Silicon Graphics F181 User Manual page 2

TCO'95
Congratulations! You have just purchased a TCO'95 approved and labeled product! Your choice has
provided you with a product developed for professional use. Your purchase has also contributed to
reducing the burden on the environment and also, to the further development of environmentally
adapted electronics products.
Why do we have environmentally labelled computers?
In many countries, environmental labelling has become an established method for encouraging the
adaptation of goods and services to the environment. The main problem, as far as computers and other
electronics equipment are concerned, is that environmentally harmful substances are used both in the products and during the
manufacturing. Since it has not been possible for the majority of electronics equipment to be recycled in a satisfactory way, most of
these potentially damaging substances sooner or later enter Nature.
There are also other characteristics of a computer, such as energy consumption levels, that are important from the viewpoints of both
the work (Internal) and natural (external) environments. Since all methods of conventional electricity generation have a negative
effect on the environment (acidic and climate-influencing emissions, radioactive waste, etc.), it is vital to conserve energy. Electronics
equipment in offices consume an enormous amount of energy since they are often left running continuously.
What does labelling involve?
This product meets the requirements for the TCO'95 scheme which provides for international and environmental labelling of personal
computers. The labelling scheme was developed as a joint effort by the TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional
Employees), Naturskyddsforeningen (The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industrial
and Technical Development in Sweden).
The requirements cover a wide range of issues: environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of electrical and magnetic fields,
energy consumption and electrical and fire safety.
The environmental demands concern restrictions on the presence and use of heavy metals, brominated and chlorinated flame
retardants, CFCs (freons) and chlorinated solvents, among other things. The product must be prepared for recycling and the
manufacturer is obliged to have an environmental plan which must be adhered to in each country where the company implements
its operational policy. The energy requirements include a demand that the computer and/or display, after a certain period of inactivity,
shall reduce its power consumption to a lower level in one or more stages. The length of time to reactivate the computer shall be
reasonable for the user.
Labelled products must meet strict environmental demands, for example, in respect of the reduction of electric and magnetic fields,
physical and visual ergonomics and good usability.
TCO'95 is a co-operative project between TCO (The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees), Naturskyddsforeningen
(The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation) and NUTEK (The National Board for Industrial and Technical Development in
Sweden).
Environmental Requirements
Brominated flame retardants
Brominated flame retardants are present in printed circuit boards, cables, wires, casings and housings. In turn, they delay the spread
of fire. Up to thirty percent of the plastic in a computer casing can consist of flame retardant substances. These are related to another
group of environmental toxins, PCBs, which are suspected to give rise to similar harm, including reproductive damage in fisheating
birds and mammals, due to the bio-accumulative* processes. Flame retardants have been found in human blood and researchers
fear that disturbances in foetus development may occur.
TCO'95 demand requires that plastic components weighing more than 25 grams must not contain organically bound chlorine and
bromine.
Lead**
Lead can be found in picture tubes, display screens, solders and capacitors. Lead damages the nervous system and in higher doses,
causes lead poisoning.
TCO'95 requirement permits the inclusion of lead since no replacement has yet been developed.
Cadmium**
Cadmium is present in rechargeable batteries and in the colourgenerating layers of certain computer displays. Cadmium damages
the nervous system and is toxic in high doses.
TCO'95 requirement states that batteries may not contain more than 25 ppm (parts per million) of cadmium. The colourgenerating
layers of display screens must not contain any cadmium.