This is just my 2p's worth as we are OT but it is very relevant to all Protel users....
The WEEE and RoHS documents are not too big and are easy to read. I have read them several times and they provide a list of what type of equipment has to comply. The basic list (from Annex IA) is very short so I shall reproduce it here: 1) Large Household appliances 2) Small Household appliances 3) IT and telecommunications equipment 4) Consumer equipment 5) Lighting equipment 7) Toys, leisure and sports equipment 8) Medical devices ** N/A to RoHS, WEEE only ** 9) Monitoring and control instruments ** N/A to RoHS, WEEE only ** 10) Automatic dispensers Annex IIA then gives some examples in each category have a look at the following links for both directives and the expanded lists http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en001 90023.pdf http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_037/l_03720030213en002 40038.pdf The exemptions given in the RoHS document are for things that fall into the above categories but have been given exemptions i.e. lead in electronic ceramic parts. If your product does not fall under the above categories then it is exempt by omission, isn't' it? I don't see Avionics or Automotive under any of these headings (other than cross over items, i.e. in car DVD is a consumer item) so again by omission they are exempt. Go on tell me I am reading it wrong? I can't see the EU listing every single product ever made and that will ever be made so they just give examples and most products are clear cut i.e. our tyre pressure systems used on 12ft diameter tyres come under section 9 so are exempt but the expanded section 9 doesn't actual list TPMS systems for mine trucks and I wouldn't expect it to as its not exactly a common product. I think a lot of the worry that this is causing is unnecessary just like the CE/ EMC compliance that came in a few years ago. It's just a lot of people reading into this things that aren't there! Have any of you asked how it is going to be enforced...I have and in the UK it's a joke as always :-o Its all self certification with no 3rd party testing. One last thing the current RoHS document gives the following exemption in its annex: "5. Lead in glass of cathode ray tubes, electronic components and fluorescent tubes" So all our current stock of leaded parts are OK? We can't use lead solder to fix them to the PCB as most of the current lead free solders must have virtually 0% lead contamination from components or you can get problems later on. There are a few low temperature (215degC) lead free solders that when used with lead free boards and leaded parts work fine you just need to look for them or should I be reading something else into that exemption ;-) Regards, Peter Smith Raster Vision Ltd -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brad Velander Sent: 14 December 2005 00:14 To: Protel EDA Discussion List Subject: RE: [PEDA] avionics Thanks Mira, However, like most of the articles published the comments you quoted are misleading and very incomplete. I know that we (Avionics) have not been given any official nor formal exemption. Military possibly, avionics not. Possibly the avionics he is speaking of is actually aerospace. Avionics as defined for our products as being plane/helicopter based fight, control and communications systems My comments before were based upon a lot of comments by these so-called experts (you run into lots of them at many of these trade seminars on RoHS and WEEE) stating that avionics are exempt. We even have some within our own company that believe this. The fact is that an exemption for avionics has been applied for, it has not been granted and no one seems to know when the EU will even deal with it. There is a group of avionics companies (ones with big legal depts or budgets) that have basically prepared a legal position that basically states that the EU has failed to deal with the exemption application, therefore why would they spend millions only to have the EU grant an exemption at a later date. Our company is playing follow the leader(s) tagging along behind their big legal departments, at the moment. If anyone wants to carry on this conversation, we really should move it over to the OT forum before we rile up the Techserve gods or other forum members that don't appreciate the topic. I can't go over there and chat with myself (at least not without a visit from some of my workmates whom may be concerned if I am carrying on email conversations with myself). I posted an initial email or two to move the thread to OT but no one has followed yet. Sincerely, Brad Velander Senior PCB Designer Northern Airborne Technology #14 - 1925 Kirschner Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 4N7. tel (250) 763-2329 ext. 225 fax (250) 762-3374 ____________________________________________________________ You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum To Post messages: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe and Other Options: http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004): http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current): http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
