PD IEC TR 62476:2010 pdf – Guidance for evaluation ofproducts with respect to substance-use restrictionsin electrical and electronic products.
supplier audits and/or evaluation reports.
When using information provided by suppliers, the producer shall evaluate the information to ensure that it meets the requirements defined within the producer’s procedures. The requirements should be based on standards, where available. The producer should also ensure that those suppliers have implemented acceptable RSC. To determine an acceptable procedure for a supplier’s product, the producer should assess the likelihood of the procured parts or products containing restricted substances. The producer may judge this potential based on:
• material types used for the part and/or product and historical likelihood of restricted substances being present in these material types;
• information provided by supplier;
• historical experience with supplier organization.
For material declaration data sheets, the list of declarable substances represented, the declaration definitions and assumptions and the data format should be considered for alignment with industry standards. When an organization’s policy requires the control of additional substances, these additional requirements should be communicated to the suppliers and should be considered in the evaluation of material declaration information.
When supplier information does not meet the producer RSC requirements, or if there is a likelihood that the procured product materials, parts and sub-assemblies contain restricted substances, the producer should consider obtaining additional supplier information, analytical testing or using alternate evaluation methods to meet the substance restriction requirements.
5.2.3 Analytical testing
Analytical testing techniques may be used to measure the concentrations of restricted substances in prepared samples. Specific testing techniques and sample preparation methods are generally required for different types of materials. Sampling and sample preparation are critical to the accuracy of analytical tests. Analytical testing of electrical and electronic parts and equipment should follow industry standards on sample collection, preparation and testing methods, where available.
For products that are composed of multiple materials, disassembly of the product and sampling of the materials may be necessary, depending on the substance restriction requirements. IECIPAS 62596 provides guidelines on methods and limitations on product disassembly, disjointment and sampling in preparation for analytical testing.
IEC 62321 specifies methods and recommendations for sample preparation and analytical testing for certain restricted substances typically found in electrical and electronic products. This technical report defines methods for screening and verification testing, Screening tests can be a cost-effective tool to help identify areas of concern (parts and materials) that require further verification testing. However, screening tests are generally limited in accuracy and the ability to identify specific substances. Verification testing may be required when inconclusive results are obtained. IEC 62321 may be consulted for additional information.
Testing for substances restricted at the homogenous material level may be used in conjunction with supplier information. It is generally not desirable, cost-effective, nor practical to carry out analyses on all restricted substances In all product parts present in a typical electrical or electronic product. Therefore, the producer may develop a testing program based on factors such as:
• The part or material is judged to have a high probability of containing restricted substances based on history of usage of restricted substances in product materials, parts and sub-assemblies.
Analytical testing has the following limitations for substances restricted at the homogenousmaterial level:
Practicality in obtaining sample(s) that represent every type of discrete homogenousmaterial of the product.
Single products may not contain sufficient sample quantities for the prescribedanalytical techniques.
When destructive methods are required due to the shape of the sample/product or thekinds of substances to be analysed,the functionality of the product unit beingevaluated is compromised.
Analytical results are specific to the sample,batch or product being tested and may not berepresentative of other units produced.