MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES IN SINGAPORE

MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES IN SINGAPORE

1 Introduction

1.1 Wastes may be defined as materials which no longer can be used for the purposes they were intended for originally. Toxic industrial wastes are wastes which by their nature and quality may be potentially detrimental to human health and/or the environment and which require special management, treatment and disposal.

1.2 In view of Singapore’s small land area with limited land and water resources, the siting of industries has to be carefully planned and managed. In addition, industries are required to design their manufacturing processes and provide pollution control facilities to comply with pollution control requirements on emission of air pollutants, discharge of industrial effluent, management of hazardous substances and toxic industrial wastes.

1.3 There are currently more than 2,000 companies in Singapore which handle or use hazardous chemicals. The use of these chemicals generates a wide variety of toxic industrial wastes. The main types are spent acids, spent solvents, spent etchants, waste oil and other waste sludge.

2 Strategy for Control of Toxic Industrial Wastes
2.1 The key elements in Singapore’s strategy to control toxic industrial wastes and ensure their safe treatment and disposal are as follows:
(i) avoid generation of intractable wastes;
(ii) encourage waste minimisation;
(iii) encourage waste reuse, recovery and recycling;
(iv) regulate collection, treatment and disposal;
(v) monitor and audit collection, treatment and disposal; and
(vi) promote and support educational and training programmes.
2.2 All new industrial developments are screened by PCD at the planning stage. One of the key areas checked in this screening
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process is the generation and disposal of wastes from proposed industrial developments. PCD will approve the proposed industrial development only if the wastes generated could be safely disposed of in Singapore. This avoids the generation of intractable wastes that cannot be safely disposed of in Singapore.
2.3 In addition, PCD will require industries to use processes that minimise waste generation or facilitates the reuse, recovery and recycling of the wastes. Industries also need to incorporate measures into the design of their facilities to ensure wastes generated can be properly handled and managed. At the building plan stage, checks are made to ensure that these measures are incorporated into the design of the plants.
2.4 PCD has encouraged the setting up of specialised waste recycling, treatment, and disposal plants. There are currently about 100 such plants in Singapore, treating and recycling a wide range of toxic industrial wastes. Some of the toxic industrial wastes collected and recycled by these plants for reuse are discussed in Section 5.
2.5 The setting up of specialised waste recycling, treatment and disposal plants serve to help industries, especially the smaller companies, which may generate small quantities of special wastes but find it impractical or uneconomical to install, operate and maintain a waste treatment facility because of cost, lack of expertise or space constraint.
2.6 The collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of toxic industrial wastes are controlled under the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA) and the Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations (TIWR).

3 The Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations (TIWR)
3.1 The control on the import, sale, supply, receipt, transport, treatment and disposal of toxic industrial (hazardous) wastes are regulated under the TIWR. Industrial wastes controlled under the TIWR are listed in the Schedule of the Regulations as waste streams from specific industrial activities, wastes with specified toxic components and as specific categories of wastes. The list includes spent acids, alkalis, wastes containing gallium arsenide, spent etching solutions containing copper from printed circuit board manufacturing, etc. The list is at the Annex.
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3.2 In order to facilitate controls and proper management, the functions and responsibilities of key persons involved in handling of the toxic industrial wastes are clearly delineated in the TIWR. The key persons include the following:
(a) Generator of wastes
(b) Collector
(c) Carrier or transporter
(d) Driver
3.3 The generator will have to treat the wastes in an approved in-house waste treatment plant and dispose of the residues, if any, at NEA sanitary landfill site. Alternatively, the generator can engage a licensed toxic industrial waste collector to collect his wastes for treatment and disposal.
3.4 A toxic industrial waste collector is a person who receives toxic industrial wastes for storage, reprocessing, treatment and disposal. He has to obtain a licence from PCD to collect specific toxic industrial wastes that are listed in his licence and confine his wastes storage and treatment activities to approved premises and facilities.
3.5 Written transport approval from PCD is also required for the transportation of wastes in quantities which exceed those specified in the TIWR. The responsibilities of the following key persons in the transportation are clearly defined in the TIWR:
(a) Consignor - the person who presents a consignment of controlled wastes for transport. The consignor can be either the generator or the licensed collector. Transport approval shall be obtained from PCD to transport the wastes.
(b) Carrier - the person who undertakes the transport of the controlled wastes. He can either be the generator, the licensed collector or the transport company engaged by either one of them.
(c) Consignee - the person who receives the controlled wastes. He is usually the licensed collector.
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(d) Driver - the driver of the vehicle transporting the toxic industrial wastes.
3.6 To prevent illegal dumping and disposal of toxic industrial wastes, the movement of every consignment of wastes from a generator through a carrier to a collector is tracked by means of an Internet-based electronic submission of consignment note system (known as the e-Tracking System).

4 Waste Minimisation
4.1 The Waste and Resource Management Department (WRMD) of NEA is to formulate policies to promote and spearhead waste minimisation in Singapore. WRMD develops, promotes and oversees the implementation of programmes on waste minimisation and recycling. It also carries out studies to enhance waste recycling.
4.2 WRMD together with PCD works closely with the industries to promote waste minimization. Some of the activities promoted by WRMD and PCD are as follows:
(a) Waste Exchange
NEA helps to link industries for exchange of wastes. Waste to one company may be a resource to another. For example, waste alkali generated by one company could be used by another company to neutralise the acidic wastes. This would minimise the ultimate quantity of wastes to be disposed of.
(b) Use of Clean Technology
At the planning consultation stage, NEA advises and encourages industries to use clean technologies which minimise waste generation.
(c) Reuse and Recycling
NEA encourages the recycling and reuse of wastes and assists in the setting up of waste recycling plants. Some of the wastes that are being recycled and reused in Singapore are discussed in Section 6.
(d) Waste Audit
NEA encourages those industries that generate large quantities of wastes to carry out waste audit. A waste audit is designed to achieve maximum resource optimisation and improved process performance. The audit enables one to take a comprehensive look at the process to understand the material flows and to focus on areas where waste reductions are possible. The waste audit can be carried out to cover a complete process or to concentrate on a selection of unit operations within a process. There are competent consultants in Singapore to carry out such waste audit for industries.

