The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010

SECTION 4.1 Organic Chemicals

Interpretation of Section 4.1

1.  In this Section, “pre-formulated resin or pre-formulated gel coat” means any resin or gel coat which has been formulated before being introduced into polymerisation or co-polymerisation activity, whether or not the resin or gel coat contains a colour pigment, activator or catalyst.

• Part A(1)

  (a)

  Producing organic chemicals such as—

  (i)

  hydrocarbons (linear or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic);

  (ii)

  organic compounds containing oxygen (for example alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, peroxides, phenols, epoxy resins);

  (iii)

  organic compounds containing sulphur (for example sulphides, mercaptans, sulphonic acids, sulphonates, sulphates and sulphones and sulphur heterocyclics);

  (iv)

  organic compounds containing nitrogen (for example amines, amides, nitrous-, nitro- or azo-compounds, nitrates, nitriles, nitrogen heterocyclics, cyanates, isocyanates, di-isocyanates and di-isocyanate prepolymers);

  (v)

  organic compounds containing phosphorus (for example substituted phosphines and phosphate esters);

  (vi)

  organic compounds containing halogens (for example halocarbons, halogenated aromatic compounds and acid halides);

  (vii)

  organometallic compounds (for example lead alkyls, Grignard reagents and lithium alkyls);

  (viii)

  plastic materials (for example polymers, synthetic fibres and cellulose-based fibres);

  (ix)

  synthetic rubbers;

  (x)

  dyes and pigments;

  (xi)

  surface-active agents.

  (b)

  Producing any other organic compounds not described in paragraph (a).

  (c)

  Polymerising or co-polymerising any unsaturated hydrocarbon or vinyl chloride (other than a pre-formulated resin or pre-formulated gel coat which contains any unsaturated hydrocarbon) which is likely to involve, in any 12-month period, the polymerisation or co-polymerisation of 50 or more tonnes of any of those materials, or any combination of those materials in aggregate.

  (d)

  Any activity involving the use in any 12-month period of 1 or more tonnes of toluene di-isocyanate or other di-isocyanate of comparable volatility or, where partly polymerised, the use of partly polymerised di-isocyanates or prepolymers containing 1 or more tonnes of those monomers, if the activity may result in a release into the air which contains such a di-isocyanate monomer.

  (e)

  The flame bonding of polyurethane foams or polyurethane elastomers.

  (f)

  Recovering—

  (i)

  carbon disulphide;

  (ii)

  pyridine or any substituted pyridine.

  (g)

  Recovering or purifying acrylic acid, substituted acrylic acid or any ester of acrylic acid or of substituted acrylic acid.

• Part B

  (a)

  Unless falling within Part A(1) of this Section, any activity where the carrying on of the activity by the person concerned at the location in question is likely to involve the use in any 12-month period of 5 tonnes or more of any di-isocyanate or of any partly polymerised di-isocyanate or, in aggregate, of both.

  (b)

  Cutting polyurethane foams or polyurethane elastomers with heated wires.

  (c)

  Any activity for the polymerisation or co-polymerisation of any pre-formulated resin or pre-formulated gel coat which contains any unsaturated hydrocarbon, where the activity is likely to involve, in any 12-month period, the polymerisation or co-polymerisation of 100 or more tonnes of unsaturated hydrocarbon.

  (d)

  Unless falling within Part A(1) of this Section, any activity involving the use of toluene di-isocyanate or partly polymerised di-isocyanate if—

  (i)

  less than 1 tonne of toluene di-isocyanate monomer is likely to be used in any 12-month period; and

  (ii)

  the activity may result in a release into the air which contains toluene di-isocyanate.