Number

173-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

Small and medium service stations cleaned brakes for repair- and maintenance purposes by heated tap water on a wash stand fitted with a flow heater and a spray gun. Formerly, the enterpriser used typical brake cleaner containing naphtha, hydrotreated heavy.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

other toxic effects
physical hazards
CMR

Other type of alternative

Hot-water low-pressure spray washer

Hazard Assessment

Substance to be substituted: Naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy may cause cancer cat. 1B, according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Propan-2-ol is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database. Alternative substance: The alternative is heater tap water and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation) and is not listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)

Description of Substitution

The maintenance of drum brakes should be done at intervals of 100 000 and more travelled kilometres (new brake pads). Disc brakes that are installed in vehicles front and rear have shorter maintenance intervals: every 80 000 travelled kilometres, replaced brake pads every 30 to 40 000 kilometres. In an average service station 30 brakes per week are cleaned, in small service station 10 brakes per week are cleaned. Brakes were cleaned by a typical brake cleaner (volatile hydrocarbons in spray cans). Circa 0.125 L spray was needed per each brake cleaning, which costs 1.5. This cleaning method was fast and effective, but the employees are exposed to inhalative exposure due to hydrocarbon vapours and aerosols and skin contact with degreasing solvents. After the change of the cleaning process car brakes are cleaned by heated tap water (90°C) applied by low pressure spraying (Universal Niederdruck-Heißreiniger 600 SR). The reason for the change of sprayed cleaner to cleaning with hot water was because of safety and health concerns of employees and environmental concerns. On average, 190 L of the spray can be saved per year. The high-water temperature in the alternative process ensures the cleaning effect on deposits of accumulated oil, brake baked dust and at the same time a rapid drying of the brake. The brake dirt is bound by water and the washed dirt goes into a collecting tank where it settles and then is disposed of as sludge. According to garage technicians the small volumes of waste are disposed of with other waste. Further the wash stand is equipped in circulation system for cleaning agent and filtration unit. A good alternative to conventional spray is the rapid start-up of the temperature of water to 90 °C in just 60 seconds and the short cleaning time: 30 to 60 seconds per brake.

Case/substitution evaluation

The product containing a carcinogen used for car brakes cleaning, can be replaced with tap water. The new system is a safer alternative for the described application.

State of implementation

In use

Date and place of implementation

2007 in Germany

Availability ofAlternative

On the market

Producer/Provider

See contact: information supplier

Type of information supplier

Producer / distributor
Research

Contact

https://www.ph-cleantec.de/en/

Date, reviewed

November 26, 2021