Reclassification and Labelling Regulations for Brazing Fillers and Fluxes

Started by a United Nations (UN) initiative experts have developed a Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in order to eliminate differences between the various international systems for classifying and labelling chemicals. It is also to further raise standards in on-the-job safety, in the protection of health, environment and consumers as well as in transportation of hazardous materials.

This GHS system was introduced to the EU on December 16th 2008 with the EC directive 1272/2008 titled Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures) – (CLP). The CLP Regulation came into force across Europe on January 20th 2009. Even though not all of the recommendations made by the UN with their GHS-system were actually adopted to the EC directive, the Commission did to a large extent follow UN recommendations.

The 30th and 31st ATPs (Amendment to Technical Process - adaptations of directive 67/548/EEC (substances guideline)) of the council for harmonization of the legal and administrative regulations for the Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures to technical progress) were incorporated in a 1st ATP of the annex VI to the CLP Regulation, which was published on September 5th 2009. The classifications stated therein will be in effect no later than December 1st 2010 and have an effect upon a part of our range of products.

Currently, all chemical substances in the European Union are newly registered within the framework of REACH and their properties are revaluated. This can have the effect that some of our products have to be relabeled.  We would like to emphasize that such a labeling change is necessary only by the reclassification of some raw materials. The existing recipes and alloys for BrazeTec products remain unchanged.

Brazing Powders and Brazing Pastes

In this 1st ATP, the dangerous substance classification for nickel (ECNo: 231-111-4) changed. As a consequence, from December 1st 2010, powdered filler metal and brazing pastes with a nickel content of more than 10 percent by weight (wt. %) must be classified and labelled as "T" toxic.

The following BrazeTec products are affected by this:

BrazeTec D 300.1, BrazeTec D 897.1, BrazeTec D 897.2, BrazeTec P 897.1, BrazeTec D 1002.1, BrazeTec D 1002.2, BrazeTec P 1002.1, BrazeTec P 1002.2, BrazeTec P 1002.3, BrazeTec P 1002.4, BrazeTec P 1002.5, BrazeTec P 1002.8, BrazeTec S 1002.2, BrazeTec D 1040.1, BrazeTec S 1040.1, BrazeTec D 1090.1, BrazeTec R 1090.1, BrazeTec S 1090.1, BrazeTec D 1130.2, BrazeTec D 1135.1, BrazeTec D 1135.2, BrazeTec P 1135.1, BrazeTec S 1135.1, BrazeTec S 1135.2, BrazeTec S 1135.3

Solid Brazing Alloys

Solid brazing alloys containing nickel are considered metals in compact form. According to annex 1 sec. 1.3.4.1 of the GHS regulation  (EC) No. 1272/2008, metals in compact form do not require a label if they do not present a hazard to human health by inhalation, ingestion or contact with the skin or to the aquatic environment in the form in which they are placed on the market. This applies to the hazard classification "toxic". Solid brazing alloys containing nickel do not need to be labelled as "toxic" even though they must be classified as such. However, the required information must be made available to the user in a safety data sheet.

Matters differ with the hazard category "sensitising". Here exists a risk of sensitisation if there is skin contact with the substance. As a consequence, solid brazing alloys with a Ni-content of ≥ 1 % must be labelled as irritant to skin.

The following BrazeTec products are affected by this:

BrazeTec 21/80, BrazeTec 21/80SI, BrazeTec 2577, BrazeTec 2700, BrazeTec 4000, BrazeTec 4009 AWS, BrazeTec 4085, BrazeTec 48/10, BrazeTec 49/Cu plus, BrazeTec 49/CU/NI/FE, BrazeTec 49/NIN, BrazeTec 49/NIN42, BrazeTec 4900, BrazeTec 5009, BrazeTec 5081, BrazeTec 64/CU, BrazeTec 6488, BrazeTec CU/NIN

Fluxes

Fluxes containing more than 5.5 wt. % boric acid (ECNo: 233-139-2, 234-343-4), 6.5 wt. % disodium tetraborate pentahydrate, (EC No: 215-540-4) or 3.1 wt. % diboron trioxide (EC No: 215-125-8) from December 1st 2010 must be classified in "reproductive toxicant category 2" and must be labelled with the symbol "T" toxic and the R-classes R60, R61.

The following BrazeTec products are affected by this:

BrazeTec 523 Powder, BrazeTec d21 Powder, BrazeTec f Paste, BrazeTec ms Pulver, BrazeTec r 1, BrazeTec rs Paste, BrazeTec rs A Paste, BrazeTec s Paste, BrazeTec s Powder, BrazeTec spezial s Paste