Contents 5 Electrical Hazards

The objectives for management and disposal of large electrical waste appliances are (a) stripping of hazardous substances (b) reduction of pollutant and metal content in the shredder residue (c) recycling and recovery of ferrous metals and (d) attainment of commercially recyclable scrap quality (e.g., low copper content in the scrap iron). 

One of the primary contents of the Treaties of the European Community (EC) is the elimination of trade barriers for technical equipment. These barriers have been based on different technical standards (and their legislation) in the member states of the EC. Referring to article 100 of the Treaties of the EC, some directives have been issued in order to harmonize the standardization for technical products (explosion protected electrical apparatus and systems, elevators). These directives describe precisely the technical requirements and list the relevant standards, in the field of explosion protection CENELEC Standards exclusively. Directive 82/130/EEC refers to mines endangered by firedamp and/or combustible dusts, and Directive 76/117/EEC covers areas hazardous due to potentially explosive atmospheres. The member states of the EC shall transform these directives into their national legislation within 18 months. 

To complete Chapters 6 and 7 describing zone 1 equipment, this chapter is focused on electrical apparatus for zone 0 and zone 2 application, i.e. hazardous areas endangered by combustible gases, vapours or mist. The relevant standards and their technical content have been covered in Sections 2.3 for zone 0 and 2.4 for zone 2. 

Solution Though polar, PVC-like nonpolar thermoplastics can be used as insulation for electrical wires in low-frequency applications. Prolonged use of hotrsehold electronic appliances has a tendency to generate heat. Therefore, these appliances can be a potential sotrrce of fire hazard. Unlike other thermoplastic polyolefins, PVC has inherent (built-in) fire retardancy because of its 57% chlorine content. This reduces the susceptibility to fire outbreak arising from prolonged use of household electronic apphances. 

Colours play an essential safety role in giving information for use in tbe prevention of accidents, for warning of health hazards, to identify contents of gas cylinders, pipeline and services, the identification and safe use of cables and components in electronic and electrical installations as well as the correct use of fire-fighting equipment. 

Because of the hazardous contents of these items and other electronic waste, they can cause health and environmental problems if not managed properly. Therefore, to address these problems the RoHS and WEEE Directives were put in place. The first WEEE Directive was enforced in Eebmary 2003. It provided collection plans, where consumers could return their electronic and electrical wastes free of charge. These plans aimed to increase the recycling and /or reuse of electronic equipment (that had been discarded). 

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