Solvent Emissions (Scotland) Regulations 2004: guidance

Guidance on the Solvent Emissions (Scotland) Regulations 2004

3. OBJECTIVE OF THE SOLVENT EMISSIONS (SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2004

The purpose of the Solvent Emissions (Scotland) Regulations 2004 ( SER 2004) (SSI 2004/ 26) is to prevent or reduce the direct and indirect effects of emissions of VOCs into the environment, mainly into air. Measures to reduce VOCs must be implemented by those activities which exceed the solvent consumption thresholds specified in Schedule 1 to the SER.

The SER 2004 are not limited to releases to air but relate to the control of fugitive releases to all media. This is a step change in the way that those Part B activities affected by SER 2004 will be regulated; previously only releases to air were controlled.

For more harmful VOCs, such as suspected carcinogens, mutagens etc., there is a requirement to use less harmful substitutes within the shortest possible time. Section 9 of this note provides guidance on this subject. For other VOCs there is a requirement to meet emission limit values (ELVs) or to implement a solvent reduction plan with an equivalent impact.

The requirement to reduce releases of VOCs on a trans-national basis is primarily to reduce the formation of ground level ozone, a secondary pollutant harmful to vegetation and human health. Ozone is produced in a complex series of chemical reactions involving VOCs, sunlight and other pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen. Ground level concentrations of ozone are rising and some medical research has linked exposure to ozone as a factor in the development of asthma in children.