Overview
What is rohs compliance testing and analysis?
Chem-Tech Laboratories provides RoHS testing services for restricted substances in electrical equipment and electronic products. The EU RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) restricts the maximum allowable levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr6+), polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants to 0.1% or 1000 ppm (except for cadmium, which is limited to 0.01% or 100 ppm) by weight of homogeneous material in electrical equipment and electronic products. In order to manufacture these products, manufacturers are responsible for providing due diligence documentation. Chem-Tech® provides RoHS compliance product and material testing services through our laboratory in Pune. Chem-Tech's published capability includes instrumentation used for RoHS-related electronic component testing. Chem-Tech’s RoHS analysis methods include XRF Screening, ICP-OES and UV Visible Analysis.
Compliance context
Products, components and material groups
Electrical and electronic products and components
Homogeneous materials and product assemblies
Restricted-substance testing against the supplied requirement
Programme guidance
RoHS 2.0 OR 3.0
Directive 2011/65/EU was published in 2011 by the EU, which is known as RoHS-Recast or RoHS 2. RoHS 2 includes a CE-marking directive, with RoHS compliance now being required for CE marking of products. RoHS 2 also added Categories 8 and 9, and has additional compliance recordkeeping requirements.
Directive 2015/863 is known as RoHS 3. RoHS 3 testing adds four additional restricted substances (phthalates) to the list of six.
Testing scope
Parameters Tested Include
Lead (Pb)
Cadmium (Cd)
Mercury (Hg)
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))
Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)
Phtahalates ( DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP)
Technical review
Common material and compliance considerations
Material identification
The product construction and material groups must be identified so that preparation and analytical scope remain representative.
Restricted-substance scope
Only substances covered by the confirmed requirement and agreed analytical scope are evaluated.
Screening and confirmatory analysis
Screening and quantitative methods serve different purposes and are selected according to the material and reporting requirement.
Compliance interpretation
A compliance conclusion requires the applicable requirement, reporting unit and decision limit to be confirmed.
Published laboratory capability
Tests and test methods
The methods below are matched to Chem-Tech's controlled technical test lists and published laboratory capability. The final scope is confirmed for the sample, specification and current laboratory capability.
| Test / parameter | Published test method | Technical purpose | Interpretation / high-low context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | IEC 62321-5:2013 / IEC 62321-3:2013 (XRF) | Measures or evaluates lead (pb) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| Cadmium (Cd) | IEC 62321-5:2013 / IEC 62321-3:2013 (XRF) | Measures or evaluates cadmium (cd) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| Mercury (Hg) | IEC 62321-4:2017 / IEC 62321-3:2017 (XRF) | Measures or evaluates mercury (hg) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI) | IEC 62321-7-2:2017 / IEC 62321-3:2017 (XRF) | Measures or evaluates hexavalent chromium (crvi) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) | IEC 62321-6:2015 | Measures or evaluates polybrominated biphenyls (pbb) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) | IEC 62321-6:2015 | Measures or evaluates polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbde) under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| DEHP | IEC 62321-8:2015 | Measures or evaluates dehp under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| BBP | IEC 62321-8:2015 | Measures or evaluates bbp under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| DBP | IEC 62321-8:2015 | Measures or evaluates dbp under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
| DIBP | IEC 62321-8:2015 | Measures or evaluates dibp under the published method. | A higher or lower result is interpreted against the applicable specification, sample type and available reference data; direction alone does not establish conformity. |
Before dispatch
Sample-submission guidance
- Use a clean, secure and appropriately labelled container.
- Provide the sample identity, fluid grade and equipment or system details where applicable.
- Share operating hours, maintenance history, the suspected problem and required specification where available.
- Contact Chem-Tech before dispatch so the laboratory can confirm the sample quantity, container and selected testing scope.
Technical output
Reporting and interpretation
The report records results and methods for the agreed scope. Customer-supplied limits or specifications can be considered when provided before testing.
Results should be reviewed with equipment history, operating conditions and previous data; a laboratory result alone does not guarantee a root-cause diagnosis or remaining service life.
Discuss your requirement
Need more information?
Share the product or material, applicable requirement and testing objective with the Chem-Tech team.