Kestrel helps customers decipher fact from fiction

Following his recent appointment at Kestrel, Technical Director Dr Sean Cockett is helping customers decipher fact from fiction on Vinyl 2010 and REACH with easy to understand technical bulletins.

Sean explains why it's so important for stockists to have the facts to hand: "It's not easy to wade through the volume of information available to get to the facts, but it's important that PVC-UE building product stockists and installers are aware of pending changes that will affect the future of the products they are selling".

"Stockists and installers, like manufacturers, have their own preferences as to which materials and stabilisers are best in terms of being fit for purpose".

"But to be frank, it doesn't matter".

"It doesn't matter which stabiliser we think is 'best', if in the foreseeable future it will or is likely to be phased out".

Sean continues with just some of the facts: "Vinyl 2010 is a Pan European code voluntarily agreed by the PVC industry to minimise the risk to the environment and human health".

"Contained within this is a commitment to halve the use of lead based stabilisers by 2010 and to completely phase out their use by 2015".

"It is also likely that dibutyl tin stabilisers of the type used in profile extrusions will be affected by CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reprotoxic substances) categorisation under REACH.

"These factors coupled with our aim to future proof our business, meant we were the first to make the move to 100% calcium organic stabilisers in PVC-UE profiles in 2002".

"This is not a straight forward issue, which is part of the reason we're sending all our customers a technical bulletin on the subject to make it easier for them to understand the implications of using each stabiliser and ensure the products they are selling are future proofed".

"The bulletin is also available at www.kbp.co.uk for anyone to download.

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