5 Some Practices Adopted for Recycling and Reuse of Wastes
5.1 A large amount of industrial wastes generated and collected in Singapore by the licensed collectors are either recycled, reused or have valuable components extracted and recovered before disposal. Such wastes include spent solvents, spent etchants and photographic wastes.
5.2 Spent solvents are generated by a wide range of industries. Each year about 50,000 m3 of spent solvents are collected by the licensed collectors. The spent solvents collected include acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride and toluene. About 22,500 m3 of spent solvents are recovered by distillation. The practice adopted by these collectors is usually batch (differential) distillation. The equipment comprises a still to vapourise the solvents, a condenser to condense the vapours and collecting vessels to collect the condensate and the residues. The recovered solvents are sold for reuse by industries. The remaining 27,500 m3 of spent solvents that could not be recovered are used as supplementary fuel for toxic waste incinerators.
5.3 Printing and film processing activities generate photographic wastes such as spent fixers and bleaches. Each year about 1,000 m3 of such wastes are collected and treated. These wastes contain silver in solution. An effective and commercially viable method, the electrolytic extraction process, is used to recover the silver. In this process, carbon is used as the anode and a stainless steel drum as the cathode. The silver is deposited on the stainless steel drum. The extracted silver has a purity of more than 90 %. The remaining liquid from the electrolysis process is treated and neutralised in a waste water treatment plant before discharge into the sewers.
5.4 Etching is an important process used in the electronics industry especially in the manufacture of the printed circuit boards. The process generates spent etchants such as cupric chloride etchants,
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ferric chloride etchants and ammonia etchants. Each year about 23,000 m3 of spent etchants are generated and treated in Singapore. Spent ferric chloride etchants are regenerated using scrap iron and chlorine. In this process, scrap iron is first added to the spent etchant and the copper sludge that precipitates out is collected and sold as a valuable by product. The etchant is next regenerated by passing chlorine through it. The regenerated etchant is sold for reuse.
6 Monitoring And Enforcement
6.1 Any control system, no matter how well crafted will not be effective without rigorous enforcement. Enforcement will ensure the minority of companies that violate the controls are penalised accordingly and would not gain unfairly from their violations. Without rigorous enforcement, companies that originally comply with the controls may become complacent and pay less attention and effort to ensure their operations continue to be safely managed.
6.2 Monthly checks are conducted on premises of toxic industrial waste collectors and the records are audited to ensure requirements on collection, storage, treatment and disposal of toxic wastes are complied with.
7 Transboundary Movements Of Hazardous Wastes
7.1 Before acceding to the Basel Convention, Singapore had already adopted and practised the principles of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and its Disposal in controlling the export, import and transit of toxic industrial wastes or hazardous wastes.
7.2 Singapore acceded to the Basel Convention on 2 Jan 96 and on 16 Mar 98 enacted The Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act and its Regulations to strengthen the control on export, import and transit of hazardous wastes in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Basel Convention.
7.3 Under the Hazardous Waste Act and its Regulations, any person who wishes to export, import or transit hazardous wastes shall obtain a permit from PCD. PCD has adopted the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure of the Basel Convention in granting any permit for the export, import or transit of hazardous wastes.
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8 Training
8.1 NEA collaborates with local institutions and trade associations such as the universities, the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, the Society for Loss Prevention in the Oil, Chemical and Process Industries, etc, to organise and conduct workshops, conferences and seminars on the safe handling and disposal of toxic industrial wastes for local industries.
8.2 NEA also works together with the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Ministry of Manpower to conduct training courses on safe practices on handling of toxic industrial wastes for workers in the industries.
9 Conclusion
9.1 In addition to regulatory controls, the co-operation of industries in ensuring that toxic industrial wastes are properly managed and disposed of in Singapore is essential. NEA will continue to work with industry and institutions in promoting better management and disposal of toxic industrial wastes through joint research and educational programmes.
9.2 NEA will continue to participate in international events on the Basel Convention and adopt and practise the principles of Basel Convention in dealing with transboundary movements of toxic industrial wastes.
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ANNEX
LIST OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES CONTROLLED UNDER THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH (TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTE) REGULATIONS
List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
Acids
1 Spent inorganic acids.
Eg. hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, boric acid and pickling acid.
2 Spent organic acids.
Eg. acetic acid, formic acid, benzoic acid and sulphonic acid
Alkali
1 Spent alkaline solutions
2 Spent ammoniacal solutions
3 Metal hydroxide sludges and oxide sludges
Antimony and its Compounds
4 Spent antimony potassium tartrate
Arsenic and its Compounds
1 Timber preservative residues containing arsenic
2 Wastes containing gallium arsenide
Asbestos
1 Asbestos wastes from
Chromium Compounds
1 Plating effluent and residues containing chromium
2 Timber preservative residues containing chromium
3 Spent and aqueous solutions containing chromic compounds
4 Tannery effluent and residues containing chromium
Copper Compounds
1 Plating effluent and residues containing copper
2 Spent etching solutions containing copper from printed circuit board manufacturing
3 Timber preservative residues containing copper
Cyanides
1 Plating effluent and residues containing cyanides
2 Heat treatment residues containing cyanides
3 Spent quenching oils containing
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asbestos/cement manufacturing processes
2 Empty sacks/bags which have contained loose asbestos fibre
3 Asbestos wastes generated from industrial activity, demolition, renovation and delagging works and ship repairing
Cadmium and its Compounds
1 Plating effluent and residues containing cadmium
2 Wastes containing cadmium from Ni/Cd battery manufacturing
cyanides
4 Spent processing solutions containing cyanides from photographic processing
Fluoride Compounds
1 Timber preservative residues containing fluorides
2 Spent ammonium bi-fluoride
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ANNEX (CONT'D)
List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
Isocyanates
1 Spent di-isocyanates.
Eg. toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) and
methylene di-isocyanate (MDI) from
polyurethane foam-making process
Laboratory Wastes
1 Obsolete laboratory chemicals
2 Toxic chemical wastes from chemical analysis
Lead Compounds
1 Sludges containing lead oxide/sulphate
2 Spent organo-lead compounds.
Eg. tetraethyllead (TEL) and
tetramethyllead (TML)
3 Waste lead-acid batteries, whole or crushed
Mercury and its Compounds
1 Effluent, residues or sludges containing mercury from chlor-alkali industry
2 Wastes containing mercury from equipment manufacturing involving the use of metal mercury
3 Spent catalysts from chemical processes containing mercury
4 Spent organo-mercury compounds
Organic Compounds containing Halogen
1 Spent halogenated organic solvents.
Eg. trichloroethylene, 111-trichloroethane, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride
tetra-chloromethane and
112-trichloro-122-trifluoroethane
2 Residues from recovery of halogenated
organic solvents
3 Packaging materials or residues containing chlorobenzenes and/or chlorophenols and
their salts
Organic Compounds not containing Halogen
1 Spent non-halogenated organic solvents.
Eg. benzene, toluene, xylene, turpentine, petroleum, thinner, kerosene, methanol, ethanol, isobutanol, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, isopropyl ether, diethyl ether, hexane, dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl sulphoxide
2 Residue from recovery of non-halogenated organic solvents
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Metal Catalysts
1 Spent metal catalysts from chemical
processes and petroleum refining.
Eg. Catalysts containing chromium cobalt
Nickel Compounds
1 Plating effluent and residues containing nickel
Other Wastes
1 Obsolete/abandoned chemicals and pesticides from storage, manufacturing and trading activities
2 Used containers, bags and process equipment contaminated by chemicals and pesticides from storage, manufacturing and trading activities
3 Wastes/residues containing unreacted monomers. Eg. vinyl chloride and styrene monomers, from polymer manufacturing processes
4 Tar residues from distilling and tarry materials from refining
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ANNEX (CONT'D)
List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
5 Wastes from toxic waste treatment processes. Eg. wastes and residues from solidification, fixation and incineration processes
6 Wastes from toxic chemical drums and tank cleaning activities
7 Chemical and oil slops from ship tankers
8 Wastes from the production, formulation and use of resins, latex, plasticisers, glues/adhesives containing solvents and other contaminants.
9 Wastes from the production, formulation and use of inks, dyes, pigments, paints, lacquers, varnish containing organic solvents, heavy metals or biocides.
10 Solid wastes and sludges or obsolete/off specification materials not categorised elsewhere in the Schedule and failing the NEA’s landfill disposal criteria
Pathogenic Wastes
1 Pathogenic wastes from hospitals
2 Pathogenic wastes from healthcare and research institutions, clinics and laboratories
Pharmaceutical Wastes
1 Pharmaceutical wastes comprising antineoplastic agents, antibiotics,
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
1 All waste materials containing PVC. Eg. PVC insulated wires, PVC pipes and trunking, PVC parts, PVC upholstery and PVC resins
Silver Compounds
1 Spent processing solutions containing silver from photographic processing
Used, Contaminated Oil
1 Used mineral, lubricating and hydraulic oil from machine cylinders, turbines, switch gears and transformers
2 Spent motor oils from petrol and
diesel engines
3 Spent quenching oil from metal hardening
4 Oil recovered from solvent degreasers
5 Spent oil water emulsions.
Eg. Spent coolants from metal
Working industries
6 Oil water mixtures (mainly oil).
Eg. Oily ballast water from ship tankers
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vaccines and other immunological products, controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap. 185) and pharmaceutical wastes containing arsenics, cyanides and heavy metals and their salts
Phenolic Compounds
1 Sludges/residues from paint stripping using chemicals containing phenols
2 Residues containing unreacted phenol and formaldehyde from adhesive industry
Polychlorinated Bi-phenyl (PCB) including Polychlorinated Ter-phenyl (PCT)
1 Spent transformer oil containing PCB
and/or PCT
2 Rectrofilled transformer contaminated
with PCB and/or PCT
3 Electrical equipment and parts containing or contaminated with PCB and/or PCT.
Eg. capacitors and transformers
4 Containers and all waste materials contaminated with PCB and/or PCT
7 Oil and sludge from oil interceptors
8 Tanker sludges and oil sludges/ residues from storage tanks
9 Oil sludges containing acid from recovery and recycling of used oil
Zinc Compounds
1 Plating effluent and residues containing zinc

