The interpretation of the regulations and standards for halogen-free flame retardants mainly focuses on environmental protection requirements, flame retardant performance, and specific application fields. The following is a detailed interpretation of the relevant regulations and standards:
First, the promotion of halogen-free flame retardants by global environmental protection regulations
Eu regulations: The EU RoHS, REACH regulations and the Stockholm Convention, among others, explicitly restrict the use of halogen-based flame retardants. For instance, since 2021, the European Union has banned the use of halogen-containing flame retardants in specific products such as electronic displays. The EU Eco-Design Regulation issued by the General Court of the European Union also prohibits the use of halogen-containing flame retardants in televisions and monitors.
Other international regulations: The IEC 61249-2-21 standard provides clear limit values for halogen content, stipulating that the components of bromine and fluoride must be less than 900 ppm, and the total halogen components must be less than 1500 ppm. International economic organizations or large factories such as IEC, IPC, JPCA and Samsung have all defined the specifications and models of their phthalate raw materials. Among them, the IEC 61249-2-21 standard is similar to the IPC standard, while the JPCA standard defines the limits of bromide and fluoride components at 900 ppm, but does not stipulate the total halogen components. Samsung requires that the content limits of bromide and fluoride be each 900 ppm.
Domestic regulations: China’s mandatory standards such as the Fire Control Law and the Safety Technical Specifications for Electric Vehicles have raised the requirements for flame retardancy. Meanwhile, policies like the Measures for the Administration of the Recognition of High-tech Enterprises encourage the research and development of environmentally friendly flame retardants. Export rebate preferences (such as for organophosphorus products) have further promoted the industry’s transformation towards green development.
Second, flame retardant performance standards
General standards: In evaluating the flame retardant performance of materials, emphasis is placed on heat release rate, fire development rate, smoke generation, and the corrosiveness and toxicity of combustion products, etc.
Specific product standards: For example, when halogen-free PET flame retardants are used in PET, PA spinning, etc., their flame retardant performance can reach UL-V0 standards, and the flame retardant level of the products can reach UL94V0 (1.6mm) or VW-1.
Third, application field regulations and standards
In the field of electronics and electrical appliances: The update of the 9th generation product certification of TCO Certified has once again strengthened the restrictions on halogen-containing flame retardants, allowing the use of safer halogen-free flame retardants (PIN FR). The updated standard prohibits the use of halogen-containing flame retardants in certain components (such as the casing parts of monitors and computers and power supply PCBS, etc.), and the use of specific brominated flame retardants (PBB, PBDE, HBCDD) in all components is prohibited. And conduct a safety assessment of halogen-free flame retardants (PIN FR) (based on a GreenSreen® score of 2, 3 or 4), and approve halogen-free flame retardants with higher safety. At present, 22 kinds of PIN FR have been authorized by TCO as “accepted safer substances”, mainly including flame retardants based on phosphorus, melamine, ammonium, aluminum, magnesium and siloxane/silicone.
In the field of construction, China has submitted a national standard for the combustion performance grades of building materials and products for approval. This standard shares common features with the new standards in Western Europe, namely, when evaluating the flame retardant performance of materials, it emphasizes heat release rate, fire development rate, smoke generation, and the corrosiveness and toxicity of combustion products, etc.
