Useful definition

EEE : Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Any finished product which uses electric currents or electromagnetic fields to operate, and equipment for the generation, transfer or measurement of these currents and fields, designed for use at voltages not exceeding 1000 volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct current.

RoHS : Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment,

Restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

Substances concerned

The European RoHS directive (2002/95/EC), which came into force on 01/07/2006, aims to restrict the use of six dangerous substances:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Hexavalent chromium
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)

The maximum concentration of these substances is 0.1% by weight in homogeneous materials, except for cadmium, for which the limit is 0.01%.

Soldering electronic components on printed circuit boards

As this is directly affected by the reduction of lead when soldering, we have replaced the alloy containing lead with another type of alloy (except for products made for the aerospace activity, for safety reasons).

Equipment concerned

The directive applies to products marketed in all European territories. It applies to eight of the product categories specified in the WEEE European directive (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) :
• Large household appliances
• Small household appliances
• IT and telecommunications equipment
• Consumer equipment
• Lighting equipment
• Electrical and electronic tools
• Toys, leisure and sports equipment
• Automatic dispensers
Batteries are not included in the directive.