ROHS and Lead-Free Compliance

What is RoHS?

RoHS regulations are designed to limit or eliminate substances that are dangerous to the environment and to people. Inadequately treated e-waste poses environmental and health risks. The RoHS directive is also meant to increase the amount of e-waste that is appropriately treated and to reduce the volume that goes to disposal.

RoHS (Restriction of Use of Hazardous Substances) regulations limit specific substances – lead, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), mercury, hexavalent chromium, and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants – in electrical and electronic equipment.

Does RoHS affect the quality of PCBs?

RoHS is not a quality standard, and the simple fact that boards are RoHS compatible does not add to the quality of the board. RoHS, or more familiar ‘lead-free’ does have serious effect on PCB fabrication and soldering. The fact that boards are soldered at higher temperatures requires changes in the PCB manufacturing process. New FR-4 materials are developed to withstand the higher temperatures without reducing the lifetime of the final product.

JLCPCB RoHS Certificate of compliances is available here.