Glues containing Volatile organic Compounds(VOC's) and Boosters are Illegal from 1st September
Two Items from the ITTF site - please note it is the League policy to adhere strictly to these regulations - even to the point of purchasing or borrowing a testing machine if necessary
VOC Glues
1st September 2008 is the date agreed by the ITTF Board of Directors at the 2006 Liebherr World Team Championships in Bremen when the use of glues, which contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), will no longer be allowed for affixing racket coverings to blades.
Volatile Organic Compounds have been present in `speed glues’ since the 1970s; the chemical reaction having the effect of providing greater speed and spin when contact is made with the table tennis ball.
In order to test rackets for use of Volatile Organic Compounds the Wassing Company in Germany has designed `Enez’; it is the electronic nose to sniff out the offending compound. For those who are French speaking you will immediately recognise `nez’ as being nose and of `E’ as in E-mail, is universally recognised as electronic.
Scenario
The scenario is simple, the concept of a safe glue is an oxymoron; such a product doesn’t exist; however, those glues that possess Volatile Organic Compounds present a greater health risk than those that are water based.
Players are exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds each time they glue and to some extent throughout training or match play; potentially this can endanger health.
Working Group
The Glues Working Group which published its findings in Bremen on 28th April 2006 concluded that there were definite short and long term health risks of using glue which contained Volatile Organic Compounds
In the short term migraine, nausea, fatigue and a loss of co-ordination were possible results of over exposure to glues containing Volatile Organic Compounds whilst in the long term, the central nervous system could be affected and breathing problems may occur.
In order to monitor the situation when the new regulations come into effect, a device to measure the levels of toxicity is necessary; thus the development of Enez by the Wassing Company.
Process
Enez is a container into which the racket is placed.
The container is opened, a few seconds wait is needed until the display shows the sensor is ready, the racket is placed in the container and a sixty second countdown begins. At the end of the sixty seconds the result appears in the display panel. The air in the box is measured prior to the racket being inserted and after the sixty seconds has been completed; data is collected and a comparison made.
If a red light shows, the racket has failed; if it is green it has passed.
The process is quick and efficient, in one minute the result is known.
Boosters
Background:
We would like to draw your attention to the decision made in Guangzhou, valid from 1. September 2008 (The Law 2.4.7.): The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc.
This means an absolute ban for the use of boosters (tuners, enhancers, improvers, etc.). The purpose of a booster is to change something – if not, what would be the intention. You may find such products claiming to be harmless, to be allowed by ITTF, or to be without VC (volatile compounds), etc. There is little reason to believe this is true. Please be very sceptical since these are generally bad for your health, even containing poison in some cases.
According to our tests there is no way that a sponge can be treated separate from the covering; refer the usual way a booster is applied, i.e. on the sponge.
Boosters represent a messy, time consuming, costly, unhealthy, and now illegal way of achieving spin and speed, and you may be detected in a tournament. Other and better ways exist for the same purpose.
Remember:
You as a player are responsible for using a clean racket, i.e. without VC and with the correct thickness. Air your new rubber outside the plastic bag for at least 72 hours before gluing it. Use only water based glue or PSAs . Always carry a spare racket if you can.
Testing for VCs will be made at tournaments using a device called enez. This is able to detect very small amounts of solvents thereby showing a red light when too much. Also newer versions are available being more sensitive than the present version to detect boosters. Some places there will be a backup device called RAE which is even more sensitive.
Testing for maximum thickness (= 4.00 mm) will be more strict than before since more accurate measuring equipment are available. Our Technical Leaflet T4 states regarding the thickness limit: ‘On no part of the playing surface on a racket covering should this be extended’.
We are all working for a Clean Sport, and we wish you to enjoy our game even better now.
Best regards
Odd Gustavsen
Chairman ITTF Equipment Committee