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Management of Hazardous Substances

Management of Hazardous Substances

1 INTRODUCTION
Singapore is an island of about 620 square kilometres in area. The average population density in Singapore is about 4,000 people per square kilometre. Such high population densities make it imperative for hazardous substances to be controlled so that public exposure to accidental release is, if not avoided, minimised.
In addition, large parts of Singapore are used as water catchment areas. It is necessary to ensure that chemical storage facilities and transport avoid such areas as far as possible. This is to prevent pollution and to protect drinking water sources against contamination.
The awareness of the hazards or risks posed to both human health and the environment from the manufacturing, storage, transport, and use of hazardous chemicals has come about in recent years as a result of a number of reported major industrial accidents in both developed and the developing countries. Two well known catastrophic incidents occurred in the mid 1980s in the less developed countries. These were the release of toxic methyl isocyanate from a pesticide factory in Bhopal, India and the explosions and fires at an LPG installation in Mexico. Both incidents caused great losses of lives.
In Singapore, the Government has implemented measures to control and minimise the risks from industrial developments handling large quantities of hazardous substances not only to protect workers within the hazardous plants but also the general public and the environment.
Pollution Control Department (PCD) of the National Environment Agency controls toxic and environmentally hazardous chemicals under The Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and The Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations.
Flammable petroleum products in Singapore are controlled under the Fire Safety Act by the Fire Safety & Shelter Department (FSSD) of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Radioactive substances are controlled by the Centre for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science (CRPNS).
2 POLLUTION CONTROL DEPARTMENT
CONTROL STRATEGIES
The hazardous chemicals controlled by PCD (see Table 1) are those that:

• Pose a mass-disaster potential
• Are highly toxic and polluting
• Generate wastes which cannot be safely and adequately disposed of

In Singapore, the control of hazardous chemicals are implemented mainly through the following measures:

• Planning control
• Licensing control
• Enforcement

PLANNING CONTROL
On new developments, PCD checks and ensures that new residential and industrial developments are properly sited and are compatible with surrounding land use. PCD also imposes environmental pollution control requirements to be incorporated into designs of developments to minimise pollution and to mitigate pollution impact on surrounding developments.
The Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and Housing Development Board (HDB) are developing agencies for industrial land and premises and they consult PCD on the allocation of industrial premises. PCD assesses and evaluates the environmental impact of the proposed industries to ensure that they do not pose unmanageable health and safety hazards and pollution problems. A proposed industry will be allowed only if emissions of pollutants can comply with standards, wastes can be safely managed and properly disposed of, and the factory can be sited in a suitable industrial estate.
For major developments, PCD requires developers to carry out pollution control assessment for their proposals. Examples of major developments include industries involving the use or storage of hazardous chemicals in bulk quantities, port development, landfill site, etc. The study includes an assessment of all pollution impact on the environment and recommendation of measures to mitigate such impact. PCD will issue clearance to the proposed development only if its evaluation of the study reports confirms that pollution impact could be mitigated to acceptable levels.
In addition, PCD encourages industries to reuse, recycle and recover their by-products to minimise waste generation. Disposal of wastes by landfill is only used as a last resort. For proposed industrial developments, PCD also checks and ensures that clean technology is adopted in industrial processes to conserve resources, and minimise pollution.
After a proposed development has been granted planning approval, a developer can proceed to submit building plans to the Building Control Division (BCD) of the Public Works Department for approval. Under the current procedure on building plan approval, the developer is also required to submit building plans to technical departments including PCD for clearance on technical requirements. PCD checks the building plans of the development for compliance with technical requirements on environmental health, drainage, sewerage and pollution control. In addition, PCD also checks and ensures that pollution control measures are incorporated into the design of buildings.
After the completion of a development, PCD inspects it to ensure compliance with technical requirements before granting clearance to BCA for the issue of Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)/Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) to the completed development.
Industries are required to apply for written permission, licence and permits from PCD before they can start operation.
LICENSING CONTROLS
Licensing controls are implemented under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Fire Safety Act. The licensing controls prevent unauthorised persons from handling such substances and ensure proper safeguards are taken at all times in the handling of the substances to prevent accidental releases and mitigate the adverse effects if they occur.
The following Licensing Controls over the import, transport, storage and use of hazardous substances are implemented under The Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and its Regulations:
Hazardous Substances Licence Control
Any person who wishes to import, sell or export any hazardous substance controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) must obtain a Licence.
A licence will be issued to a person if:

• he could show proof that the Hazardous Substances will be stored safely in an approved location and in compliance with the storage requirements;
• the use of the Hazardous Substances at his factory has been approved;
• he has sat and passed the Management of Hazardous Substances Course conducted by Singapore Environment Institute (SEI); and
• his academic qualification must be at least a technical diploma.

Hazardous Substances Permit Control
Any person who wishes to purchase, store and/or use any hazardous substance controlled under the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations must obtain a Permit.
A Permit will be issued to a person if:

• he could show proof that the Hazardous Substances will be stored safely in an approved location and in compliance with the storage requirements;
• the use of the Hazardous Substancesat his factory has been approved; and
• he has declared that he has read and understood the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and its Regulations.

The Licence/Permit application form is in Annex 9. In addition, the public can submit an electronic application for a Hazardous Substances Licence/Permit via the Internet. The Internet address is: http://app1.env.gov.sg/pcls/index.jsp
Transport Approval Control
Any person who wishes to transport any hazardous substance in quantities exceeding those specified in the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations (see Table 2) must obtain a Transport Approval. The limits varies from 0 kg for highly toxic chemicals such as organochlorines pesticides to 1000 kg for corrosives such as sulphuric acid.
A Transport Approval will be issued to a person if:

• he holds a Licence to handle hazardous substances,
  he could show proof that the Hazardous Substances will be transported safely in compliance with the transportation requirements.

The licence holder can also submit an application for a Hazardous Substances Transport Approval via the internet.
Import Control
The most effective stage of control to ensure that all chemicals that enter Singapore can be and will be safely managed and handled at all times by approved competent licence holders is at the import stage.
Under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA), all import of Hazardous Substances listed under Second SchedueI of the Act must be approved by PCD. PCD will approve the import only if:

