Ban on the use of high-temperature winding protection by PTCs in compressors must be prevented

ASERCOM rejects Öko-Institut’s proposals for RoHS Exemption 7(a) and 7(c)-I as unfeasible

„We are following with great concern Öko-Institut’s recommendations regarding RoHS Exemption 7(a) and 7(c)-I for PTCs in compressors for heating, refrigeration and air conditioners. From the industry’s point of view, the continuation of this exemption is essential“, says ASERCOM president Wolfgang Zaremski.

Together ASERCOM, EPEE and ehi address national authorities across Europe in a recent Technical Paper clarifying why lead must continue to be used in temperature sensors.

The use of PTCs as temperature sensors for motor protection in compressors for refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning cannot be replaced by other solutions. At the same time, the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning industry faces the challenge of introducing new refrigerants with low GWP. This inevitably leads to higher temperatures than in the past – both in the motor winding and in the discharge gas. The required high PTC tripping temperatures of up to 180 °C are technically only possible through the use of lead in the solder.

Compressors are used in many important and critical areas – in the production of vaccines as well as in the entire cold chain of food or for industrial process cooling, in air conditioning and cooling systems for data centres. „The development and construction of heat pumps, which is so important for the decarbonisation of residential heating, would be set back significantly if the exemption is not extended“, Zaremski emphasises.

The associations demand an unrestricted extension of the current exemption.