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Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labelled products may also be obtained via
the Internet, using the address:
http://www.tco-info.com/
Environmental requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their
purpose is to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer
casing can consist of flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or
chloride, and those flame retardants are chemically related to another group of environmental
toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing bromine or chloride and the PCBs are
suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including reproductive damage in fish-eating
birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found
in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams
must not contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants
are allowed in the printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colour-generating layers of certain
computer displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The
relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries, the colour-generating layers of display screens
and the electrical or electronics components must not contain any cadmium.
Mercury**
Mercury is sometimes found in batteries, relays and switches. It damages the nervous system and
is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that batteries may not contain any
mercury. It also demands that mercury is not present in any of the electrical or electronics
components associated with the labelled unit. There is however one exception. Mercury is, for the
time being, permitted in the back light system of flat panel monitors as today there is no
commercially available alternative. TCO aims on removing this exception when a Mercury free
alternative is available.
CFCs (freons)
The relevant TCO'99 requirement states that neither CFCs nor HCFCs may be used during the
manufacture and assembly of the product. CFCs (freons) are sometimes used for washing printed
circuit boards. CFCs break down ozone and thereby damage the ozone layer in the stratosphere,
causing increased reception on earth of ultraviolet light with e.g. increased risks of skin cancer
(malignant melanoma) as a consequence.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the
nervous system and in higher doses, causes lead poisoning. The relevant TCO'99 requirement
permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
Medical Requirement
Classifications:
In accordance with UL 2601-1/IEC 60601-1, the product is cssified as Continuous duty Class I
equipment, which is not protected against ingress of liquids. The product is not suitable for use in
the presence of a flammable anaesthetic mixture with air or with oxygen or nitrous oxide.
EMC
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for medical devices to the IEC
601-1-2:1994. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a typical medical installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to other devices in the vicinity. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to other devices, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
z Reorient or relocate the receiving device.