'No' votes force changes to J-STD-709.

BANNOCKBURN, IL -- Nearly half the votes registered on a controversial standard limiting halogens in electronics were negative, and the lack of consensus will force a second ballot.

J-STD-709 calls for limits on each plastic within a component of <1000 ppm (0.1%) bromine (if the bromine source is from brominated flame-retardants) and <1000 ppm (0.1%) of chlorine (if the chlorine source is from CFRs or PVC). Higher concentrations are permitted in plastics of components other than board laminates and substrates, provided their sources are not BFRs, CFRs or PVC.

Critics have argued the proposed limits lack supporting data, and the test methods are either vague or nonexistent. Others assert the draft standard, which is being pushed by Dell and Intel, could in fact lead to another Pb-free situation, costing the industry billions in product redesigns and testing.

The (PC task group ballot, which was completed in late March, returned 28 yes votes (approving the standard) and 23 no votes of the 81 persons registered to vote.

A total of 71 pages of comments were presented, seven pages specifically questioning the title (Limits for Bromine and Chlorine in Flame Retardants and Polyvinyl Chloride in "Low-Halogen" Electronic Products), and another 21 pages taking issue with the Forward.

At a task group meeting following the close of voting, the document was divided and given to subgroup chairs to try to generate verbiage that would be acceptable to the membership, Circuits Assembly has learned.

The document did pass the Jedec ballot. As a "J" standard--a designation meaning the document is codeveloped with Jedec--J-STD-709 underwent a separate vote in the Jedec committee. The final results of the Jedec ballot were 15 yes votes, two no votes and three abstains.

The two organizations have different policies for approving a standard or specification.

Edited by Mike Buetow