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EU: A new RoHS exemption entry is granted for Chromium VI in gas absorption refrigerators

JANUARY 2023 - ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

The European Commission (EC) has published¹ a new RoHS exemption entry 9(a)-III in Annex III for hexavalent chromium as an anticorrosion agent in gas absorption heat pumps. This will apply from 1 September 2023.

Hexavalent chromium is used as an anticorrosion agent in the refrigerant solution for the carbon steel sealed circuit of gas absorption heat pumps. Upon review of the exemption request, the Commission concludes that it is currently scientifically and technically impracticable to replace this usage. A maximum concentration of 0.7 % hexavalent chromium by weight in the refrigerant solution is considered sufficient which is only valid for gas absorption heat pumps for space and water heating described in the requested exemption that falls under category 1 “large household appliances” of Annex I to the RoHS Directive. Table A shows details of the exempted applications.

Table A. Entry 9(a)-III

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