ISOPA aisbl and ALIPA aisbl

8 September 2022

Latest news on the availability of the training platform in EU languages

Our team is working hard to reach our goal to make the digital training platform accessible in all official languages of the European Union. The platform is already available in six languages (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch).

We are now in the process of translating and proofreading the training material in no less than 18 additional languages. We would like to inform you that the 6 next languages in which the platform will be accessible are Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese and Romanian. They will be live before the end of 2022 and followed by the 12 remaining languages in early 2023.

Here is an indicative timeline for the future release of languages:

Download Admin User Guide:

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German

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Safe Use and Handling of Diisocyanates

Find and book your diisocyanates safety training

Join our Digital Platform for Training on safe use of Diisocyanates as a Trainer.

Whether you are interested in virtual of face-to-face classroom trainings, we provide tailor-made training packs for the safe use of diisocyanates under the REACH legislation. Our dedicated platform offers you a framework in which you can efficiently train companies and internal colleagues. Benefit from our developed training material and a powerful portal to manage your traininings.

Apply now if you are a company, an independent trainer or training institute with:

• Expert(s) on occupational safety and health with competence acquired by relevant vocational training.

• Person(s) who have work experience with diisocyanates, and/or a relevant education in environment, health and safety (EHS). They qualify for conducting such trainings.

                  Please fill in our application from. Your application will be processed.

Safe Use and Handling of Diisocyanates

Questions and Answers

Safe Use and Handling of Diisocyanates

Communication

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REACH is the European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It entered into force in 2007, replacing the former legislative framework for chemicals in the EU.

A restriction – as one of several legislative options under REACH - is used to protect human health and the environment from unacceptable risks posed by chemicals.  On 4 February 2020, the REACH Committee (established under REACH, consisting of representatives of the Member States and the EU Commission) voted in favour of the European Commission’s proposal for a REACH restriction on diisocyanates. The Restriction was published on 4 August 2020 applying from 24 August 2023 after a transition period of 3 years.

Scope of the Restriction

The Restriction states that:

“Diisocyanates, O = C=N-R-N = C=O, with R an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon unit of unspecified length

1. Shall not be used as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) after 24 August 2023, unless: (a) the concentration of diisocyanates individually and in combination is less than 0,1 % by weight, or (b) the employer or self-employed ensures that industrial or professional user(s) have successfully completed training on the safe use of diisocyanates prior to the use of the substance(s) or mixture(s).

2. Shall not be placed on the market as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) after 24 February 2022, unless: (a) the concentration of diisocyanates individually and in combination is less than 0,1 % by weight, or (b) the supplier ensures that the recipient of the substance(s) or mixture(s) is provided with information on the requirements referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 and the following statement is placed on the packaging, in a manner that is visibly distinct from the rest of the label information: “As from 24 August 2023 adequate training is required before industrial or professional use”.”

Under the new Restriction, on the one hand, suppliers of diisocyanates shall ensure that the recipient is provided with training materials and courses in the official language(s) of the Member State(s) where the substance(s) or mixture(s) are supplied. On the other hand, employers are responsible for ensuring that their employees have successfully completed the training on the safe use of diisocyanates prior to the use of the substance or mixture. The training shall take into consideration the specificity of the products supplied, including composition, packaging, and design.

Source: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/503ac424-3bcb-137b-9247-09e41eb6dd5a

List of substances (please note, that this list of Diisocyanate is not exhaustive):

The following table has been prepared by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to facilitate the searching of restricted substances in the Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation. Please note the list is not exhaustive.

Source:  https://echa.europa.eu/de/substances-restricted-under-reach/-/dislist/details/0b0236e185347b62

Training levels

The Restriction specifies 3 different levels of training required for various uses of diisocyanates, the General Training as a minimum requirement and depending on the exposure an Intermediate Training and an Advanced Training.

 Join our Digital Platform for Training on safe use of Diisocyanates as a Trainer.

Whether your interested in virtual or face to face classroom trainings we provide tailor-made training packs for the safe use of diisocyanates under the REACH legislation. Our dedicated platform offers you a framework in which you can efficiently train companies and internal colleagues. Benefit  from  training material developed by our experts and a powerfull platform that supports you in organizing your trainings.

Apply now if you are a company,  an independent trainer or training institute with:

• expert(s) on occupational safety and health with competence acquired by relevant vocational training

• Person(s) who have work experience with diisocyanates, and/or a relevant education in environment, health and safety (EHS) qualifies for conducting such trainings.

                  Please fill in our application from. Your application will be processed

Virtual Classroom (Webinar) or face to face Classroom with your own Trainer

You are a company, you have internal trainer(s) and want to organize virtual classroom training or classroom training with our training material on our platform? Please register for a trainer profile.

Virtual or Face to Face with an external Trainer

You have a group of trainees and want to book a Virtual Classroom Training or a face-to-face classroom training with a trainer: look if any training is available by using filters.

Vouchers

You want to support your customers or give your employees easy access to trainings. For this you can buy vouchers and use them to register individual or groups of trainees. Please contact us if you are interested.

Book a Self E-Learning

A Web Based Training is a self learning course that you can take at any time. In our courses you will find specific content for your application field. Our selection page will direct you to the trainings: Book a Web based Training (Self E-learning at 5,-€ per training incl certificate) You have already booked a training and want to open the training: back to your training.         

