Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Fire and explosion
The manufacture of many articles includes the application of a coating such as ink, paint, varnish or enamel to their surface. This coating often contains a large amount of solvent which usually has to be evaporated off to leave the print or decorative surface behind. The solvents used in these operations and the reactants and products in many chemical processes are frequently volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These materials are known to cause unwanted air pollution where their release is not properly controlled.
Increasing public awareness and pressure over recent years has led to the introduction of many pieces of UK legislation, including the Environmental Pollution Act (EPA) 1990, aimed at reducing the pollution caused by industrial processes. Many process and manufacturing industries have installed thermal oxidiser systems (incinerators) to remove VOCs and other polluting substances from their gaseous waste streams before discharging them into the atmosphere.
A thermal oxidiser system is an assembly of linked fans, heat exchangers and burners that remove pollutants from gaseous process waste streams by burning or oxidising them. In recent years there have been a number of serious fires and explosions involving them. These have often resulted from a failure to appreciate the hazards or effectively manage the risks associated with the use of this technology on potentially flammable mixtures.
This guidance should assist operators to identify and control the fire and explosion hazards associated of thermal oxidisers (incinerators). It should also help employers and designers to appreciate and comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, (DSEAR), and other relevant safety legislation.
