Hydrocarbon Solvents and CLP

Formation of Categories and Naming Convention

The Hydrocarbon Solvents Producers Association (HSPA) have elaborated a category approach for hydrocarbon solvents to include similar physicochemical and toxicological properties for the dossier preparation of each category. A naming system has been developed to characterise hydrocarbon solvents as a substance in order to properly identify similar substances in accordance with the REACH regulations.

The category approach has enabled groups of similar hydrocarbon solvents which are mostly UVCB`s (Unknown, Variable, Complex or Biological substances) with similar physical/chemical properties and toxicology to be submitted within one dossier.

The naming convention for hydrocarbon solvents has many benefits for the manufacturers and downstream users.

1. It allows classification and labelling of hydrocarbon solvents to be based on the known toxicology of a substance
2. It sets a new standard in classification and labelling directly aligned with the substance
3. It enables clear and specific user advice to be issued in the Chemical Safety Report (CSR)
4. It breaks the reliance on process descriptions and generic classifications that have been historically based on less refined petroleum streams and their associated toxicology
5. It eliminates the need to justify “non” classifications using nota’s in Europe
6. Though it severs the existing links with CAS (Chemical Abstract Services) numbers in Europe these still remain outside the EU

How Naming Convention and Classification works

To illustrate the naming convention and the classification process an example, using a typical hydrocarbon solvent such as a low aromatic medium range distillate, is shown below.

CATEGORY 9: C14-C20 Aliphatics (<=2% Aromatics)
Contains the following named hydrocarbons:

By reviewing the toxicology for the named example below 

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics   

CLASSIFICATION (1999/45)                          Xn; R65; R66 

CLASSIFICATION (EC) NO. 1272/2008

LABEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH (EC) N0. 1272/2008

CONTAINS:

HAZARD STATEMENTS:

 
PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS:

SUPPLEMENTARY PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS:

 ENVIRONMENT:

Working with Mixtures

Mixtures, previously known as preparations, of more than one solvent or in combination with other materials must be classified according to the rules in the CLP regulations using the classification of the substances (as shown on the SDS) to derive the appropriate final mixture classification. To ensure that downstream users have access to the appropriate information as soon as possible it is the intention of the majority of the HSPA members to rapidly begin the classification of hydrocarbon solvent mixtures, certainly well before the June 2015 deadline.

Guiding Principles

It is important to remember that each classification is based on the toxicology of the actual substance, the details of which can be found in the REACH dossier.  HSPA and the HCSC (Hydrocarbon Solvents Consortium) have reviewed all of the common solvents within the categories and have re-classified all materials according to CLP rules. This approach has shown that for the majority of existing common hydrocarbon solvents there are no changes to their classification when moving to CLP.

Conclusion

By developing a hydrocarbon naming convention HSPA have ensured the classification and labelling requirements of each substance are fully aligned with the toxicology of each material. This approach is entirely in line with the REACH process for submission of dossiers containing UVCB substances. All the hydrocarbon categories have been registered.