ENVIRONMENTAL CODE OF PRACTICE
Air Pollution
Overview
The main provisions for the control of air pollution are set out
in:
It is an offence to operate a prescribed process, such as the
polymerisation of styrene in certain quantities, without a relevant
authorisation or without regard to the conditions attached to that
authorisation.
Part I of the Environment Protection Act 1990 introduced prior
authorisation powers for local authorities over a list of
prescribed processes. Until full implementation of the IPPC
Regulations in 2007, prescribed processes are subject to integrated
pollution control (IPC). This places a duty on operators to use
Best Available Techniques (BAT) to prevent and minimise
releases of prescribed substances. Process Guidance Notes
explaining BAT for specific industries are available from
OPSI.
The Industrial Pollution Control (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
makes provision for a system to control pollution from industrial
processes that is broadly similar to that operating in the rest of
the UK. This provides the statutory basis for compliance in
Northern Ireland with the European Air Pollution and Integrated
Pollution Prevention & Control Directives.
Solvents Emissions Directive
This EU Directive (99/13/EC) aims to reduce emissions of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the environment from specified
industrial processes. It also aims to phase out the use of more
harmful solvents such as carcinogens, and those toxic to
reproduction to reduce the potential effects on health. It
establishes solvent consumption thresholds, above which various
controlling measures and procedures must be implemented.
This legislation was passed into UK law in April 2001 and all
installations affected must comply by 31 October 2007. The
Directive is mainly aimed at the larger users of VOCs, such as the
printing, vehicle coating and paint manufacturing industries, but
it may have an impact on sectors within the boatbuilding industry
as well. ‘Surface cleaning’ – defined as “any activity using
organic solvents to remove contamination from the surface of
material, including degreasing” is specifically listed as being
within its scope.
Currently the most significant consideration in terms of air
pollution arising from the marine industries is the use of
composite materials that release atmospheric emissions from
solvents in which resin is dissolved and from solvents used to
clean tools and equipment. Styrene, acetone, methanol and methyl
ethyl ketone are commonly used organic solvents that release VOCs
into the air.
The SED requires the yard to keep a
solvent management plan which is an inventory of all paint and
solvent used at the yard in any one year. It also allows the yard
to carry out the 'Solvent Reduction Scheme' which is a compliance
option available for yards to follow to meet the emission limits
set out in the SED. Click
here to download BMF's SED guidance document.
The use of styrene is regulated as a Part B process under the
Local Authority Air Pollution Control System and environmental
limits apply. Process Guidance Notes on the polymerisation or
co-polymerisation of pre-formulated resins or gel coats containing
unsaturated hydrocarbons contains guidance on acceptable limits for
processes and advice on management. These limits should not be
confused with the Health and Safety limits for which maximum
exposure limits are defined. Health and Safety considerations
however require boat builders to ventilate emissions out of their
working area, a process which introduces these emissions to the
atmosphere.
Further guidance on styrene can be obtained from the BMF Technical department.
Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)
Since 1998 most new recreational craft and second hand craft
brought into Europe have had to comply with a number of essential
safety requirements set out in the Recreational Craft Directive
(94/25/EC). Most requirements of the RCD relate to safety,
construction, stability, on board systems and pollution control,
but after January 2005 the Directive will be amended (2003/44/EC)
to also regulate exhaust and sound emissions.
The emission limits have led to marine engine manufacturers
investing significantly in the development of cleaner and quieter
engines to meet the new requirements for emission limits by the
agreed deadlines:
• January 2005 for 4-stroke and marine diesel engines (with 12
month transition period)
• January 2006 for 2-stroke engines (with 12 month transition
period)
For more detailed information please click here.