Strippers Paint Removers’ Pro Range of products are DCM (dichloromethane) based and may only be sold for use as paint removers to HSE certified professional users. HSE certificate number and proof of identity will be required before purchase.

Background:

In 2008 the EU banned the use of DCM (dichloromethane) in paint removers under the REACH Enforcement Regulations. (EU Regulation 1907/2006/Ec Banning the Marketing and Use of Paint Strippers Containing Methylene Chloride (DCM)) .

The only exceptions where use is allowed are: by suitably accredited “professionals” (see below) or in industrial installation.

In 2014 this regulation was amended to allow the supply and professional use in the UK of DCM based paint strippers by introducing training requirements and a mandatory certificate of competence for professional users.

In late 2016 the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) launched the mandatory DCM certification programme and Strippers Paint Removers registered as a training organisation and have been working with Safety Boss to produce a suitable course covering the full health and safety aspects of using a DCM based paint remover.

In More Detail

The regulation concerns “the use of paint strippers containing DCM to remove paints, varnishes and lacquers, both indoors and outdoors”

Paint removers containing DCM may only be supplied to “professionals” who are accredited, in accordance with the provisions of the derogation [exception] to the EU regulation, to use paint removers containing DCM

The regulation defines “professional” in this instance as “any natural or legal person, including workers and self employed workers undertaking paint stripping in the course of their professional activity outside an industrial installation”. (Paint removers containing DCM may continue to be supplied to anybody with an industrial installation)

Thus, paint removers containing DCM may only be supplied to “professionals” who are accredited according to the regulations. They may not be supplied to the general public

Other products containing DCM, such as resin removers, adhesive removers etc, may be supplied to anybody, “professional” or general public, without any requirement for the user to be accredited,

However, products containing DCM, such as resin removers, adhesive removers etc, may only be supplied for their intended purpose – resin removers for removing resin, adhesive removers for removing adhesive etc. To supply such products for the purpose of removing paint would be breaking the law.

Similarly, anybody stripping paint (other than an accredited professional – see next point) with products containing DCM such as resin removers, flooring adhesive removers etc, would be breaking the law.

Only “professionals”, who are accredited in accordance with the provisions of the derogation to the EU regulations to use paint removers containing DCM, may use other products containing DCM – such as resin removers, flooring adhesive removers etc – for any purpose they wish, including removing paint.