• the Hazardous Substances are stated in the importer's licence,
• there is a valid transport approval for the Hazardous Substances if the Hazardous Substances are to be transported out of the port.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER LICENSING CONTROLS
The Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and its Regulations provide provisions for technical requirements to be imposed and complied with to ensure the safe management and handling of hazardous substances and to prevent an accident from occuring. These technical requirements are briefly described below.
Storage Requirements
The storage area should be sheltered; fenced-up; under lock and key; provided with kerb/hump all round the storage area; provided with fire protection and safety facilities; equipped with leak detection and warning devices and emergency scrubbing systems for storage of toxic gases.
The containers and storage tanks for the chemicals must be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance to an internationally-acceptable standards.
Hazardous Substances Licence and Permit holders must keep records of stock movements of the hazardous substances in accordance to the formats specified by PCD.
Adequate emergency action plan (see Annex 1) for dealing with any accidental release of chemicals must be drawn; with adequate stock of emergency equipment such as neutralising agent, adsorbents, oversized drums, protective gears, etc on kept on standby.
The implementation of a safety audit procedure is strongly encouraged to systematically identify and rectify weaknesses in the management system and practices of handling hazardous chemicals on a regular basis. Attached are the elements that should be audited and a list of consultants that are able to conduct such audits. (see Annex 2 & 3)
Transport Requirements
The containers and tankers used for bulk chemical transportation must be designed, manufactured and tested in accordance to an internationally-acceptable standards. The tankers must be certified by an approved third party inspection body to have met the stipulated standards (see Annex 4) before it can be used for transportation on Singapore roads.
The containers, tankers and vehicles must be properly labelled and carry appropiate hazard warning panels.
All transportation of controlled Hazardous Substances must strictly adhere to NEA's approved routes and must be between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm (Monday to Saturday excluding Sundays and Public Holidays).
All drivers must be trained in the handling of accidental spills and have attended the HazMat Driver Course conducted by SCDF's Civil Defence Academy or Singapore Port Institute (PSA Institute). Drivers renewing their Hazardous Material Transport Driver Permit (HTDP) are required to attend  the HazMat Driver's Course once every 2 years.
An adequate transportation emergency response plan (TERP) (see Annex 5) must also be put up to deal with any accidental release of the hazardous substances; with adequate stock of emergency equipment carried on the vehicles; such as chemical fire extinguisher, neutralising agent, adsorbents, oversized drums, protective gears, etc.
The consignor has to prepare a set of instructions for the carrier or transport company containing the following :-

• information on the hazards of hazardous substance and safety precautions for its safe handling,
• restrictions on the mode of transport and any necessary routing instructions,
• special operational requirements for loading, unloading and transport or a statement that none is needed,
• emergency response plan for transportation of the hazardous substances.

The carrier is required to obtain a set of the above instructions from the consignor and be conversant with the information it contained before proceeding to transport the consignment of the hazardous substance. The carrier must instruct and train his driver to ensure he understood the instructions given and is capable of carrying them out effectively. All documents pertaining to the chemicals transported (i.e. MSDS, transport approval and all emergency response, spill control and first aid equipment) should be kept within ready reach in event of emergency.
The consignor has to ensure that the instructions given to the carrier are accurate and sufficient to enable the carrier to carry out the transportation safely. The consignor is also required to be present on-site to personally deal with any chemical release during transportation.
Tanks of road tankers and tank containers used for transporting hazardous substances must meet approved standards of design, construction and testing. The design of the tanks must be reviewed and its construction surveyed by an approved third party inspection body. Once the third party inspection body is satisfied that the tank or tank container meets the approved standards, it will issue an initial inspection certificate. Under the approved standards, the tank and tank container must undergo periodic inspections.
The following standards are acceptable:

• European Agreement of Road Transport of Dangerous Goods (ADR Standards)
• United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN Standard)
• International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)
• United States Code of Federal Regulations (US-DOT Standards)

The carrier needs to ensure that the vehicle and its tanks or containers are properly labelled in accordance to the Singapore Standards 286, 'Cautionary Labelling for Hazardous Substances'.
Labels are given for each class of hazardous substances and should be affixed on packagings and the vehicle. Road tankers and vehicles carrying hazardous substances in tank containers should have Emergency Information Panels. These are hazard warning panels containing the following emergency information :-

• the appropriate class label and subsidiary risk label, if any
• the correct technical name of the substance
• the UN number of the substance
• the Hazchem code number
• contact numbers and names of company and emergency response authority

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Notwithstanding the controls and precautions taken, one cannot rule out the possibility of spillages and accidental releases of hazardous substances during transportation. With well drawn up emergency plans and proper training, such releases can be effectively contained and the damage to the environment and dangers to the health and safety of public minimised.
As a condition for granting licences and transport approvals, companies are required to put up emergency response plans.
The plan must be comprehensive and should contain the following key elements :-

• notification procedures; (persons and authorities to contact and how to contact)
• emergency procedures to contain and decontaminate spills; (immediate actions to be taken by driver/ground staff and actions to be taken by the company upon being informed)
• emergency equipment to be carried on the vehicle and at base such as personal protection equipment, absorbents, neutralising solutions and salvage drums;
• Material Safety Data Sheets of the hazardous substances transported.

The emergency response plan (ERP) shall be vetted and approved by SCDF before a Transport Approval may be issued.
Under the provisions of The Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, in the event of a chemical fire / release, the licence holders\transport approval holders are required to:

• block off the area contaminated by the hazardous substance;
• notify SCDF and the PCD;
• take immediate action to have the area decontaminated and return the situation to normal.

ENFORCEMENT
Under the Act and its Rules, PCD officers are empowered to carry out regular inspection to check into the following aspects of controls:

• Import, purchase and sale of Hazardous Substances
• Storage
• Transportation
• Labelling
• Maintaining and updating of records and sales documents
• Ensure that all hazardous substances are safely disposed of

PCD officers are authorised to:

• check and search premises;
• extracts records and documents for investigations; and
• conduct surprise checks on road tankers used for transportation on the road.

CONCLUSION
Hazardous chemicals have the potential to seriously endanger life and pollute the environment. Such chemicals have to be carefully managed at all time to prevent any accidental release. The successful implementation of a chemical safety programme requires co-operation from the industries to manage their hazardous chemicals properly and the support of the general public.

