Environmental Requirements

Fitness for Purpose:
Certified products should be good performers in their intended application. It is implied that certain standards of product performance are implicit in the label.
 

The products are designed to penetrate tiles, stones and porous surfaces, to protect the surface from absorbing and being stained by oils, water and other contaminants. This occurs through the products water repellence, stain resistance and salt resistance on stone and tile surfaces. These products have been sold to the market for more than a year. Testing has been performed by CSIRO and the products maintained integrity for two years.

Pristine Bio-Safe which is intended for use on terracotta, sandstone, slate, tessellated tiles, clay pavers and concrete pavers;

Protex Bio-Safe which is intended for use on polished marble, polished granite, polished limestone, polished porcelain stoneware and natural porcelain stone; and

Plus Bio-Safe natural sealer which is intended for use on sandstone, terracotta, porous granite, porous limestone, clay pavers and concrete pavers.
 

Levels of volatile organic compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), the term used to describe solvents and other chemicals in the adhesive which evaporate during use, are main contributors to adverse air toxicity pollution. The amount of solvent varies across the different types of adhesive. Adhesive products shall contain no more than 5% in weight of Volatile Organic Compounds.
 

The nominated product range from solution sealers VOC emission levels show conformance to the relevant criterion for GECA Standard 23-2005 Architectural and protective coatings.

Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide and Lithopone Content.
Should not exceed 40g/m2 of dry film.
 

Information received by GECS shows that the nominated products do not contain Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide or Lithopone.

Glycol Ethers
Should not contain glycol ethers listed in Table 2. 0f the GECA Architectural and Protective Coatings Standard.
 

Information received by GECS shows that the nominated products do not contain glycol ethers

Heavy Metals
Sb, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and Arsenic or any toxic heavy metals and their compounds shall not be added during production.
The use of Barium Sulfate (Barite) is excluded from this limitation.
 

Information received by GECS shows that the nominated products do not contain any of the heavy metals: Sb, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, or Arsenic and that toxic heavy metals and /or their compounds are not added during production.

Packaging
The adhesive package shall be re-sealable after first use. Halogenated plastics shall not be used in packaging.
 

The nominated products are packed in containers which are made of metals which are able to be recycled.

Solutions Sealers for Stone and Tile has a take back scheme for its drums.

Labels used on ‘tins’ are made of paper with a water-based adhesive to secure them.

 

Carcinogenic Substances
Approved paints should not contain substances listed as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research of Cancer at a rate of exposure not exceeding one twentieth (1/20) of those defined by exposure standards determined by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Worksafe Australia).

Information received by GECS shows that the nominated products do not contain any carcinogenic substances.

Restricted Substances
Alkyl phenol alkoxylates (APEO’s) shall not be added during production.
 

Alkyl Phenol Alkoxylates (APEO) are not added during production of the nominated products.

Solvents
The paint shall not be formulated or manufactured with more than 20% by weight of hydrocarbon solvents, based on the total formulation.
 

No restricted solvents are used in the manufacturing of the nominated product range.