Deco Paints and Solvents
Deco Paints Regulations
The European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 known as the “Deco Paints Regulations”, are enforced by Waterford City & County Council.
These Regulations oblige operators of vehicle refinishing installations to hold a current certificate of compliance. It is an offence to operate a vehicle refinishing for repair installation without a valid certificate of compliance. To obtain this certificate, operators must first arrange for an approved assessor, appointed by the EPA, to review their operations and obtain a compliant report. The EPA may produce best practice guidelines to assist operators in this process.
The resulting compliant assessment report along with a completed registration application form and registration fee must be submitted to and approved by the local authority in whose functional area the facility is located. Local authorities must then decide whether or not to issue a certificate of compliance, what conditions, if any, to apply and inform the operator of the decisions within 28 days of receipt of the application. Certificates of approval must be renewed by an operator every three years. Other requirements on vehicle refinishing operators under this legislation include:
- Immediate notification of the local authority on becoming aware of any breaches of the Regulations and restoration of compliance in the shortest possible time.
- Immediate cessation of any operation which is likely to endanger human health or the environment and the immediate notification of the local authority.
Solvents Regulations
The European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 known as the VOC Regulations are enforced by the Environmental Health Officers in Waterford City & County Council. The Regulations apply to a large variety of industry types, e.g.
- Dry cleaners
- Companies involved in sheet metal work
- Manufacturers of metal gates and fencing
- Electronics manufacturing
- Medical device manufacture etc.
These operations must hold an up to date certificate of compliance from the relevant local authority. In order to acquire a certificate of compliance, an installation must first undergo an inspection by an approved assessor who has been appointed by the EPA. The approved assessor shall determine the compliance of the operator with the environmental parameters of the Directive and these Regulations. The operator then submits the report of the approved assessor to the relevant local authority together with an application fee.
The local authority must then decide, within 28 days, whether or not to issue a certificate of compliance. Certificates of compliance may be issued for a period of up to 3 years.
Certified operators must submit data to the local authority by 31 January each year enabling the local authority to verify the compliance of the installation.
An application for a renewal of a certificate of compliance must be made at least 28 days prior to its expiry date. Local authorities may renew a certificate of compliance issued under the Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Organic Solvents Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 543 of 2002) that was valid on 31 December 2012. Such certificates may be renewed to be valid up to 30 September 2016. A certificate that has expired shall not be renewed.