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CONTROL OF LEGIONELLA BACTERIA IN COOLING TOWERS

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CONTROL OF LEGIONELLA BACTERIA IN COOLING TOWERS

CONTENTS
FOREWORD 1
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2
PART I: PRELIMINARY
1. Purpose 3
2. Scope and application 3
3. Responsibility 3
PART II: COOLING TOWERS IN BUILDINGS
4. Cooling tower design and construction 5
5. Location of cooling tower 6
6. Source of water 6
7. Discharge of water 6
8. Commissioning and operation 7
PART III: SERVICING, MAINTENANCE AND
MONITORING OF COOLING SYSTEM
9. Maintenance 8
10. Cleaning and disinfection 9
11. Water treatment 10
12. Biocide 11
13. Record keeping 12
14. Action plan for an outbreak 13
15. Water sampling and bacteriological monitoring 15
16. Enforcement action for legionella and standard plate count contamination 16
PART IV: WORKER SAFETY
17. Training 19
18. Personal Protection of workers 19
Appendices
A. Information required for the registration of cooling 21
towers
B. Allowable limits for trade effluent discharge to a 22
public sewer
C. Checklist for assessment of health risk of cooling 23
towers
D. A record of responsibility and activities to control 25
legionella bacteria in a specified cooling system
E. References 26
F. Glossary of terms 28
1
FOREWORD
Legionnaires’ disease is an acute bacterial infection of the lower respiratory
tract. Among the elderly and persons whose body resistance is weakened by other
concurrent illnesses, the infection can be fatal. The disease is caused by the inhalation
of tiny water droplets containing the legionella bacteria which thrive in poorly
maintained cooling towers. Proper maintenance of cooling towers with regular
mechanical cleaning, and routine treatment with biocides is therefore important and
necessary.
To minimise the risk of outbreaks of legionnaires’ disease in Singapore, the
Institute of Environmental Epidemiology, Ministry of the Environment, in consultation
with other government departments and professional bodies, formulated this Code of
Practice for the control of legionella bacteria in cooling towers. It is intended for
building owners/management corporations of centrally air-conditioned offices and
factories, contractors involved in the servicing and maintenance of cooling towers, and
others responsible for the design, operation and maintenance of air-conditioned
buildings.
This document specifies the design, construction and location of cooling
towers. It also provides guidelines on servicing and maintenance of cooling towers. It
includes a checklist for assessment of health risk of cooling towers and emergency
remedial measures in the event of an outbreak.
Building owners/management corporations are reminded that based on the
Environmental Public Health (Cooling Towers and Water Fountains) Regulations
2001, it is an offence to operate cooling towers that are grossly contaminated and pose
a health hazard.
WANG NAN CHEE
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
SINGAPORE
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The advice, comments and contributions of the following departments and
professional bodies are gratefully acknowledged:
Quarantine & Epidemiology Department, Ministry of the Environment
Prosecution & Contracts Unit, Ministry of the Environment
Drainage Department, Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Health Department, Ministry of the Environment
Central Building Plan Unit, Ministry of the Environment
Sewerage Department, Ministry of the Environment
Pollution Control Department, Ministry of the Environment
Building Engineering Division, Building and Construction Authority
Department of Industrial Health, Ministry of Manpower
Medical Laboratory Board, Ministry of Health
Pathology Department, Singapore General Hospital
Singapore Association of ASHRAE Members
Singapore Institute of Architects
Institution of Engineers Singapore
Singapore Contractors Association
3
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1 Purpose
1.1 The purpose of this Code of Practice is to provide guidelines for the
prevention and control of legionella bacteria in cooling towers in order
to minimise the occurrence and risk of outbreaks of legionnaires’
disease.
2 Scope and application
2.1 This document applies to all cooling towers in new and existing
premises which are used as shops, offices, trade, business, industry or
for any other purposes in Singapore.
2.2 It is applicable for use at various stages during the inception, design,
upgrading, refurbishment, extension and maintenance of the building.
2.3 In this document, references to specific requirements under the relevant
legislations are made. Failure to comply with these requirements shall
constitute an offence under the respective regulations, and appropriate
enforcement action shall be taken.
3 Responsibility
3.1 It shall be the responsibility of the owner/management corporation of
the premises with cooling towers to:
(a) assess the risk of occurrence of legionnaires’ disease arising from
cooling towers;
(b) set up and manage a programme to minimise the risk of an
outbreak of legionnaires’ disease and monitor the effectiveness of
the programme;
(c) keep records of all activities implemented; and
(d) ensure the safety of operation and maintenance personnel and that
they are adequately trained.
4
3.2 The owner/management corporation shall ensure that persons
designated to carry out the responsibilities specified above are
competent, adequately qualified and experienced. Where the
owner/management corporation lacks the expertise, it shall be delegated
or contracted to consultants with the relevant experience and expertise.
3.3 The owner/management corporation shall ensure that every water
cooling system in the premises is registered with the Ministry of the
Environment, using the form in Appendix A.
3.4 The owner/management corporation shall ensure that there is an
instruction manual for every air-conditioning system incorporating:
(a) a schematic plan of the air-conditioning system;
(b) its operation;
(c) the necessary precautions to be taken specifying checks and their
frequency, and steps to be taken to remedy defects and deficiencies;
and
(d) equipment supplier’s particulars/contact numbers.
5
PART II
COOLING TOWERS OF BUILDINGS
4 Cooling tower design and construction
4.1 At the stage of the construction of the building and the installation of
cooling system, inspection shall be made by competent persons so that the
cooling towers pose minimal health risk to occupants of the building and
members of the public.
4.2 Cooling systems shall be designed and constructed so as to minimise the
release of drift and to aid safe operation, and regular cleaning and
disinfection.
4.3 The design of the cooling system:
(a) shall be simple and practical (deadlegs, loops and bends should be
avoided and redundant pipework removed); and
(b) shall allow for easy access to all parts of the system for inspection,
sampling, cleaning and disinfection.
4.4 A new or refitted cooling tower shall have features that minimise the
formation and release of drift, in particular:
(a) a water distribution system within the cooling tower designed to
create as little spray as possible;
(b) an effective high efficiency drift eliminator; and
(c) an enclosure of the area above the cooling tower pond. This will
reduce the effects of windage that cause the drift to escape through
the sides. It should not be transparent or translucent as sunlight can
promote the growth of algae which is conducive for the growth of
legionella bacteria.
4.5 Construction materials shall be non-corrosive, resistant to chemicals (e.g.
fibre glass, stainless steel), smooth, non-porous, opaque to sunlight and
readily disinfected. Materials used shall not support the growth and
proliferation of microorganisms.
6
4.6 A drain shall be located at the lowest point of the pond with a drain-down
valve so that the entire system can be conveniently and completely
drained.
5 Location of cooling tower
5.1 The cooling tower shall be located at least 5 metres away (measured from
the base of the cooling tower) from air circulating and ventilating inlets,
open windows and occupied areas, pedestrian thoroughfares, trafficable
areas, areas of public access, exhaust discharges from kitchens, air
handling system or other areas where nutrients conveyed from these
systems could assist in the growth of legionella.
5.2 When locating a cooling tower, the influence of adjacent buildings and of
prevailing wind direction and the wind distribution over these buildings
shall be taken into account. It shall be located away from the downwind of
air intakes for the building.
6 Source of water
6.1 The source of make-up water shall be supplied by the Public Utilities
Board water mains or any source as may be approved by the
Commissioner.
7 Discharge of water
7.1 Discharge of effluent water from cooling towers shall be into the public
sewers in accordance to the Sewerage and Drainage Act Cap. 293A.
Approval for connection to sewers shall be obtained from the Central
Building Plan Unit, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of the
Environment.
7.2 The concentration of chemicals in the effluent shall be within the allowable
limits of the Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations 1999
administered by the Pollution Control Department, Ministry of the
Environment (Appendix B).
7.3 Water from supply or condensation or other sources in the ventilation or
