Change in Safety Data Sheets

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Author Message David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1993 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2023 - 12:52 pm:    A building product representative told me recently that the SDS sheet requirements have been changed. No longer does a manufacturer have to disclose the composition of their products but only if their products contain harmful ingredients. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap Senior Member Username: lgoodrob Post Number: 417 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2023 - 01:55 pm:    David, I don't think SDS requirements have been updated since 2012. Can your product rep produce an official OSHA or US Department of Labor document? - David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1994 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 16, 2023 - 02:45 pm:    The representative and I were discussing another product, that he does not represent. I mentioned to him that I could not find out what the other product was actually made of. That is when the product representative mentione the change in SDS. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 362 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Monday, February 20, 2023 - 10:02 am:    I understand certain materials or compositions of materials may be proprietary and avoiding harmful stuff is probably the most important reason for SDS but it is very difficult to do an apples-to-apples comparison when a manufacturer will not state, even broadly, what is in his product and the trival name gives no clue. John Hunter Senior Member Username: johnhunter Post Number: 176 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Monday, February 20, 2023 - 01:28 pm:    A bit off topic, but related. I was taught that we (architects) never review MSDS/ SDS because they are a safety issue and safety is specifically excluded from our Contract. Are you reviewing these when developing specs, and if so, do you review them as part of a submittal? David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1996 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, February 20, 2023 - 06:58 pm:    John, I occassionally look at the SDS sheets not to see the harmful ingredients (I am not a biochemist nor an industrial hygenist) but to see the ingredients if not indicated elsewhere. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC James Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: jsandoz Post Number: 364 Registered: 06-2005 Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 - 08:55 am:    John, I was told, by an attorney in fact, that architects and engineers should not REVIEW safety data sheets as we are not usually industrial hygiene experts. I have expressly stated in specifications not to submit SDSs but I understand they are occasionally required for sustainable design programs similar to health product declarations which is another document I would not want to "bless." The possible solution is to include language in the submittals requirements that these documents will be passed through as required without examination by the design professional. Of course, of the manufacturer is not expressly stating what chemicals or compounds are in the products what is the harm in looking at them. The design professional will be just as ignorant of what is in the product as if he or she didn't look at the SDS. ;-)