The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive is European
Union (EU) legislation that bans cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, PBBs (polybrominated biphenyls),
and PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) from products in the EU from 1st July 2006. All our boards have been
manufactured using RoHS compliant processes and components since November 2005. From July 1st 2006 all our products
sold to customers in the EU have been RoHS compliant. Those sold outside the EU after July 1st 2006 were not completely
RoHS compliant until early 2007. This applied mainly to enclosure connectors on NTSC units shipped to countries
outside the EU.
You may still use tin lead solder on our boards without any special consideration. RoHS regulations do not apply
to custom built equipment or to individual projects for your own use. Otherwise we recommend lead free solder with
silver such as Antex Sn97Ag2.5Cu0.5 for making connections to our boards. The silver content lowers the melting
point of the solder relative to the Sn/Cu alternative. This makes it more suitable for hand soldering. |