An amendment to nickel release in EU standard: EN 1811:2011+A1:2015

Technical Bodies approved EN 1811-2011+A1:2015 as the amendment to EN 1811:2011 on nickel release in EU on 20 June 2015. Due to uncertainty in test methods, it shall be deemed as pass if the result for nickel release is less than 0.35μg/cm² for all post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body, and 0.88μg/cm² for articles intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin.
 
This European Standard specifies a method for simulating the release of nickel from all post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body and articles intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin in order to determine whether such articles are in compliance with No. 27 Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (REACH). (Refer to the table below for specific limits.)
 
Previously, EN 1811:2011 introduces “inconclusive range” owing to uncertainty in test methods. So there were three ranges, namely, Pass, Fail and Inconclusive. However, the amended standard EN 1811:2011 + A1:2015 deletes the “inconclusive range”. Here is a comparison list between two standards for your reference:
 

	All post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body			Articles intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin
Limits for REACH Annex XVII (µg/cm2/week)	0.2			0.5
Nickel release (µg/cm2/week)	<0.11	0.11~0.35	≥0.35	<0.28	0.28~0.88	≥0.88
EN 1811:2011	Pass	Inconclusive	Fail	Pass	Inconclusive	Fail
EN 1811-2011+A1:2015	Pass		Fail	Pass		Fail

 
Reminder: BS EN 1811:2011+A1:2015 will be effective since 31 August 2015 when the previous version goes invalid.