HB 98-2003

Providing specifiers and intending purchasers of electrotechnical products with guidance regarding the impact that design aspects of a product can have on the environment and to assist in design parameters being set which will allow the impact to be reduced by the product designers.

This handbook is intended for the writers of design briefs, purchase specifications and similar documents (referred to as specification writers) and gives guidance on how to consider aspects relating to the impact on the environment of electrotechnical products when preparing briefs, specifications or similar (referred to as specifications) for such products. Its purpose is (a) to raise awareness that provisions in product specifications can affect the environment in both negative and positive ways; (b) to outline the relationship between product specifications and the environment; (c) to help avoid provisions in product specifications that may lead to adverse environmental impacts; (d) to emphasize that addressing environmental aspects during the development of product specifications is a complex process and requires balancing competing priorities; and (e) to recommend the use of life-cycle thinking when addressing environmental aspects in the context of product specification. This handbook converges as far as possible with ISO Guide 64.

First published as HB 98-1997.Second edition 2003. First published as HB 98-1997. Second edition 2003.