air-conditioning system shall be discharged into a pipe or drain
incorporating a U-bend and an air break between the condensate drain pipe
7
and the floor trap so that potentially contaminated water is prevented from
being drawn back into the ventilation or air-conditioning system.
8 Commissioning and operation
8.1 The specifications and operations of the air-conditioning system shall be in
accordance to all the provisions of the Singapore Standard Code of
Practice for Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning in Buildings (SS
CP13: 1999 or any revision thereafter).
8.2 Cooling towers shall be properly commissioned before use to ensure that
they operate correctly and safely.
8.3 The entire air-conditioning system shall be clear of any construction debris
and dirt, and cleaned before operation starts.
8.4 Precautions shall be taken to control the risks during commissioning, start
up and during the normal operation of the system.
8.5 In existing buildings:
(a) Where a cooling tower is out of use for more than five days, it shall
be drained, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before re-use.
(b) Where a cooling tower is not in use, it shall be drained and kept dry.
8
PART III
SERVICING, MAINTENANCE AND
MONITORING OF COOLING SYSTEM
9 Maintenance
9.1 Cooling towers shall be maintained in a clean working condition and in a
good state of repair. A “good state of repair” would mean that there is no
defect in the operation, and the cooling towers should be free from
physical damage or deterioration which may arise from defects, such as,
rusty pipes.
9.2 Every system shall have a comprehensive maintenance manual that
incorporates:
(a) complete building plans of cooling and ventilation systems;
(b) cleaning methods, decontamination procedures and dismantling
instructions;
(c) procedures for water treatment; and
(d) shutdown and start-up procedures.
9.3 The regular maintenance of the cooling system shall be carried out by
competent persons, familiar with the prevention of any hazard arising from
the work.
9.4 Cooling towers shall be visually inspected at least once a week for any
physical defect, general cleanliness, organic fouling and presence of
physical debris.
9.5 A comprehensive maintenance programme including cleaning, disinfecting
and water treatment for every cooling tower shall be carried out to prevent
legionella bacteria from multiplying and to allow water treatment
chemicals to work more effectively.
9.6 Physical devices incorporating use of copper-silver ionisation, filtration,
ultraviolet light or ozone may be incorporated to complement maintenance,
but they shall not replace a proper and regular maintenance programme.
9
10 Cleaning and disinfection
10.1 Thorough cleaning, disinfection and manual desludging of cooling towers
shall be carried out at least once in six months.
10.2 Cleaning and disinfection shall also be carried out in cooling towers:
(a) that have been contaminated during construction, or by dusts or
organic matter;
(b) that have been shut down for more than five days;
(c) that have been mechanically altered or disrupted in a manner which
may lead to contamination;
(d) at regular intervals where the surrounding environment is dusty or
where the water quality is out of control; and
(e) where the adjacent cooling tower has been implicated as a source of
an outbreak of legionnaires' disease.
10.3 By-pass systems or alternating re-circulating pump systems where water is
stagnated shall be regularly cleaned and disinfected or brought into use.
10.4 The procedures for cleaning and disinfection shall be as follows:
(a) The system water shall be pre-chlorinated to achieve a measured
residual of 5 mg/litre free chlorine, to minimise health risk to
cleaning staff. Circulate water together with a biodispersant, to
enhance the effectiveness of chlorination, for 6 hours, maintaining a
minimum of 5 mg/litre free chlorine at all times. If the circuit pH
value is greater than 8, the measured residual will need to be in the
range of 15-20 mg/litre free chlorine in order to achieve the required
disinfection level. An alternative procedure to provide a more
effective use of chlorine is to introduce a heavy bleed-off for several
hours to reduce the pH of the system and its chlorine content;
(b) The circuit shall be drained and the tower, sump, and distribution
system manually cleaned. Accessible areas of the towers and its
pack shall be adequately washed. Scale and other deposits that have
not been removed shall be dissolved using chemical descalants,
carefully chosen to avoid damage to the circuit/cooling tower.
Cleaning methods which create excessive spray such as high
pressure water jetting shall be avoided. If this is not possible, the
cleaning shall be carried out when the building is unoccupied or in
the case of permanently occupied buildings, windows and air inlets
in the vicinity closed. Staff involved in water jetting shall be
10
adequately trained and wear suitable respiratory protective
equipment set out in section 18.2;
(c) The system shall be refilled with fresh water, and re-chlorinated to
maintain a minimum level of 5 mg/litre free chlorine throughout the
period of 6 hours. A biodispersant shall be used to enhance the
effectiveness of chlorination; and
(d) The system shall be drained and flushed, refilled with fresh water
and dosed with the appropriate start-up level of treatment chemicals,
including biocides.
During the procedure, the cooling tower fans should be switched off.
11 Water treatment
11.1 To control legionella bacteria, the water treatment regime shall prevent or
adequately reduce the amounts of:
(a) scale and corrosion products which might protect legionella bacteria
in the system;
(b) sediments which might prevent water treatment processes from
working effectively; and
(c) other bacteria and microorganisms.
11.2 A complete automatic water treatment shall be installed for accurate
dosing comprising:
(a) a metering pump; and
(b) a chemical dosage pot for feeding the chemicals.
11.3 Slime and algae growth shall be controlled with biocides. If there is a
sudden bloom of slime and algae, an alkaline cleaner to remove and
disperse the growth shall be applied, the system flushed, cleaned, and
biocide redosed.
11.4 The control of silt deposit shall be achieved by a chemical treatment
programme using dispersants or formulated chemicals.
11
11.5 The chemical used in the water treatment programme shall have no
detrimental effect on non-metallic materials such as rubber or epoxy anticorrosive
lining which may be used in the piping system. It shall be
compatible and neutral to the pipework materials.
11.6 No system shall be treated with any chemical or compound for which there
is no test procedure.
11.7 All packaging, storage and handling of chemicals shall be in accordance to
the manufacturer’s recommendation.
A checklist for assessment of health risk of cooling towers is shown in Appendix C.
12 Biocide
12.1 At least two (2) types of biocides shall be used alternately on a weekly
basis to prevent emergence of resistant strains of microorganisms.
12.2 Before setting up a biocidal water treatment programme, it shall be ensured
that the system is clean.
12.3 The ‘shot/slug dose’ method shall be implemented to prevent
microbiological acclimatisation. This involves the addition of the biocides,
alternating them at suitable intervals, directly into the cooling tower basin
using an automatic control system.
12.4 The biocide used to eliminate and control the growth of legionella bacteria
shall comply with the following:
(a) It shall not be a prohibited chemical in the Poisons Act Cap. 234 for
trade effluent discharge to a public sewer;
(b) It shall be effective against a wide range of micro-organisms
(including all legionella bacteria) at the recommended dilutions, and
its effectiveness supported by official independent reports;
(c) It shall be manufactured by the supplier to an independent
specification such as the British Standard 5750 or other approved
equivalent standards;
(d) It shall already have been in widespread use for similar field
application in the country of manufacture for no less than 3 years;
12
(e) It shall be proven to be effective when dosed in accordance to the
manufacturer’s recommendations (frequency, dose strength,
preparation);
(f) It shall have documentation available covering the safety and
effectiveness of the product in recirculating systems;
(g) It shall not interfere with the method used for identification of
legionella bacteria;
(h) It shall be chemically and physically compatible with processed
water and neutral to piping materials.
12.5 The chemicals used and the subsequent end-products of the treatment
programme shall be degradable with minimal hazards to the environment
in the event of accidental spillage or through draining into effluent
treatment plants, meeting all the necessary requirements of the Ministry of
the Environment under the Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent)
Regulations 1999.
13 Record keeping
13.1 A formal record book for every cooling tower with accurate and adequate
information shall be kept and be made available for inspections by officials
from the Ministry of the Environment.
13.2 The record shall include:
(a) a description of the cooling tower such as location, model and
capacity;
(b) the name of the person who ensures that proper records are kept;
(c) the person or company who is responsible for the assessment of risk
