Adhesives and Sealants

The British Adhesives and Sealants Association. BASA is the UK’s only trade body representing the interests of industrial adhesives and sealants manufacturers, and the only large trade association in Europe totally dedicated to the adhesives and sealant industry. BASA has more than 80 members which together represent 85% of all UK industrial adhesive and sealant manufacturers.

BASA's antecedents stretch back more than 60 years when adhesive and sealant manufacturers were invited to assist the UK government with the strategic planning of materials for the industry. During the ensuing period organisations such as the Adhesive Manufacturers Association, the British Resin Rubber Manufacturers Association, The British Adhesive Manufacturers Association and the Sealant Manufacturers Conference gradually coalesced to form what is now Europe’s only national trade body dedicated solely to the interests of the adhesives and sealants industry.

Kommerling UK, manufacturer of sealants and adhesives and its application partner, Waterseal Ltd, today announced the successful completion of a major contract with the MoD at Otterburn Camp, Newcastle upon Tyne. Over the past two years Waterseal, working for main contractor Carillion, has applied over 5,000 litres of Rallithane 862 sealant in order to seal 18,000 meters of joints on the Camp’s concrete hard standing. This area of the Camp is used for the storage, manoeuvring and maintenance of a wide range of military vehicles including AS90 tracked artillery and armoured vehicles. Rallithane 862 was chosen due to its excellent resistance to degradation from fuel and oil and durability in such a harsh environment.

The sealant can be cold applied and has rapid cure qualities at low temperature which means that, despite the vagaries of the North East weather and the operational demands of the hard standing area, it was possible to apply the Rallithane 862, with little disruption to the day-to-day running of the camp.

Rallithane 862, is an example of self-levelling, 2-part elastomeric sealants suitable for use in movement joints on roads, bridges, airfields, garage forecourts and transport depots. It has a high resistance to oil, fuel and hydraulic fluids and performs well over a wide temperature range. Available in black and grey, it contains no pitch or tar, making it safer to use.

Kommerling UK (formerly Stag Limited) is a subsidiary of ADCO Europe Holdings (whose ultimate parent is ADCO Global Inc.) Members of the group have over 100 years experience of the development of adhesives and sealants. The company offers hundreds of established products for use in a range of markets including automotive, construction, glazing and marine. As part of ADCO Global, the company has access to extensive research and development facilities that continue to introduce innovative products for an ever more demanding and increasingly diverse customer base.

The company has been awarded ISO 9001 certification and is a long standing member of the BASA (British Adhesive & Sealants Association). Both Kommerling and Waterseal Ltd are members of the ASA (Association of Sealant Applicators).

For sales enquires please contact Kommerling:

Tel: 01895 465600

For media enquiries please contact:

Lee Foulkes, Commercial Manager, Kommerling

Tel: 01895 465600

email: Lee.Foulkes@KommerlingUK.com

Retail Adhesives

How safe are the adhesives that are on sale in the shops?

All adhesives may be used safely and without risk to health, provided that they are handled with care and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Whilst there has been a significant move away from the more hazardous formulations in recent years, there is a limit to how safe a product can be and still do the job for which it is designed. Because of this it is important to read the label and understand what it means and what precautions you need to take.

There are a number of chemically different products being sold as adhesives, for a variety of different applications. A very few of these are unsuitable for use in a DIY situation and are labelled “Restricted to professional users”. You should not see these in a retail outlet. Anything you can purchase retail can be handled safely although some care may need to be taken; usually it is sufficient to choose the right product for the job you want to do and then check how to use it safely. Exactly what kind of precautions have to be taken will depend on the ingredients of the product, and will be indicated on the label.

Products that are relatively non-hazardous may simply carry brief safety advice anywhere on the label. Those that need some extra care are required by law to have warnings and advice within a dedicated area of the label (known as the “safety panel”). This area will often contain one or more orange boxes containing symbols, and will also have some standard phrases describing the risks associated with the product and safety advice for handling. It will also include the name and address of the supplier or manufacturer.

