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Division 4.3 VOCs emission from printing processes not covered by Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

The following requirements shall apply to printing processes not covered by Annex I or by Annex VII Part 2 to Directive 2010/75/EU or to equivalent printing processes outside the EU that do not meet specification of Annex I and VII to Directive 2010/75/EU.

Total VOC emissions as calculated by the solvent mass balance shall be lower or equal to:

  • 4,5 kg VOC/tonne of paper for sheet fed offset printing;

  • 1,0 kg VOC/tonne of paper for digital printing;

  • 2,0 kg VOC/tonne of paper for heat set web offset printing;

  • 2,5 kg VOC/tonne of paper for cold set web offset printing;

  • 3,0 kg VOC/tonne of paper for other rotogravure, flexography, rotary screen printing, laminating or varnishing units.

Alternatively, where off-gas treatment is applied fugitive VOC emissions as calculated by the solvent mass balance should be lower or equal to 10 % of the solvent input and TVOC emission in waste gases should be lower or equal to 20 mg C/Nm3.

Volatile solvents from the drying process of heat-set offset, rotogravure and flexography printing shall be managed by means of solvent recovery or thermal treatment or any equivalent system, i.e. substitution by the use of water-based inks.

Assessment and verification: the applicant shall provide a description of the system in place together with documentation and test results related to the control and the monitoring of emissions to air.

For total or fugitive VOC emissions, as applicable, solvent mass balance shall be calculated on the production during 12 months of operation. The solvent mass balance shall be in line with the definition laid down in Part 7(2) of Annex VII to Directive 2010/75/EU. For the allocation of VOCs emission into mass of paper, all printed surfaces shall be calculated. In case of a new or a rebuilt production plant, the calculations shall be based on at least three months of representative running of the plant.

For the monitoring of total TVOC emissions to air in waste gases, any stack with a TVOC load less than 10 kg C/h should be monitored at least once a year according to EN 12619, or equivalent. In the case of a TVOC load less than 0,1 kg C/h (as an annual average), or in the case of an unabated and stable TVOC load of less than 0,3 kg C/h, the monitoring frequency may be reduced to once every three years or the monitoring may be replaced by calculation provided that it ensures the provision of data of an equivalent scientific quality.

A declaration of the VOC content in inks, washing agents, damping solutions or other corresponding chemical products shall be provided by the applicant or a chemical supplier.