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Restricted Substances Testing Services

If you manufacture wire and cable, components or information technology equipment, you are well aware of the concerns about the use of hazardous substances in your products. To remain a "supplier of choice" in some regions, you must comply with regulations restricting the use of hazardous substances, including lead and cadmium. UL's Commercial Inspection and Testing Services (CITS) can assist you with independent, third-party testing for lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium in polymeric materials.

Environmental concern spurs European directive

A major driver in this area is the European Union (EU), which early in 2003 passed a new Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive that limits the use of lead, cadmium and other hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. The directive is effective July 1, 2006. Under the directive, each EU member state must enact its own complying legislation by mid-2004, so regulations will vary from country to country.

In the United States, California enacted Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, to address concerns about people's exposure to substances that cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. This law targets more than 500 substances, including lead and cadmium, and prohibits the discharge of these chemicals into drinking water sources. It also requires that manufacturers of consumer products that contain restricted substances warn consumers of the substance's presence.

Applying our expertise to meet your needs

UL is uniquely positioned to perform this type of testing, having the technical competences and facilities to deliver this service. UL has performed lead, cadmium and other heavy metals testing under existing certification programs, including:

  • Polymeric Materials for Use in Wire & Cable (QMTT2), a Recognition program for compounds used in wire and cable
  • UL 696 Standard for Electric Toys
  • UL 697 Standard for Toy Transformers

Tests follow methods to produce the most complete analysis

While there are many published test methods available for lead content, including surface availability, leachability and total lead content, UL offers three quality analysis options that are commonly used to address the current international green program requirements for lead and cadmium. UL tests are based on methods outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and European Standards:

  • Lead and cadmium - EPA 3050B / 6010B, Acid Digestion of Sediments, Sludges and Soils / ICP analysis for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials.
  • Lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium - US EPA 3052 (UL Variation) / 6010B, Microwave Assisted Acid Digestion of Siliceous and Organically Based Matrices / ICP analysis.
  • Cadmium - European Standard test method EN-1122 for polymeric materials. In this test, the sample is decomposed in a strong, decomposing acid solution, and optical spectrometry is used to calculate a product's cadmium content.

UL can test for lead, cadmium, mercury and chromium, and provide you with a report that outlines the substance's content level in the tested sample of your product. The testing results in a one-time report only; no Follow-Up Services or UL certification is involved.

Testing backed by UL expertise and integrity

Not only will testing help you in obtaining market access in Europe for your products, but you will also be able to give your customers the confidence that they are using environmentally friendly products. Testing your products gives you a market advantage, because you can:

  • Become a supplier of choice for companies that require low lead and cadmium products.
  • Demonstrate that your product is environmentally friendly.
  • Demonstrate product compliance with international regulations requiring low content of hazardous substances.

For more than 100 years, UL has dedicated itself to making the world a safer place through product, component and quality systems certification. When you choose UL CITS to perform your lead and cadmium testing, you have access to the same expertise, the same experience and the same integrity of UL staff members who are responsible for the safety certification of products all over the world. Testing by UL brings highest credibility to the test results. And UL's research and development professionals are committed to continuing to develop additional testing, knowledge-based and supply chain compliance services for restricted substances.

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