COMMITTEES
The VRG kept a watching brief on the planned isocyanates
restriction in the EU, which is not supported by UK authorities,
who feel sufficient guidance and controls are in place to ensure
safe use. BCF produced a PaintSafe leaflet on isocyanates, to help
reinforce this.
Aerospace and Defence Coatings Group
Chaired by Jim Rowbotham, Pexa
The two meetings of the Aerospace and Defence Coatings
Group (AF) group in 2018 were dominated by discussions on
the on-going Authorisations for the Chromium (VI) substances
used in primer coatings, to provide the corrosion protection
required at low filmweights. Whilst the key applications for
Authorisation for the sector are still pending decision, there
were significant concerns expressed with regard to the slow
progress and erosion of the time period before next review
for the Authorisations being granted for Chromium Trioxide.
The authorities still appear to remain unconvinced that Cr (VI)
technologies are essential for the sector, particularly to protect
the interior surfaces of aircraft bodies, where regular inspection
is difficult or impossible. This seems to be a remarkable situation,
where the decisions that are being taken by the European
Commission could genuinely lead to product failures during
aircraft operation, and potentially pose a genuine risk to human
life.
The BCF issued an explanatory note (G027) in February
2018 as an attempt to inform and warn the supply chain of
the pending withdrawal of products due to the Authorisation
procedures taking place, referring to the sunset date (Jan 2019)
for the substances in question (Strontium Chromate, Zinc
Tetroxy Chromate and Zinc Potassium Chromate). However,
questions are still coming in on what component manufacturers
should be using in place of the products that have now been
withdrawn. This is of particular concern to the non-aerospace
sector that have been using chrome VI primers (mostly on
aluminium) for e.g. military land vehicles, underbody chassis
protection of large commercial vehicles, and ambulances. A
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further Q&A document, to support member discussions with
their customers, is planned.
Representatives from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) attended
the Spring meeting of the group as usual (with some new
representatives), with more extensive discussion on REACH
and on the gaps appearing in the standards portfolio due to
the Cr(VI) situation. The Autumn meeting was more focussed
on general compliance with Authorisations and enforcement,
with two representatives from the HSE attending to advise and
answer questions.
The planned project on benchmarking Chrome-free systems
unfortunately did not get off the ground due to a lack of funding
and support from the organisations that were involved in the
discussions. A more general project has been suggested on this,
that could be driven by the Industrial and Powder Coatings
Council, rather than specifically for the aerospace sector.
Good progress has been made with discussions on Standards,
through the newly-reformed BSI ACE/65 committee.
BCF ANNUAL HANDBOOK 2019/20