• Solvents Regulations

    The Regulations provide the means for controlling emissions of solvent vapours from 20 specified activities (as set out in Schedue1) when they exceed the relevant solvent consumption thresholds (as set out in Schedule 2). The thresholds in some instances are lower than the 10 tonnes/annum level at which an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required, so the effect of the Regulations is to extend the control of solvent emissions to smaller activities. In the case of activities using more than 10 tonnes/annum solvents, the IPC licence from the EPA remains the appropriate means of control but it will be necessary to take account of certain articles in the Regulations in the formulation of the licence.

    Implementation:
    The Regulations require that specified activities not requiring an IPC licence, be registered with the competent authority and operate in accordance with a certificate of compliance issued by the competent authority. In the case of non-IPC activities, the competent authority is the local authority (county council or city council) in whose functional area the installation is located. The certificate of compliance will be issued on the basis of a report by an accredited inspection contractor stating that the installation is in compliance with the Regulations. The accredited inspection contractor will be selected from a panel of such contractors established by the National Accreditation Board (NAB). For activities requiring an IPC licence, the competent authority is the EPA and the licence is obtained directly without the need for a report by an accredited inspection contractor.
     
    Compliance Requirements:
    An installation can comply with either:

    1. the requirements of the reduction scheme (in Schedule 3);  or
    2. the emission limit values, fugitive emission values or total emission limit values (in Schedule 2).

    1. The purpose of the reduction scheme is to allow the operator achieve emission reductions equivalent to those achieved if the emission limit values were to be applied. The operator may use any reduction scheme appropriate for his installation, such as the substitution with coatings containing reduced levels of solvents in the total input, or increased efficiency in the use of solids.
    The operator first calculates the current annual reference emission based on the total mass of solids consumed in a year multiplied by an appropriate factor, which is activity related. The target emission is then calculated from the annual reference emission and a percentage derived from the fugitive emission limit for that activity. Compliance is achieved if the actual solvent emission, determined from the solvent management plan, is less than or equal to the target emission. The implementation dates for compliance with the reduction scheme are:
     
    Max. Emission New Installations Existing Installations
    Target emission x 1.5 By 31 October 2003  By 31 October 2005
    Target emission By 31 October 2004 By 31 October 2007

        
    2. Schedule 2 is a list of the specified activities with thresholds and related emission limit values that must be met. There are 20 categories of activities which are summarised as:

    • Printing (3 categories)
    • Surface cleaning (2 categories)
    • Vehicle coating and refinishing
    • Coil coating
    • Other coating (metal, plastic, textile, fabric, film, paper)
    • Winding wire coating
    • Coating wooden surfaces,
    • leather
    • Dry cleaning
    • Wood impregnation
    • Footwear manufacture
    • Adhesive coating
    • Manufacture of coating preparations, varnishes, inks, adhesives
    • Rubber conversion
    • Vegetable oil and animal fat extraction and vegetable oil refining
    • Manufacture of pharmaceutical products

    Each category is assigned a solvent consumption threshold (above which the Regulations apply), a combination of emission limit value and fugitive emission value and/or a total emission limit value. In some cases e.g. printing activities, the consumption thresholds are all in excess of 15 tonnes/year and would already be subject to IPC licensing by the EPA. In other cases, e.g. surface cleaning, the consumption thresholds are below 10 tonnes/year and may require the extension of control to previously unlicensed activities. In the case of dry cleaning, there is no consumption threshold specified so all such activities are included, regardless of size. 
     
    Risk Phrases: 
    Certain substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic (Risk Phrases R45, R46, R49, R60, R61) must be replaced where possible with less harmful substances, and these substances along with halogenated volatile organic compounds with Risk Phrase R40 must comply with separate emission limit values regardless of the overall compliance method.
     
    Timescale:
    New installations, those put into operation on or after 1 July 2003, must be registered before commencement and meet the emission limits specified from the start. Existing installations, those in operation on or before 30 June 2003, must meet the limits no later than 31 October 2007.
    Exemptions:
    Local authorities may exempt certain installations from compliance with some emission limit values in specified circumstances provided the operator demonstrates that best available techniques (BAT) are being employed and that there is no significant risk to human health or the environment.
     
    Fees / Turnaround Time / Duration of Certificate:
    For activities not requiring an IPC licence, a €50 fee must accompany an application to the competent authority. The certificate of compliance will be issued within 14 days of receipt of the report from the accredited inspection contractor, provided the competent authority is satisfied that the report demonstrates compliance. If not satisfied, the competent authority will refuse to issue a certificate. The certificate of compliance is valid for no longer than 1 year.
    For activities requiring an IPC licence, the fees payable, turnaround times, duration of licence, appeal process etc., are controlled by the EPA Act 1992, and are not altered by these Regulations.
     
    Public Information:
    The reports submitted by the accredited inspection contractors and the certificate of compliance or notification of non-compliance are recorded in a register open to the public.

    Decorative Paint and Solvents Regulations

    (PDF Logo 48 kbs) Register of Certified Facilities under Decorative Paints Regulations

     (Excel Logo 28 kbs) AIC List
    (Microsoft Word Logo 929 kbs) Application Form Deco Paint Regulations
    (PDF Logo 86 kbs) Decorative Paint Regulations
    (PDF Logo 226 kbs) Vehicle Refinishers Best Practice Guidance
    (PDF Logo 191 kbs) AIC Scheme Explained
    (Microsoft Word Logo 931 kbs) Application From Solvent Regulations

    Further information: http://www.epa.ie/whatwedo/advice/air/decopaintsdirective/