BAL Takes Leadership Stance on Chromium (VI) Issue

Leading tile adhesive manufacturer, Building Adhesives Limited is making some important changes to its product range to enable its  customers to comply with a new European Directive.

The Directive on Chromium (VI) sets new permitted maximum levels of the chemical Chromium (VI) in Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and also in products containing OPC. These include cementitious adhesives, grouts and levelling compounds.

The reason for the new Directive is to minimise the incidence of a form of allergic dermatitis which may potentially affect certain people. Allergic dermatitis occurs through direct skin contact with wet cementitious materials.

Building Adhesives response to the Directive is a twin-track approach.  Firstly the company is undertaking a programme to reformulate those products which exceed the maximum level of OPC, wherever this is both possible and practical, while also seeking to minimise any cost increase that reformulation might cause.

The second approach is to add a reducing agent to certain products containing grey OPC to lower the development of Chromium (VI) when wetted.  Where this is the case the products can only be used in the period when the reducing agent remains active, as defined by the product shelf life.

Building Adhesives are therefore developing new packaging to reflect this new information and instructions regarding storage instructions and shelf life.

"It is important for tile fixers to be aware of these changes, so that they can comply with the new legislation and also ensure their own safety," says Kay Porter, Head of Marketing. "We are taking a proactive stance on this issue which will ensure that fixers can continue to buy BAL products with confidence that they full comply with the new Directive.

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