Register multiple Persons for Self E-Learning

You have a group of trainees, that you would like to register for a Self-E-Learning. For this you can uploaded a group of trainees to the platform book and pay the Self-E-Learning for them: More about Administrative Users. You already have an Admin user: open your admin account. 

 Buy Vouchers for your Employees or Customers

You want to support your customers or give your employees easy access to trainings. For this you can buy vouchers and use these register individual or for groups of trainees. Please contact us if you are interested: Order Vouchers  

Diisocyanate substances in scope of the REACH restriction

Which substances are in the scope of the REACH restriction? The Annex of the directive 76/769/EEC defines the substances that are in scope. Below you find references to the ECHA information. Furthermore, you can find information about Diisocyanates in a products safety data sheet.

List of substances (please note, that this list of Diisocyanate is not exhaustive):

The Diisocyanate group of substance has the following member substances. Please note that this list is not exhaustive! The table has been prepared by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to facilitate the searching of restricted substances in the Annex XVII of the REACH Regulation:

Source:  https://echa.europa.eu/de/substances-restricted-under-reach/-/dislist/details/0b0236e185347b62

Definition in REACH Restriction:

Source: https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/503ac424-3bcb-137b-9247-09e41eb6dd5a

“Diisocyanates, O = C=N-R-N = C=O, with R an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon unit of unspecified length

1. Shall not be used as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) after 24 August 2023, unless: (a) the concentration of diisocyanates individually and in combination is less than 0,1 % by weight, or (b) the employer or self-employed ensures that industrial or professional user(s) have successfully completed training on the safe use of diisocyanates prior to the use of the substance(s) or mixture(s).

2. Shall not be placed on the market as substances on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) after 24 February 2022, unless: (a) the concentration of diisocyanates individually and in combination is less than 0,1 % by weight, or (b) the supplier ensures that the recipient of the substance(s) or mixture(s) is provided with information on the requirements referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 and the following statement is placed on the packaging, in a manner that is visibly distinct from the rest of the label information: “As from 24 August 2023 adequate training is required before industrial or professional use”.”

Safety Data Sheet 

Another source to identify if a product contains Diisocyanates is the safety data sheet. Please refere to section 3 of the product safety data sheet:

There are many types of diisocyanates, the foremost of which are: aromatic diisocyanates including methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and Toluene diisocyanate (TDI); and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), methylene dicyclohexyl diisocyanate or hydrogenated MDI (HMDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), which are aliphatic isocyanates. Along with polyols, for example, alkoxyether chains, these chemicals form the building blocks of polyurethane.

Polyurethane is effectively derived from the chemical reaction between diisocyanates and polyols; when mixed together they polymerise. Polyurethanes would not exist without diisocyanates and polyols.

Polyurethanes are versatile, modern and safe. They are used in a wide range of applications to create a variety of consumer and industrial products that play a crucial role in making our lives more convenient, comfortable and sustainable.

Whether in rigid or flexible form, in elastomers, binders or coating materials, polyurethane has many uses and applications. Thanks to its versatility and unique properties, the list of applications continues to grow with new, innovative applications coming on to the market all the time.

Polyurethane is a product for the future. It plays a central role in our evolving needs, allowing us to do things that a generation ago would have seemed impossible.

For polyurethane to meet quality standards and products’ technical specifications, pigments and additives may be added to ensure the exact formulation of the product, be it foam, adhesives, elastomers or sealants and coatings. The range of possible densities is endless. As the molecule is adapted to provide different properties, polyurethane foam can display different levels of rigidity or flexibility.

For example, a comfortable sofa requires the use of carbon dioxide as a blowing agent for the production of soft foam. In rigid foams, a gas such as pentane is "trapped" in the foam’s closed cells, optimising its insulation capacity.

In addition, the durability, corrosion resistance and weather resistance of polyurethanes makes them suitable for coating all kinds of surfaces. Polyurethane can also be used to safely bind together vastly different materials, such as wood, rubber, cardboard or glass.

For example, polyurethane adhesives enable the reuse of vehicle tyres in playgrounds, sports tracks or surfaces for sports stadiums after they are collected and shredded. Polyurethane coatings can furthermore protect substrates against corrosion and weathering, significantly increasing their durability and saving resources.

Further applications of diisocyanates include highly durable compact materials like thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and elastomers. Such materials are widely used for a variety of applications including wheels, ski boots and artificial leather.

ISOPA is the European trade association for producers of aromatic diisocyanates and polyols – the main building blocks of polyurethanes. ISOPA is a partner association of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the ISOPA members include BASF, BorsodChem, Covestro, Dow, Huntsman and Shell Chemicals.

ALIPA is the European Aliphatic Isocyanates Producers Association. It was created by the major European producers BASF, Covestro, Evonik and Vencorex.

Both associations are based in Brussels (BE) and encourage the safe and proper use of isocyanates and promote the highest level of best practices in the distribution and use of diisocyanates and polyols in Europe and ensures that all stakeholders can easily access accurate and up-to-date information on these substances.

ISOPA member companies 

ALIPA member companies

Polyurethanes are used in a wide variety of applications to create all sorts of consumer and industrial products. The value chain is very diverse and ranges from automotive applications, to building, appliances, footwear, adhesives, sealants, etc.