With changes to regulations concerning the labelling of products that contain hazardous chemicals now due, John Dabb, Sales and Marketing Director at Hyde, looks at what merchants can do to ensure they’ve got the right stock in.
We all know that plumbing products containing toxic materials can be harmful if misused. Installers can expose themselves to the risk of potential harm, while unsafe disposal of such products on the jobsite can harm the environment, too.
The trouble is that installers are not always aware of the potential risk from these products until they fall foul of them in some way. However, every product potentially affected now has to be clearly labelled with hazard pictograms so everyone can see the potential risk. That’s because full legal compliance with CLP Regulation EC No 1272/2008, which requires all chemical substances and mixtures be classified for their hazards and their packaging labelled accordingly, is now imperative.
For mixtures such as flux the deadline for substance classification according to the CLP regulation was June 2015. However, where a mixture had already been classified, labelled and packaged and placed on the shelf for sale before 1st June 2015, it didn’t have to be recalled for re-labelling and re-packaging.
This gave merchants some breathing space to shift existing stock, without incurring a penalty. However, this grandfathering period came to an end on 31st May, 2017, with all packaging on sale from 1st June, 2017 now having to show if it contains hazardous materials. For merchants, this means checking the stock on their shelves, pulling anything that doesn’t comply and remerchandising as necessary.
For installers, this stipulation means that a quick glance at the labelling at point of purchase will tell them if the flux carries any potential health risks, enabling them to make an informed choice, which might mean the safest option.
When installers are busy working at pace and just want to ensure their personal safety, the easiest choice is to opt for a flux that is non-toxic and lead-free. It therefore makes good sense for customers to choose a product which does not need to be labelled either as an irritant or as a corrosive by hazard pictograms. For merchants, it makes sense to give priority to stocking such products to meet with demand.
One such solution is LA-CO Flux, a non-acid, non-toxic and lead free flux that takes the stress out of applying paste to pipes when soldering. As well as putting safety first, LA-CO Flux is an efficient, water-soluble Flux solution for both potable water and gas applications.
Replacing any non-compliant products with such simple solutions is a clear way forward for merchants not wishing to get caught out by CLP Regulations.
For more information, contact Hyde on 0121 704 2324 or visit www.brianhyde.co.uk