The symbols are intended to draw attention to the main types of hazards associated with the product, and give an indication of how severe they are. Having had your attention drawn you will still need to read the accompanying text.

Typically seen on contact adhesives, You will sometimes see the word “flammable” without the symbol.

Corrosive... If you get it on your skin it may cause a burn, and could cause you serious harm if it gets in your eyes. You will often find it on the tubes of hardener sold as part of a two-part epoxy adhesive pack.

“HARMFUL” or “IRRITANT”... If a product is classed as “Harmful” it means that it can damage your health if you swallow or inhale it or get it on your skin, albeit in relatively large amounts. To see what route of entry into the body you need to worry about you need to read the text near it in the safety panel. “IRRITANT” means what it says: causes irritation to the skin or eyes. If a product is both irritant and harmful, the only word under the symbol is “Harmful”: check the label wording to see if it is irritant as well. If the safety panel includes the wording “May cause sensitisation by skin contact”; although many of us are unaffected, some individuals may become sensitised (i.e. develop allergic reactions) after repeated contact with some of the chemicals (such as epoxy resins) commonly used in adhesives.

Dangerous to the environment... usually a classification based on how toxic it is to aquatic creatures and how long it persists. Take it as a warning to make sure the container is properly emptied and disposed of responsibly.

A skull and crossbones with the word “TOXIC”... This is rarely seen on products on retail sale, and indicates either high toxicity or a long-term health risk.

Should I be wearing any sort of protective clothing or gloves?

Many of the adhesive products for sale in retail outlets can cause skin irritation, although that will depend on the sensitivity of the person handling them. You should not assume because you have had a product on your skin in the past without problems, you needn’t worry about it in the future: some adhesives (notably two part epoxies) can cause sensitisation.

Also most adhesives are very difficult to remove from your hands after use: you can cause problems simply by the amount of scrubbing you need to do cleaning up after you have finished the job. It is a good idea to wear gloves: they need to be impermeable so the adhesive won’t soak through. For most small DIY jobs disposable polythene gloves should be adequate: these should only be worn once: as soon as they are contaminated or when you have finished the job throw them away. For very small jobs when you think skin contact is unlikely use of a barrier cream is a possible alternative.

It goes without saying that you don’t want adhesive in your eyes. In many cases this simply isn’t a risk. However if it is (for instance if you are using an aerosol) then, as with many DIY jobs it is advisable to wear eye protection.

What should I do if I have adhesive on my skin?

If it hasn’t dried or cured it may be quite easy to remove. Some adhesives, notable those sold for use with timber and similar products are waterborne adhesives (these are normally white in colour, and dry clear). If you get your hands under a tap without delay it may wash off. Otherwise, and for most other adhesives, there is little alternative to using a mildly abrasive proprietary hand cleaner. Do not use solvents or abrasive materials (other than hand cleaners): they may do more harm than the material you are removing.

I’ve got this rash and I think it might have something to do with an adhesive I’ve been using. What should I do?

A very small minority of people can have an allergic reaction to some chemically based products, and also they may become sensitised so that they react to increasingly low exposure levels; check the label on the pack and look for the words “Irritant” and “May cause sensitisation”. If you have persistent skin irritation you should see your GP, and it will help if you can show the label of the product you suspect. Also, if you have been handling adhesives, you’ve probably been in contact with a few other things that you might be susceptible to (like cleaners for instance); don’t forget to take along labels from them as well.

Where can I find out more?

All products legally classed as hazardous (ie: anything with a safety panel plus some others) is required by law to have a Safety Data Sheet, carrying more detailed safety information. While intended primarily for professional users, they should be available to any user on request. You may be able to get a Safety Data Sheet for the product you are interested in from the retail outlet where you purchased it; if you are having difficulty the supplier whose name is on the label (look in the safety panel if there is one) should be able to help.