HBCD
Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a flame retardant used mainly in thermal insulation foams in order to protect
property from fire. Its main application is in expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS) insulation foam
boards widely employed by the construction sector. HBCD has also a minor application in electrical boxes (HIPS).
It is also used in the back coating of textiles in upholstered furniture.
Participating sites’ total potential emissions
were reported to be below 0.25 metric
tonnes, whi le the total sales volume
remained constant, as displayed in Figure 6.
2012 SURVEY RESULTS FOR HBCD
The results carried out in 2012 were based
on 98% of the volume sold by EFRA member
companies in 2011.
FIGURE 6:
HBCD 2012 survey results
2009
(% volume sold)
2010
(% volume sold)
7%
2%
93%
Volume covered
by the programme
98%
Volume covered
by the programme
2011
(% volume sold)
3%
97%
Volume covered
by the programme
2012
(% volume sold)
2%
98%
Volume covered
by the programme
use of low-dust granular material among users
which the VECAP team will continue to promote.
Potential emissions to water remained
consistently low at 2 g/t, as demonstrated
in Figure 8 on the next page.
2012 POTENTIAL EMISSIONS TO AIR
AND WATER
Potential emissions to air dropped from 36 g/t
to 16 g/t in 2012, representing a 56% reduction
compared to the previous year. This significant
change was due to the additional uptake and
2008
< 2.5
Survey year
2011 Total Volume Sold
(metric tonnes per year)
Total Potential Emissions
(metric tonnes per year)
2009
< 0.5
2010
< 0.6
2011
< 0.5
2012
< 0.25
10000-12500
7500-10000
7500-10000
10000-12500
10000-12500
FIGURE 7:
Percentage of volume covered by the programme
The Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme
ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2012
8
VECAP PROGRESS REPORT 2012