TDS and SDS answer different questions. TDS supports material selection and printing; SDS supports safe handling, storage, spill response and disposal. A purchasing or production file should include both when appropriate.
TDS: technical selection
- Material and grade
- Mechanical and thermal data
- Printing temperature and drying
- Packaging and storage
SDS: safety and compliance
SDS contains hazard identification, composition, first aid, firefighting, handling, transport and disposal information. It is not a substitute for technical print parameters.
Use the documents correctly
- Procurement checks TDS against the order
- Production uses TDS for settings
- EHS and logistics use SDS
- Quality keeps COA and batch records
Control document versions
Record supplier, grade, batch, TDS revision and SDS revision. Trigger a review when the formulation, regulation or packing changes.
| Document | Purpose | Main user | Not a substitute for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS | Selection and process | Engineering and procurement | Safety instructions |
| SDS | Safety and compliance | EHS and logistics | Technical parameters |
| COA | Batch quality | Quality and customer | Regulatory declaration |
| Declaration | Market access | Export and compliance | Performance data |
Common engineering mistakes
- Using SDS values as print settings.
- Reading only the TDS.
- Ignoring document revisions.
- Not updating documents after a change.
- Treating COA as a TDS.
Checklist
- Is the TDS current?
- Does the SDS meet the target market?
- Do documents match the batch?
- Are changes communicated?
- Is the archive traceable?
Request TDS, SDS or batch documents through the quote form.