Approval requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of electric
and magnetic fields, energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands impose restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and
chlorinated flame retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must
be prepared for recycling and the manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental policy which must be
adhered to in each country where the company implements its operational policy.
The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, after a certain period of
inactivity, shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The length of time to
reactivate the computer shall be reasonable for the user.
Labeled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of
electric and magnetic fields, physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
Below you will find a brief summary of the environmental requirements met by this product. The complete
environmental criteria document may be ordered from:
TCO Development
SE-114 94 Stockholm, Sweden
Fax: +46 8 782 92 07
Email (Internet): development@tco.se
Current information regarding TCO'99 approved and labeled products may also be obtained via the
Internet, using the address: http://www.tco-info.com/
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Environmental Requirements
Flame retardants
Flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. Their purpose is
to prevent, or at least to delay the spread of fire. Up to 30% of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of
flame retardant substances. Most flame retardants contain bromine or chloride, and those flame retardants
are chemically related to another group of environmental toxins, PCBs. Both the flame retardants containing
bromine or chloride and the PCBs are suspected of giving rise to severe health effects, including
reproductive damage in fish-eating birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame
retardants have been found in human blood and researchers fear that disturbances in fetus development
may occur.
The relevant TCO'99 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not
contain flame retardants with organically bound bromine or chlorine. Flame retardants are allowed in the
printed circuit boards since no substitutes are available.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the color-generating layers of certain computer
displays. Cadmium damages the nervous system and is toxic in high doses. The relevant TCO'99
requirement states that batteries, the color-generating layers of display screens and the electrical or
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