Number
339-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Building and construction work
Function
Other
Process
Other
Product category
polymer ppaations and cimpounds
Application
Roof flashing
Abstract
This case story describes a product developed for roof flashing to substitute lead. The product consists of a composite of aluminium lattice cast into rubber/plastic of the type MS polymer. The product is developed by a Danish company. The main motivation for development of the product was that since 2002 the use of lead for roofing materials has been banned in Denmark.
Substituted substances
Lead, metal
CAS No. 7439-92-1 EC No. 231-100-4 Index No.
Chemical group
Metals
Classification: hazard statements
H360FD May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child
H362 May cause harm to breast-fed children
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 2B carcinogen (IARC), neurotoxic cat. 4 (Vela et al.) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Alternative Substances
Aluminium
CAS No. EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Metals
Trimethoxyoctylsilane
CAS No. 3069-40-7 EC No. 221-338-7 Index No.
Chemical group
Methoxysilane
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
other toxic effects
ecotoxicity
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Lead is a toxic substance affecting the nervous system and is a group 2B carcinogen (IARC) and a reproductive toxicant category 1A (CLP Regulation) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). High concentrations of lead cause severe deterioration of learning abilities and changes in the reproductive system. It has recently been discovered that even very small concentrations of lead may cause child learning disabilities. Lead will have both acute and chronic toxic effects on vegetation, animals and micro-organisms. Lead has the following hazards: May cause harm to breast-fed children May damage fertility. Suspected of damaging the unborn child Very toxic to aquatic life, Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects Alternative substances: The alternative, containing aluminium and trimethoxyoctylsilane has no official classification, information form the suppliers states that it is a skin irritant 2 and toxic by inhalation.
Description of Substitution
In this case story the Danish company Poul E. Meier achieved to substitute lead used at roof flashing by developing a new product named Perform. Perform is a composite consisting of a robust aluminium lattice cast into rubber/plastic of the type MS polymer. Denmark has a very broad ban on lead including a ban on import and sale of lead containing roof flashing. This was one of the motivations for the substitution. Also there are many competitors on the market with other flashing solutions, including producers from Germany, England and the Netherlands.
Case/substitution evaluation
The alternative product is a promising alternative since lead has important health risks and its use is still extended in our cities. In any case, worker protective measures should be in use when applying the alternative in order to prevent the skin and inhalatory risks related to trimethoxyoctylsilane.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Date and place of implementation
Denmark
Enterprise using the alternative
Availability ofAlternative
On the market
Type of information supplier
Research
Further information
http://www.p-em.dk/profile.html
Type of publication and availability
Scientific publication
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
"Hazardous Chemicals Can Be Substituted Developments since 2006" The Ecological Council May 2012
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021