National Instruments RoHS FAQ
PrintQ: What is RoHS?
The European Union RoHS directive restricts the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market in the European Union after July 1, 2006. The RoHS directive uses the product categorization scheme from the WEEE directive which aims to define standards for recycling electronic equipment and defines 10 product categories. Of those 10 categories of electrical and electronic equipment, the RoHS directive applies to eight categories but excludes products in category 8 and category 9, Monitoring and Control Instruments, under which NI products fall.
Q: Why is NI releasing RoHS-compliant products if we are exempt?
NI has a long-standing commitment to the environment and continues to prove this commitment by taking a leading role in the conversion to RoHS compliance. In addition, some customers now require RoHS-compliant products, either as part of their own voluntary RoHS-modeled initiative or because they use our products in larger systems that are themselves classified under one of the nonexempt categories.
Q: Where do I get RoHS declarations?
RoHS declarations for compliant NI products may be obtained from the on-line product certification database. You may obtain this information by either:
- Visiting ni.com/certification and clicking on "RoHS Declarations List"
- Visiting ni.com/certification and searching by the product model name
Q: How do I determine if my product is RoHS-compliant?
Products in compliance with the RoHS directive will be appropriately identified in several convenient ways.
1. RoHS-compliant products from National Instruments will have the appropriate RoHS logo on the product identification label attached to the box in which the product arrives.
2. View the RoHS-compliant product list maintained by National Instruments. The product list contains the shipping kit number of all products that comply with the RoHS directive.
3. Visit the on-line product catalog page. RoHS-compliant products will be identified through the product description and feature bullets on their respective page.
4. Search the product certification database at ni.com/certification. All products that are RoHS-compliant will have a declarations document that can be found in the product certification database.
5. Locate the product sub-assembly part number which is directly located on all National Instruments products. Products that comply with the RoHS directive have an "L" at the end of the product sub-assembly part number. For example:
|
Product Name
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Shipping Kit Number
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Product Sub-Assembly Number
|
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NI PCI-6289
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779737-01
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191342B-01L
|
Q: Will NI change part numbers when existing products are converted to RoHS-compliant versions?
When existing products are transitioned to hazardous-free components, National Instruments will maintain existing part numbers (shipping kit numbers). The product sub-assembly number will change with an "L" appended to the end to identify that specific product as RoHS-compliant. In some instances, when both leaded and lead-free versions of a specific product exist, National Instruments reserves the ability to introduce a new temporary part number to clearly separate the leaded from the lead-free versions. This practice helps those customers that must have a RoHS-compliant product to readily obtain the correct version. Once the leaded versions of the product have been used up from stock, National Instruments will then transition the lead-free version to the normal shipping kit number and contact customers through a part change notification (PCN) when applicable.
Q: Is RoHS compliance marked on the product packaging material?
Yes, RoHS compliance is appropriately marked on product packaging material. The RoHS logo will be printed on the kit label, which is located on the outside of a product box, for products in compliance with the RoHS directive.
Q: Will the RoHS-compliant conversion of a product influence functionality?
Users will experience no difference in functionality as existing products are transitioned to hazardous-free components. In the conversion to RoHS compliance, National Instruments is placing all products under extensive verification testing to ensure complete backward-compatibility. Additionally, there is no need to make any changes to your existing software.
Q: Will the RoHS-compliant conversion of a product influence reliability?
Products that undergo the conversion to RoHS compliance will experience no change in reliability. National Instruments places all converted products under extensive accelerated life testing to ensure that RoHS-compliant products meet the high level of quality and reliability expected of our products.
Q: Who do I contact with additional questions or concerns?
National Instruments is ready to answer all of your questions concerning our products and the RoHS conversion. If you are unable to find the answers to your questions through the available web resources, please contact your internal sales representative, your local field sales engineer, or email the National Instruments RoHS compliance team at RoHS@ni.com.
Related Links:
National Instruments RoHS Main Page
National Instruments RoHS-Compliant Product Listing
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