and implementing and managing precautionary measures;
(d) the person or company carrying out the water treatment;
(e) details of maintenance such as:
(i) date and result of visual inspection
(ii) date of cleaning and disinfection
13
(iii) date of chemical treatment
(iv) date of biocidal treatment
(v) monitoring for
- standard plate count (date sampled and result)
- legionella bacteria count (date sampled and result)
(vi) remedial work (if required) and date executed.
Each activity (i)-(vi) shall be authenticated by signature of the person who carried out the
task.
13.3 Record books shall be kept for at least two (2) years after their last entry.
14 Action plan for an outbreak
14.1 If an outbreak of legionnaire’s disease has occurred or is suspected to have
occurred, it shall immediately be notified to:
Commissioner of Public Health
c/o Quarantine & Epidemiology Department
Ministry of the Environment
40 Scotts Road
Singapore 228231
14.2 In the event or on the suspicion of an outbreak of legionnaires' disease
implicating a cooling tower, an investigating team from the Ministry of the
Environment shall require the following under the Infectious Diseases Act
Cap. 137:
(a) a building plan showing the details of all the floors, and location of
the cooling towers and fresh air inlets to the building;
(b) the cooling tower circuit in a diagram form;
(c) the cooling tower maintenance records; and
(d) any other information required for the epidemiological investigation.
14
14.3 The implicated cooling tower shall not be drained or disinfected before
water samples are taken by the team.
14.4 The following emergency procedure shall take place urgently:
(a) cordon off the cooling tower;
(b) switch off fan of the cooling tower immediately;
(c) switch off circulation pump as soon as practical;
(d) discontinue the regular chemical treatment programme (corrosion
inhibitor, scale inhibitor) and shut off the chemical feeders; and
(e) keep all personnel clear of the tower.
14.5 The investigating team shall require the immediate cleaning and
disinfection of the implicated cooling tower, under the Environmental
Public Health (Cooling Towers and Water Fountains) Regulations 2001,
as follows:
(a) add sodium hypochlorite to the system water to obtain a measured
concentration of 50 mg/litre of free chlorine. Add a suitable
biodispersant immediately or at the same time as sodium
hypochlorite;
(b) circulate the system water with the fans off for a period of at least 6
hours, maintaining the free chlorine level at an absolute minimum of
20 mg/litre at all times;
(c) after 6 hours, dechlorinate and drain the system;
(d) undertake manual cleaning of the tower, sump and distribution
system with cleaning staff wearing suitable protective equipment as
set out in section 18.2;
(e) refill with fresh water, add sodium hypochlorite;
(f) recirculate without using fan, at 20 mg/litre of free chlorine for 6
hours;
(g) dechlorinate and drain the system;
(h) refill, recirculate, and take samples for testing; and
15
(i) re-commission the system when test results show absence of
legionella bacteria.
15 Water sampling and bacteriological monitoring
15.1 A regular testing programme for legionella bacteria (including total
bacteria count) shall be carried out to check the efficacy of the water
treatment regime at the following intervals:
Standard plate count - At least once a month.
Legionella bacteria count - At least once in every three months.
15.2 The water sample shall be taken before the dosing of biocide. If
disinfection is carried out, the water sample shall be taken no less than 3
days after disinfection to ensure effectiveness of the treatment.
15.3 The water sample shall be taken from the cooling tower pond. The systems
must be operating, and water circulated through the system for at least one
hour prior to collection of the sample.
15.4 The water sample shall not be collected:
(a) near a make-up water inlet; or
(b) with sediments that have been deliberately stirred up.
15.5 The samples shall be transported to the laboratory in a cooler with ice
packs to maintain sample temperature of 6 to 18°C within the same
working day.
15.6 The government laboratory or any laboratory conducting the tests shall
have official approval from the Commissioner/accreditation from the
Ministry of Health.
15.7 One water sample shall be taken from each cooling tower. A laboratory
report shall be supplied for each cooling circuit.
15.8 The laboratory reports shall be submitted to:
Commissioner of Public Health
c/o Environmental Health Department
16
Ministry of the Environment
40 Scotts Road
Singapore 228231
at the stipulated intervals set out in section 15.1. Each report shall be
submitted together with information on the maintenance of the system set
out in Appendix D for each cooling system.
15.9 The routine microbiological monitoring of cooling systems for legionella
bacteria shall not be used to replace sound engineering practices combined
with a regular maintenance and cleaning programme.
16 Enforcement action for legionella bacteria and standard plate count
contamination
16.1 The interpretation for various levels of legionella bacteria and standard
plate count contamination and the action to be taken by the Ministry of the
Environment under the Environmental Public Health (Cooling Towers and
Water Fountains) Regulations 2001 against the building
owner/management corporation shall be as follows:
Table 1
Legionella
bacteria count
(cfu/millilitre)
Interpretation Action
(a) <10 Maintenance
practices may not
be satisfactory
Advisory letter to rectify maintenance
programme, monitor and follow-up.
(b) >10 - <1000 Potentially
hazardous
situation
Enforcement action will be taken
under the Environmental Public
Health (Cooling Towers and Water
Fountains) Regulations 2001.
(c) ≥ 1000 Serious condition Order under Environmental Public
Health (Cooling Towers and Water
17
Fountains) Regulations 2001 to shut
down the system immediately,
decontaminate, clean and disinfect,
monitor and follow-up.
cfu = colony forming unit
Table 2
Standard
plate count
(cfu/millilitre)
Interpretation Action
(a) >100,000 Potentially
hazardous
situation
Enforcement action will be taken
under the Environmental Public
Health (Cooling Towers and Water
Fountains) Regulations 2001.
cfu = colony forming unit
16.2 The remedial measures for Table 1 (a) & (b) and Table 2 (a) above shall be
carried out not later than 24 hours after receiving the information. If
legionella bacteria are again detected, the procedures shall be repeated
until the system is free from contamination.
16.3 In the event that the advisory or warning is not heeded and subsequent
testing by the Ministry of the Environment shows that the legionella
bacteria contamination has not improved or worsened, the system shall be
shut down under the Environmental Public Health (Cooling Towers and
Water Fountains) Regulations 2001.
18
PART IV
WORKER SAFETY
17 Training
17.1 Persons carrying out maintenance and water treatment shall undergo inhouse
training to achieve an appropriate level of knowledge.
17.2 Training shall include:
(a) operations of cooling systems;
(b) principles of water treatment;
(c) maintenance of records;
(d) safety precautions; and
(e) legislations.
19
18 Personal protection of workers
18.1 All workers carrying out maintenance of cooling towers shall be informed
of the risk of legionnaires’ disease, and instructed on the proper use of
personal protective equipment.
18.2 The minimum equipment needed to protect the worker from exposure to
potential hazards according to the type of job shall be:
20
Job
Potential
hazard Personal protective equipment
Inspection Aerosol Half face respirator, capable of filtering
smaller than 5μm particulates, ordinary
work clothing.
Water treatment Aerosol,
chemical
mist
Half face respirator as above, rubber or
vinyl gloves, boots, goggles.
High pressure spraying Aerosol Half face respirator, waterproof
overalls, rubber or vinyl gloves, boots,
goggles or face shield.
Cleaning and chemical
treatment with sodium
hypochlorite solution
12%
Chemical
mist
Full face respirator with canister,
waterproof overalls, rubber or vinyl
gloves and boots.
18.3 When chemical accidentally come in contact with skin, the affected area
shall be immediately flushed with plenty of clean water.
18.4 Workers shall practise a high standard of personal hygiene. Adequate
washing facilities shall be provided and made easily accessible.
18.5 Eating, drinking and smoking shall be prohibited during maintenance
work.
18.6 Hands shall be washed and dried before eating, drinking or smoking.
18.7 Workers exposed to hazardous substances and engaged in processes listed
in sections 10 and 11 shall undergo regular health surveillance with a
medical practitioner.
18.8 In the event that the worker develops respiratory, cutaneous and other
symptoms when exposed to hazardous chemicals, immediate medical
attention shall be sought.
21
APPENDIX A
REGISTRATION OF COOLING TOWERS
1. Address of premises where
cooling towers are installed:
2. Particulars of owner of premises/management corporation of the premises:
Name:
Residential/Business address:
Telephone No.: (O) (H)
3. Number of cooling towers at the premises:
4. Particulars of each
cooling tower:
Ref No. Location
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
(attach a separate sheet if more than 10 cooling towers)
Submitted by: Name:
Address:
Tel No.: Date:
(an original copy shall be sent to: Commissioner of Public Health
c/o Environmental Health Department
