard. It provides data to downstream manufacturers that: - allows them to assess products against substance restriction compliance requirements; - they can use in their environmentally conscious design process and across all product life cycle phases. A database associated with this document is available at: http://std.iec.ch/iec62474. It contains the list of: - Declarable substance groups and declarable substances; - Reference Substances; - Material classes; - XML schema for data format and exchange and the accompanying developer table.

IEC 62430:2009 specifies requirements and procedures to integrate environmental aspects into design and development processes of electrical and electronic products, including combination of products, and the materials and components of which they are composed. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

IEC 62321:2008, which is an International Standard, specifies the determination of the levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contained in inorganic and organic compounds, and two types of brominated flame retardants, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) contained in electrotechnical products. This standard refers to the sample as the object to be processed and measured. The nature of the sample and the manner in which it is acquired is defined by the entity carrying out the tests and not by this standard. It has the status of a horizontal standard in accordance with IEC Guide 108.

This Technical Report investigates in the light of the implementation of the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) the feasibility of deploying machine readable product identification technologies (e.g. smart tracker chips) to fulfil the marking requirement for the purpose of implementing producer responsibility. The product recognition shall provide information for waste stream management (sorting, reporting and cost allocation). Machine readable product identification technologies can be utilized during every phase of the product life cycle of an EEE. The WEEE management is the last phase. This Technical Report focuses on this phase only.