TCO Certification
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TCO Certification is a series of product certifications for office equipment (most notably monitors). It is set by TCO Development, owned by the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees. The Certifications are named after years. Although commonly associated with computer monitors, later TCO revision also defines standards for computers, keyboards, printers, mobile phones, office furniture.
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[edit] TCO'92
The first TCO certification defines low emission standard for computer displays, and power management features, which is a superset of MPR-II stardards.
[edit] TCO'95
TCO'95 expands certification category to Cathode Ray Displays (CRT), Keyboards, System units. Within each item, the standard addresses ergonomics, emissions, energy, and ecology involved into making the certified product.
[edit] Ergonomics
- High visual ergonomic requirements for displays, which entails high image quality and excellent color reproduction.
- Option to regulate display angle (new in TCO'03 Displays).
[edit] Emissions
- Considerable reduction of magnetic and electrical fields.
- Minimized electrostatic fields.
[edit] Energy
- Low energy consumption for reduced environmental impact.
- The energy saving function provides a better indoor climate through reduced heat emission, which results in retained air humidity.
[edit] Ecology
- The manufacturer shall be certified according to ISO 14001 / EMAS.
- Reduced emission of brominated and chlorinated flame-retardants and heavy metals into the environment (Complies with the RoHS directive from 1 July 2006).
- Recycling preparations facilitate material recycling.
- Information on where the displays can be turned in for recycling.
[edit] TCO'99
This version certifies Cathode Ray Displays (CRT), Flat Panel Displays (FPD), Portable computers, Desktops, Keyboards, Printers. Starting from 2006-07-01, certified product also has to comply with RoHS when sold in Europe.
TCO'99 FPD does not have any requirement for display color.
[edit] TCO'01
TCO'01 only certifies mobile phones, but it defines the following areas:
[edit] Emissions
Labeling includes the SAR value, which is the accepted way of measuring the amount of radiation energy absorbed by the head when the telephone is broadcasting at full power. We have also included TCP (Telephone Communication Power), which is a new method for determining the telephone's communication ability. A good telephone must use a large portion of its power for communication and as small a percentage of the radiation as possible should be absorbed by the head. A good combination, therefore, is a low SAR value and a high TCP value.
[edit] Ergonomics
A telephone must be easy to use. The requirements cover such things as the buttons, the form of the display, the suitability of the manual for the user, and the material used in the casing in order to avoid problems relating to contact allergies.
[edit] Ecology
This states the substances that are completely banned from use in the telephone, cadmium, mercury, and beryllium oxide, and those which may only be used to a limited extent, such as lead and flame-retardants
[edit] TCO'03
TCO'03 only regulates Cathode Ray Displays (CRT) and Flat Panel Displays (FPD). Luminence and resolutions requirements are tightened. New to the certification includes Image loading capacity, RGB settings for visual ergonomics section; vertical tile for Work load ergonomics section; tightened noise requirement for "all-in-one computers" for emissions (acoustic noise) section; dropped co-operative agreement with at least one professional electronics recycling company requirement in Ecology section; lowered energy consumption in Energy section. RoHS is applicable after 2006-7-1.
[edit] TCO'04
TCO'04 only defines office furniture, making it the first TCO certification for non-electronic devices. Certified furniture included work tables and work chairs. It concentrates on following areas:
[edit] Ergonomics
- Dimensions and functions
- Safety, stability, and strength
- User-friendliness
- Material characteristics
[edit] Emissions
- Emissions of electric and magnetic fields
- Chemical emissions
