Air Quality and Solvents

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.  VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have harmful effects on human health and the environment.

Sources of VOCs include vehicle emissions, fuel combustion and domestic solvent usage.  Other major sources of VOCs include business activities using organic solvents.

 

Regulations Governing VOC Emissions from Business Activities

 

How to Register your Business

If your business is affected by the above regulations you are legally required to register with Sligo County Council as follows –

  1. An inspection needs to be carried out by an Assessor from the Panel of Approved Assessors below: 
Approved Assessors
NamePhone NumberWebsite
NamePhone NumberWebsite
EnviroGuide Consulting 01 5654730 www.enviroguide.ie

 

  • After receiving report from an Approved Assessor you should then submit the following to Sligo County Council, Environment Section, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo -
    • Approved Assessor’s Report
    • Signed Registration Form (available under Downloads below)
    • €70 Registration Fee for Certificate of Compliance
    • €50 Registration Fee for Renewal of Certificate of Compliance.

 

Certificate of Compliance

If Sligo County Council is satisfied with the Approved Assessor’s Report, a Certificate of Compliance will be issued.

A copy of your certificate of compliance must be displayed in a prominent position at your premises.

If Sligo County Council is not satisfied with the Approved Assessor’s Report, the business will be notified of its refusal to issue a Certificate of Compliance and an enforcement notice will be issued.

 

Annual Self-Assessment Compliance Report

All operators are required to submit an annual self-assessment compliance report to Sligo County Council, commencing with report for year 2014 (to be submitted in 2015).  Templates for these reports are available for download Self-Assessment Template Returns for Dry Cleaners (XLS) - 69 kbs .  If you fail to submit a self-assessment annual report, you may not be allowed to renew your certificate until such time as any outstanding reports are submitted.

 

Enforcement

Local Authorities have the power to seize prohibited paints, varnishes and vehicle refinishing products and the cost for disposal of such products can be charged to the person or body from whom they were seized.

The fine for uncertified operators is €5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

 

Register of Compliant Facilities

A Register of Compliant Facilities can be inspected at Environment Section, Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo or in Downloads below. 

  

Register of Certified Vehicle Refinishing Operators
Register/Cert No.Company/Trading NameAddressContact DetailsExpiry Date
Register/Cert No.Company/Trading NameAddressContact DetailsExpiry Date
DR-SO-01 Cawley Commercials Ltd. Drinaghan, Co. Sligo. 071 9169555 06/02/2022
DR-SO-02 James Foy Auto Service Dromore West, Co. Sligo 096 47052 18/06/2022
DR-SO-05 Meadowbank Body Repairs Ltd. Meadowbank Industrial Estate, Finisklin, Sligo 071 9170222 20/11/2022
DR-SO-06 Lang's Motor Services Dromore West, Co. Sligo. 096 47003 Due for Renewal
DR-SO-07 Rathedmond Crash Repairs Rathedmond Road, Sligo 071 9150066 Due for Renewal
DR-SO-08 Michael O'Hara Crash Repairs Lisheen, Aclare, Co. Sligo 071 9181511 Due for Renewal
DR-SO-11 Connolly Crash Repair Centre Unit 10B Old Dublin Road, Carraroe, Co. Sligo 071 9115333 Due for Renewal
DR-SO-12 Colin Currid Crash Repairs Grange, Co. Sligo 071 9173777 Due for Renewal

 

Register of Installations Using Organic Solvents
Name and AddressTelephone No.Cert. No.Expiry Date
Name and AddressTelephone No.Cert. No.Expiry Date
Like Nu Dry Cleaners, 11 High Street, Sligo 071 9144043 OSR-SO-02 06/10/2020
The Laundry Basket, Mountain Road, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo 087 9637149 OSR-SO-04 Due for Renewal
Master Dry Cleaners, Unit 12A, Cleveragh Business Centre, Sligo 071 9145114 OSR-SO-03 Due for Renewal
Keady Dry Cleaners, 3 Lower Pearse Road, Sligo 071 9169791 OSR-SO-01 02/12/2022

 

Downloads

Self-Assessment Template Returns for Dry Cleaners (XLS) - 69 kbs

 

Register of Certified Auto Bodyshops (PDF) - 49 kbs  PDF
Register of Certified Installations Using Organic Solvents (PDF) - 137 kbs  PDF
European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 565 of 2012) (PDF) - 137 kbs  PDF
European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 564 of 2012) (PDF) - 102 kbs  PDF
Application for a Certificate of Compliance/Renewal of a Certificate of Compliance by an Operator of an Installation Using Organic Solvents (PDF) - 28 kbs  PDF
Iarratas ag Oibreoir Suiteála ina n-úsáidtear tuaslagóirí orgánacha chun Deimhniú um Chomhlíonadh a fháil nó chun é a athnuachan (PDF) - 19 kbs  PDF
Application for a Certificate of Compliance/Renewal by an Operator of a Vehicle Refinishing Installation (PDF) - 22 kbs  PDF
Iarratas ag Oibreoir Athbhailchríochnaithe Feithicle chun Deimhniú um Chomhlíonadh a fháil nó chun é a athnuachan (PDF) - 26 kbs  PDF
Dry Cleaning - What you need to know to be compliant (PDF) - 894 kbs  PDF
Vehicle Refinishing - What you need to know (PDF) - 825 kbs  PDF

Further Information

For further details on the Regulations, threshold consumption values and definitions of activities please refer to the Regulations available on the EPA website at

EPA Solvents - http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/air/solvents/
EPA Decorative Paints Directive Guidance - http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/air/deco%20paints/