A Safety Data Sheet (SDS), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), is a standardised document that provides detailed information about a chemical product’s hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency procedures. Under REACH regulation, suppliers must provide an SDS for every hazardous product — which includes most car wash concentrates.
The 16 mandatory SDS sections include:
- Section 1–3: Product identification, hazards, and composition.
- Section 4–6: First aid, firefighting, and accidental release measures.
- Section 7–8: Handling, storage, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
- Section 9–11: Physical/chemical properties, stability, and toxicological data.
- Section 12–16: Ecological data, disposal, transport, and regulatory information.
Operator obligations:
Car wash site managers must keep current SDS documents for every chemical on site, accessible to all staff. This is a legal requirement during safety inspections and in case of accidents. SDS documents should be stored near the chemical storage area and in the wash bay.
Practical use:
The SDS tells you the safe pH range, compatible materials, required PPE for handling concentrates, and proper disposal procedures. It also specifies biodegradability data and ecological impact — useful when operating closed-loop water systems or selecting products to meet EU Detergents Regulation requirements.