Tuaslagóirí agus Péinteanna

Solvents and paints legislation

• The European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012. S.I. No. 565 of 2012.
  (These Regulations revoke and replace the previous Solvents Regulations (S.I. No. 454 of 2002))

• The European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 S.I. No. 564 of 2012
  (These Regulations revoke and replace the previous Decorative Paints Regulations (S.I. No. 199 of 2007))

According to the above legislation:

• Certificates may now be issued for a period of up to 3 years.
• Certificates of shorter duration may be issued by Dublin City Council if there are concerns over an individual installation, or if there is a history of former late application.
• Fees:
  1. New applications: €70
  2. Renewal applications: €50
• Where an application for a renewal is not submitted prior to the expiration of the certificate of compliance then the subsequent application will be considered a new application and be subject to the higher fee.
• The fine for uncertified operators is €5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months or both.
• Enviroguide is currently the only approved assessor for dry cleaners and vehicle refinishers in Ireland. For more information, please contact them at T. 01 565 4730 E. [email protected] or at www.enviroguide.ie

Solvents regulations

European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 S.I. 565 of 2012

The European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 S.I. 565 of 2012, known as the VOC Regulations, are enforced by Dublin City Council's environmental health officers. These regulations apply to a large variety of industry types, including:

• Dry cleaners
• Companies involved in sheet metal work
• Manufacturers of metal gates and fencing
• Electronics manufacturing
• Medical device manufacture etc.

Please click here for more detailed information from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Inspections

Inspections of VOC premises are carried out by an approved assessor. The business then forwards the approved assessor’s inspection report, together with their application form and appropriate fee of either €70 or €50 as detailed above to Dublin City Council. The premises may then be visited by an environmental health officer who will go through the report findings with the owner or designate. If the environmental health officer is satisfied with the approved assessor’s report and follow-up, then a certificate of compliance under the regulations is issued. The certificate may be issued for up to 3 years and is dated from the date of issue of the approved assessor’s report in the case of new applications, or the expiry date of the previous certificate of compliance in the case of renewals.

It is illegal to operate a business which is subject to these regulations without a valid certificate of compliance. Any individual who fails to comply with or contravenes these regulations may be prosecuted summarily, and be liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or up to 6 months imprisonment, or both.

You can download the application form for a certificate of compliance for VOC premises here. The application form is available in Irish here.

It is the responsibility of the business/trader to secure the services of an approved assessor and pay for the inspection and report.

Paints regulations

The European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 S.I. No. 564 of 2012, known as the Paints Regulations, are enforced by Dublin City Council. These regulations apply to all businesses engaged in the process of vehicle refinishing i.e. car spraying. Please click here for more detailed information.

Inspections

Inspections of vehicle refinishing premises are carried out by an approved assessor who will issue a report. The business must then forward the approved assessor’s inspection report, and appropriate fee of either €70 or €50 as detailed above to Dublin City Council. The premises may then be visited by an environmental health officer who will go through the report findings with the owner or designate. If the environmental health officer is satisfied with the approved assessor’s report and follow-up, a certificate of compliance under the regulations is issued. The certificate may be issued for a period of up to 3 years and is dated from the date of issue of the approved assessor’s report in the case of new applications, or the expiry date of the previous certificate of compliance in the case of renewals.

It is illegal to operate a business, which is subject to these regulations, without a valid certificate of compliance. Any individual who fails to comply with or contravenes these regulations may be prosecuted summarily, and be liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or up to 6 months imprisonment, or both.

You can download the application form for a certificate of compliance for car sprayers here. The application form is available in Irish here.

It is the responsibility of the business/trader to secure the services of an approved assessor and pay for the inspection and report.

Information

Further information about complying with the regulations and guidance documents can be found by clicking on the following links:

• General overview of legislation
• http://www.epa.ie/air/airenforcement/solvents/
• http://www.epa.ie/air/airenforcement/decopaintsdirective/