Automotive Chemical Safety Testing (VOC/ELV)

YOUR CHALLENGE

With the adoption of End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive in major markets worldwide and the growing need for anti-fogging, or Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) testing from OEMs, the traditional automotive supply chain is no longer the same.

#1: End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Directive

The spirit of the ELV directive is based on four pillars. 

1. Firstly, the aim is the reduction of hazardous substances in vehicles to minimize their release to the environment. 
2. Secondly, vehicles should be designed to facilitate proper dismantling and to allow components and materials to be reused, recycled and/or recovered. 
3. Thirdly, the manufactures (both automotive OEM and component) shall increase the demand for recycled material. 
4. Finally, certain materials (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium) are forbidden except for a few applications with defined phase-out dates.

To be sustainable in the marketplace, automotive part suppliers must be able to manage the contents of the automobile parts produced and the release of hazardous substances to the environment and human health. 

At the same time the suppliers must be able to genuinely and transparently report (via IMDS or similar portal) the detailed substance data to allow the original material compositions to be traceable along the supply chain. This could help the ability of automotive OEMs to achieve the target recycling and recovery as well as elimination of the use of hazardous substances in their automotive parts.

#2: Volatile Organic Compound Requirements 

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. As a result of their potential adverse impact on the environment and on human health, VOC are regulated in the manufacture of many products, especially within the interiors of vehicles with most OEMs having their own requirements. 

“The effects on human health from VOC tend to be chronic, rather than acute, but can include skin and eye irritation, respiratory illness, headaches, fatigue and even cancer.”

OUR SOLUTION

#1: ELV Related Testing Services

Equipped with a team of experienced chemical, environmental and materials specialists, Bureau Veritas can assist automotive parts manufacturers in complying with the ELV requirements. Our services include:

• Chemical analytics and screenings for the heavy metals Pb, Hg, Cd and Cr(VI)
• Confirmation of analytical results against the latest acceptable limits in IMDS

#2: Risk Based Solution on Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL) Substance Testing and Evaluation

• Recommendation on the analytical testing candidates based on the risk of occurrence of declarable or prohibited substances from GADSL (this service depends on the material type together with the consideration of the robustness of the manufacturers’ manufacturing system)

#3: Registration Evaluation Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) for automotive substances

• Analytical Test service for Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 (REACH) with its substance of very high concern (SVHC) definition and the restricted substance list in Annex XVII

#4: IMDS Database Enquiry and Training Services

• Database Enquiry and Training Services to assist suppliers to prepare the material datasheet meeting the generic IMDS requirement and OEMS specific reporting practice
• Marking of polymers and elastomers in accordance with Commission Decision 2003/138/EC of component and material coding standards
• Recycling and recovery rate calculation

#5: VOC Testing

• Bureau Veritas is authorized for material VOC testing by many of the leading automotive OEMs globally as well as the world’s leading accreditation bodies.