NEWS
Georg H. Luh
Klaus Rathberger, Georg H. Luh, Germany, outlined the benefits of his company’s expanded graphite as a PIN flame retardant system component.
READ MOREInternational Antimony Association (I2A)
Caroline Braibant, International Antimony Association (I2A) presented the “hazards” of antimony and stewardship measures engaged to enable safe use of antimony trioxide (ATO).
READ MOREConsultation on RoHS restrictions for halogenated FRs
The European Commission has a consultation, open to 30th January 2020, on restrictions on restrictions of additional substances under the RoHS Regulation (Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment), with assessments of TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol-A), MCCPs (medium chain chlorinated paraffins) and ATO (diantimony oxide). The consultation is based on dossiers for each substance prepared for the European Commission by Öko-Institut and Fraunhofer IZM (each 60-80 pages).
READ MOREEU consultation on classification of melamine
ECHA (European Chemical Agency) has launched, open to 7th February 2020, a public consultation on a proposal to classify (CLH) melamine as Cat 2 carcinogen (H351 suspected carcinogen) STOT RE1 (specific target organ toxicity, H372 urinary tract), based on possible risks from oral intake.
READ MOREEU ban on halogenated FRs in electronic display parts
The new EU Ecodesign Regulation requirements for electronic displays are now published, banning halogenated flame retardants in the enclosure and stand of all electronic displays, monitors and televisions, from 1st March 2021.
READ MOREWashington State consults on priority chemicals
Washington State has invited public comment on the five “priority chemical classes” identified in the State’s new law RCW 70.365 “Safer Products for Washington” adopted Spring 2019 (Senate Bill 5135).
READ MOREUS CPSC takes no decision on open flame testing
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the body which can fix federal product safety standards, has been discussing and studying a possible federal open flame fire safety requirement for furniture for 25 years, after granting a petition from the US National Association of Fire Safety Marshalls in 1994.
READ MORENew Hampshire bans all FRs in furniture
The State of New Hampshire has adopted a bill (SB193) banning the sale of furniture which contains > 0.1% “flame retardants” in its covering or cushioning.
READ MOREUK buildings failing fire safety tests
An estimated 1 700 buildings in the UK (hospitals, schools, high-rise flats …) may be “at risk” because cladding and construction materials pose fire risks.
READ MOREWhirlpool dryer fire recall
Whirlpool is being obliged to recall further clothes dryers, because in the machines as sold, fluff can accumulated and then enter into contact with the heating element.
READ MOREGrenfell law suit cites Whirlpool, Arconic, Celotex
Associated Press reports that nearly 250 survivors and families of victims’ of the Grenfell tower fire have filed legal action in Philadelphia, citing Whirlpool (the manufacturer of the Hotpoint model fridge-freezer which is indicated to have started the fire, and which contained flammable insulation foam, see pinfa Newsletter n°94), cladding manufacturer Arconic and insulation manufacturer Celotex (part of Saint Gobain group). Both the cladding and the insulation product have since been taken off the market.
READ MOREFire losses in the USA in 2018
The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published its annual report on fire losses, showing that 1.3 million fires were reported by fire departments in the USA in 2018, resulting in over 3 600 civilian deaths, 15 200 civilian injuries and US$ 25 billion property loss.
READ MORE34 dead in California diving boat fire
33 passengers and one crew member died in a fire on the 23-metre commercial scuba-diving boat Conception (Truth Aquatics Inc.), which was anchored off Santa Cruz Island, California, 3rd September 2019.
READ MORENine dead in Odessa hotel fire
A fire in the 273 room Tokyo Star Hotel, Odessa, Ukraine, 17th August, killed nine people, reportedly by carbon monoxide poisoning.
READ MOREPrysmian in Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Prysmian Group, world leader in energy and telecom cable systems, has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World, recognising environmental, social and governance performance.
READ MORETratos Queen’s Award for LSZH cables
Leading European electrical, electronic and fibre optic cables manufacturer, Tratos, is amongst the 2019 UK Queen’s Award Enterprise winners for innovation for its new Tratos JBA cable sheathing elastometric compound.
READ MOREMarket for PIN flame retardants continuing to grow
A number of new market studies predict continuing growth for flame retardant demand, particularly for PIN FRs. DataMintIntelligence predict 6.2% growth for overall FR markets worldwide 2019-2026, with increasing application in construction, E&E and generally in plastics.
READ MOREIAFSS publishes agenda for fire safety
The International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) has published (in Fire Safety Journal) its “Agenda 2030 for a fire safe world”, as a call for dialogue between fire scientists, fire engineers, regulators and funding agencies.
READ MOREKeratin from waste feathers as a PIN flame retardant
New Zealand researchers are developing a process to extract keratin from waste poultry feathers and produce a PIN flame retardant. Some 40 million tonnes (1) of chicken feathers are generated worldwide, considered as a waste.
READ MOREDissent over study on toxicity of FR furniture smoke
A study led by UCLAN UK centering on toxicity of smoke from FR furniture has led to publication by the same journal of an immediate rebuttal.
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