Safety data sheet layout settings

In this chapter, you will learn how to adjust the layout of the safety data sheet (SDS). You will find out how to add a company logo, set up a watermark, and modify the formatting and display of certain information in the document.

You can adjust the layout of the SDS in SBLCore in two places:

1. Via the Contacts tab in the company settings – logo and watermark.
2. Via the Settings button, which can be found on all tabs – e.g. font format, header and footer.

Setting up the logo and watermark in Contacts

In this section, you set up the company logo and watermark in Contacts. The logo and watermark will be displayed on every page of the SDS where the company is used in Contacts.

Setting up the company logo

1. Open the Contacts tab.
2. Open the company by double-clicking.
3. Under the Logo field, click Load.
4. Insert a file with the logo in SVG, BMP, JPG or PNG format.

Tip! The SVG format provides the best display quality.

5. Choose where to place the logo in the SDS. You can place it in the contact details (it will appear in section 1.3) or in the left or right corner of the header.
6. Click Save or Save and close.

Setting up the company watermark

A watermark allows you to add an image or text to the background of each page of the SDS.

1. In the Contacts tab, open the company by double-clicking.
2. In the Watermark – Image section, click Load.
3. Insert the selected image file in SVG, JPG or PNG format.
4. Adjust the transparency (visibility) of the watermark as needed.
5. Click Save or Save and close.

Setting up a text watermark

Instead of an image, you can also use text as a watermark.

1. In the Watermark – Text section, enter any text into the Text field.
2. Adjust the colour, size, or transparency of the text according to your preferences.
3. Click Save or Save and close.

Tip! Check the readability of the document both digitally and in print.

Customising the layout of the safety data sheet (SDS) in Settings

Further adjustments to the SDS layout can be made directly in the SBLCore settings.

1. On the right side of the toolbar, click the Settings button.
2. Open the Safety data sheets section.

The section is divided into 3 main parts:

• Safety data sheet layout
• Information in the safety data sheet
• Safety data sheet header and footer

Safety data sheet layout (SDS)

In this section, you set the font size and type. You can also add an additional logo to the document header.

Font

In the first field, you can set the font type for the entire document (e.g. Calibri). Several fonts are available to choose from.

Font size

The font size is divided according to where it appears in the document:

• Document body - used for all text in individual sections of the SDS.
• Document header – divided into the product trade name and the text “Safety data sheet”.

1. Product trade name - Usually the most prominent heading in the document. We recommend a larger size to ensure readability.
2. Document title (“Safety data sheet”) - usually slightly smaller than the trade name but still clearly visible.

Logo in the header

In this section, you can add a logo that will be displayed in the document header (left or right). It may differ from the logo set for the company in the Contacts tab.

Warning! If you insert a logo in the same position as the company logo in the Contacts tab, the logo from Contacts takes precedence.

Information in the safety data sheet (SDS)

In this section, you define which information will be displayed in the SDS.

Merging substances with the same identifiers and classification

When this option is selected, the software in the SDS will merge substances that have the same identifiers and classification but different toxicological information. Each substance will then be displayed only once in the SDS, even if it originates from different raw materials.

Personal protective equipment pictograms

By selecting this option, pictograms of personal protective equipment will be displayed in the SDS if you select them in section 8.

PCN information

PCN is a system through which you notify poison centres about the composition of hazardous mixtures. When submitting a notification in PCN, you must provide certain information that is not mandatory for the SDS. By selecting this option, you choose whether the information will be displayed in the SDS or not.

• UFI code

A unique identifier of the mixture that allows the product to be clearly identified. It is displayed in section 1 of the SDS.

• Packaging size

Specify the size of the packaging in which the mixture is supplied. It is displayed in section 7 of the SDS.

• Reasons for not stating pH

When submitting to PCN, you must provide a pH value or a specific reason why the pH is not stated, for example that the mixture is insoluble in water. It is not sufficient to state only “not relevant”. This information is displayed in section 9 of the SDS.

• Colour specification

In PCN, you select a colour from a standard list. This list is also implemented in the software. You can also add your own colour description, for example “pink-purple”. You can choose whether the SDS displays the colour from the list or only your own description. This information can be found in section 9.

• Categorisation according to EuPCS

The category according to EuPCS (European Product Categorisation System) indicates what the mixture is used for, for example whether it is a cleaning product or an adhesive. It is selected from a predefined list of categories. It is displayed in section 1 of the SDS.

Safety data sheet header and footer (SDS)

In this section, you can configure the information in the header and footer of the SDS. You can also insert your own graphic bar.

Header

In the SDS header, you must state under which legislation the document was created. The software supports different versions of the document and therefore distinguishes them according to the regulation used when creating the SDS.

In the first field, select the header for the SDS according to the latest regulation – According to Regulation 2020/878 (from 1 January 2023). You can choose one of two options or add your own:

1. “according to Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/878 as amended” – default setting.
2. “according to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) as amended” – recommended.

The recommended option refers to the original REACH Regulation and includes all its subsequent amendments. The second field - According to Regulation 2015/830 – is used for an older format. If you created the SDS after 2021 and have not modified the format, you do not need to change this option.

Footer

In the SDS footer, you can display the following elements:

• SBLCore logo,
• the text “Created in the SBLCore application”,
• your own text (note: this text is not automatically translated).

Graphic bar

You can also insert your own graphic bar into the SDS header or footer.

1. Click the Add button.
2. Select the position (header or footer).
3. Load the graphic from your computer.
4. Save all changes by clicking the OK button.