Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906

PART II Sulphuric Acid, Muriatic Acid, and other specified Works

6 Condensation of acid gases in sulphuric acid and muriatic acid works

(1) Every sulphuric acid work as denned in paragraph (1) of the First Schedule to this Act shall be carried on in such manner as to secure the condensation, to the satisfaction of the chief inspector, of the acid gases of sulphur or of sulphur and nitrogen which are evolved in the process of the manufacture of sulphuric acid in that work, to such an extent that the total acidity of those gases in each cubic foot of residual gases after completion of the process, and before admixture with air, smoke, or other gases, does not exceed what is equivalent to four grains of sulphuric anhydride.

(2) Every muriatic acid work as defined in paragraph (8) of the First Schedule to this Act shall be carried on in such manner as to secure the condensation to the satisfaction of the chief inspector of the muriatic acid gas evolved in such work, to such extent that in each cubic foot of air, smoke, or chimney gases escaping from the work into the atmosphere there is not contained more than one-fifth part of a grain of muriatic acid.

(3) The owner of any sulphuric acid work or of any muriatic acid work which is carried on in contravention of this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding in the case of the first offence fifty pounds, and in the case of every subsequent offence one hundred pounds.

7 Prevention of discharge of noxious or offensive gas in scheduled works

(1) The owner of any work specified in the First Schedule to this Act (herein-after referred to as a scheduled work) shall use the best practicable means for preventing the escape of noxious or offensive gases by the exit flue of any apparatus used in any process carried on in the work, and for preventing the discharge, whether directly or indirectly, of such gases into the atmosphere, and for rendering such gases where discharged harmless and inoffensive, subject to the qualification that, on the basis of the amount of acid gas per cubic foot, no objection shall be taken under this section by an inspector—

(a) To any muriatic acid gas in the air, smoke, or gases discharged into the atmosphere by a chimney or other final outlet, where the amount of such acid gas in each cubic foot of air, smoke, or gases so discharged does not exceed the amount limited by the last preceding section:

(b) To any acid gases in the air, smoke, or gases discharged into- the atmosphere by a chimney or other final outlet receiving the residual gases from any process for the concentration or distillation of sulphuric acid, where the total acidity of such acid gases (including those from the combustion of coal) in each cubic foot of air, smoke, or gases so discharged does not exceed what is equivalent to one grain and a half of sulphuric anhydride.

(2) If the owner of any such work fails, in the opinion of the court having cognisance of the matter, to use such means, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding in the case of the first offence twenty pounds, and in the case of every subsequent offence fifty pounds, with a further sum not exceeding five pounds for every day during which any such subsequent offence has continued.

8 Provisional Order to prevent discharge of noxious or offensive gas in cement and smelting works

(1) An inspector may inquire whether, in any works in which aluminous deposits are treated for the purpose of making cement (hereinafter called cement works) or in any works in which sulphide ores, including regulus, are calcined or smelted (hereinafter called smelting works), means can be adopted at a reasonable expense for preventing the discharge from the furnaces or chimneys of such works into the atmosphere of any noxious or offensive gas evolved in such works, or for rendering such gas where discharged harmless or inoffensive.

(2) Where it appears to the Local Government Board that such means can be adopted at a reasonable expense, the Board may by order require the owners of such works to adopt the best practicable means for the purpose, and may by the order limit the amount or proportion, in the case of cement works or smelting-works, of any noxious or offensive gas which is to be permitted to escape from such works into the chimney or into the atmosphere, and may also by the order extend to such works such provisions of this Act relating to scheduled works as they think fit.

(3) An order made under this section shall be provisional only, and shall not be of any validity until confirmed by Parliament, but when so confirmed shall have full effect, with such modifications as maybe made therein by Parliament; and the expression " this Act " when used in this Act shall be deemed to include an order so confirmed, so far as is consistent with the tenor of that order.

(4) The Board shall take such steps as they may think fit for giving notice to persons interested of the provisions of any order made by them under this section before any Bill for confirming the same is introduced into Parliament.

(5) An order made under this section may impose fines for a breach of its provisions of like amount as any fines imposed by this Act for offences against this Act.

(6) An order made under this section may be repealed, altered, or amended by any subsequent order made under this section, and confirmed by Parliament.