Ministry of the Environment
40 Scotts Road
Singapore 228231)
APPENDIX B
22
ALLOWABLE LIMITS FOR TRADE EFFLUENT DISCHARGE
TO A PUBLIC SEWER
(Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations 1999)
Allowable limits
Temperature of discharge 45OC
pH value 6-9
BOD (5 days at 20OC) 400
COD 600
Total suspended solids 400 mg/L
Total dissolved solids 3,000 mg/L
Chloride (as chloride ion) 1,000 mg/L
Sulphate (as SO4) 1,000 mg/L
Sulphide (as sulphur) 1 mg/L
Cyanide (as CN) 2 mg/L
Detergents (linear alkylate sulphonate as
methylene blue active substances) 30 mg/L
Grease and oil 60 mg/L
Arsenic 5 mg/L
Barium 10 mg/L
Tin 10 mg/L
Iron (as Fe) 50 mg/L
Beryllium 5 mg/L
Boron 5 mg/L
Manganese 10 mg/L
Phenolic compounds (expressed as phenols) 0.5 mg/L
*Cadmium 1 mg/L
*Chromium (trivalent and hexavalent) 5 mg/L
*Copper 5 mg/L
*Lead 5 mg/L
*Mercury 0.5 mg/L
*Nickel 10 mg/L
*Selenium 10 mg/L
*Silver 5 mg/L
*Zinc 10 mg/L
*Total metal 10 mg/L
* where two or more of the metals are present, the
concentration in the trade effluent shall not exceed 10 mg/L.
APPENDIX C
23
CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISK OF
COOLING TOWERS
(A separate form shall be used for each cooling tower)
Site address: …………………………………………………………………………..
Reference number of cooling tower: ….……..
1 Registration
1.1 Is the cooling tower registered with Ministry of the Environment? (YES)
2 Water supply and discharge
2.1 Is the water supply from PUB or approved by Commissioner? (YES)
2.2 Is the effluent discharged into a public sewer? (YES)
3 Location
3.1 Is the cooling tower located in a position:
(a) that is near a fresh-air intake to an air-conditioning or ventilating
system?
(NO)
(b) that it is possible for wind to carry the sprays/aerosols into the
windows of an adjacent building?
(NO)
4 Record keeping
4.1 Is there a record/logbook for inspection by Ministry of the Environment? (YES)
5 Cooling tower
5.1 Are all parts of the cooling tower accessible for maintenance? (YES)
5.2 Is there an accessible sampling point at:
(a) cooling tower pond? (YES)
(b) bleeding point? (YES)
5.3 Is the pack:
(a) made from natural materials e.g. wood?
(b) clean/scale free/no slime?
(c) easily cleaned and disinfected?
(NO)
(YES)
(YES)
5.4 Are natural rubbers used as seals or caskets? (NO)
5.5 Is the aerosol creation low? (YES)
24
5.6 When the system is operating at full load, is there excessive
drift from the cooling tower discharge?
(NO)
5.7 Are there drift eliminators? (YES)
Are they securely and firmly fitted? (YES)
6 Maintenance
6.1 Is there a regular maintenance programme in operation? (YES)
6.2 Is the cooling tower and the entire distribution system cleaned
and disinfected at least once every six months.
(YES)
7 Water treatment
7.1 Is there a water treatment programme to control:
(a) scale?
(b) slime?
(c) corrosion?
(d) sludge/algae?
(e) microorganisms (including legionella bacteria)?
(YES)
(YES)
(YES)
(YES)
(YES)
7.2 Are the following apparent within the cooling tower:
(a) corrosion?
(b) fouling?
(c) debris, foam, sludge or slime?
(NO)
(NO)
(NO)
7.3 Is the cooling water clear/clean, without silt/scum/foam? (YES)
8 Monitoring
8.1 Is there a regular water treatment for monitoring? (YES)
8.2 Are standard plate counts high (>100,000 cfu/ml)? (NO)
8.3 Are legionella bacteria detected in the system (>10 cfu/ml)? (NO)
8.4 Are the results of bacteriological monitoring routinely
conveyed to Ministry of the Environment?
(YES)
( ) correct answer in bracket
Assessed by: Name:
Address:
Tel. No.: Date:
APPENDIX D
A RECORD OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES TO CONTROL
LEGIONELLA BACTERIA IN A SPECIFIED COOLING SYSTEM
25
1. Building: Name:
Address:
Ownership: Government/Statutory Board/Private*
2. Building owner/manager: Name:
Address:
3. Location/Ref. No. of cooling tower:
4. Maintenance contractor: Name:
Address:
5. Water treatment specialist: Name:
Address:
6. Previous cleaning and disinfection: Date:
7. Biocidal treatment for legionella:
(a) Name of biocides: 1.
2.
(b) Schedule of treatment: Continuous/slug or shot* dose method
(c) If slug/shot dose method is used,
date of previous treatment: Date:
8. Water sampling for legionella bacteria test: Date:
9. Laboratory report submitted by: Name:
Company:
Tel No.: Date:
* delete where necessary
26
APPENDIX E
REFERENCES
1. National Health Service Estates, UK. Health Technical Memorandum 2040.
The Control of Legionellae in Healthcare Premises - a Code of Practice, 1993.
2. Health and Safety Commission, UK. The Prevention or Control of Legionellosis
(including Legionnaires’ Disease) - Approved Code of Practice, 1995.
3. Health and Safety Commission, UK. Control of Substance Hazardous to Health
Regulations - Approved Codes of Practice, 1994.
4. Health and Safety Commission, UK. The Control of Legionellosis including
Legionnaires’ Disease, 1993.
5. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, UK. Technical
Memoranda TM13: 1991. Minimising the Risk of Legionnaires’ Disease, 1991.
6. The Industrial Water Society, UK. Cooling Water Treatment - a Code of
Practice, 1994.
7. The Industrial Water Society, UK. Guide to Risk Assessment for Water
Services, 1994.
8. Department of Health. Report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Biocides,
1989.
9. Department of Employment, UK. Health and Safety - the Notification of
Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations, 1992.
10. British Association for Chemical Specialities, UK. A Code of Practice - the
Control of Legionellae by the Safe and Effective Operation of Cooling Systems,
1989.
11. Council of Standards Australia. Control of Microbial Growth in Air Handling
and Water Systems in Buildings, 1992.
12. Standards Association of Australia. Australian Standard. Air-handling and
Water Systems of Buildings - Microbial Control (AS 3666), 1989.
27
13. New South Wales Health Department, Australia. Code of Practice for the
Control of Legionnaires’ Disease.
14. World Health Organisation. Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of
Legionellosis; Memorandum from a WHO meeting. Bulletin of the World
Health Organisation, 1990; 68: 155-64.
28
APPENDIX F
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Aerosol A suspension in gaseous medium of solid particles, liquid particles
or solid and liquid particles having negligible falling velocity.
Airconditioning
A form of air treatment whereby temperature, humidity, ventilation
and air cleanliness are all controlled within limits determined by the
requirements of the air-conditioned enclosure.
Air intake Any opening through which air is admitted to an air-handling system
in a building.
Algae Small, usually aquatic plants which require light to grow.
Biocide A chemical capable of killing living microorganisms.
Bleed Water deliberately removed from a cooling system to control the
concentration factor of dissolved solids.
Clean Visually free of sludge, slime, algae, fungi, rust, scale, dust, dirt and
any foreign material.
Competent
person
One who is adequately qualified and experienced to provide
supervision for the operation and maintenance of cooling towers.
Cooling tower Any device in which atmospheric air is passed through sprayed water
in order to lower the temperature of the water by evaporative cooling.
Corrosion
inhibitors
Chemicals designed to prevent or slow down the waterside corrosion
of metals.
Deadleg A length of pipe, normally closed at one end, or ending at a fitting.
Disinfection Reduction of population of micro-organisms using chemical or
physical means.
Dispersant A chemical usually added with other treatment chemicals to loosen
organic material adhering to surfaces and prevent accumulation of
sludges.
Drift The water aerosol which emerges from the airflow outlet of a cooling
tower.
29
Drift eliminator Equipment containing a complex system of baffles designed to
remove water droplets from cooling tower air passing through it.
Filtration The process of separating solids from a liquid by means of a filter
media through which only the liquid passes.
Fouling Organic growth or other deposits on heat transfer surfaces causing
loss of efficiency.
Legionella A genus of bacterium which is ubiquitous in aqueous environments
and found in water systems in the built environment, including
cooling systems that are not properly or regularly maintained. It
comprises numerous species. Legionella pneumophila is the most
common causative organism of legionnaires’ disease.
Legionnaires’
disease
A rare form of severe pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila.
It affects principally older men, especially smokers or persons whose
defences are already impaired by serious disease.
Make-up water Fresh water added to circulating water to compensate for losses, by
evaporation, bleed, drift or leakage.
Outbreak Two or more cases of legionnaires’disease linked by time and place.
Premises All non-domestic premises used for or in connection with trade,
business or other undertaking.
Scale inhibitor Chemical added to water to inhibit formation of scale.
Slime A mucous-like material which is produced as part of an organism’s
metabolism and allows adherence of protective layer to surfaces.
Sludge A general term for soft mud-like deposits on heat-transfer surfaces or
other important sections of a cooling system.
Windage Physical loss of water from the base of a cooling tower caused by
wind of unusual pattern passing through it.

Refer to NEA website for the latest update.

CODE OF PRACTICE ON POLLUTION CONTROL

CODE OF PRACTICE ON POLLUTION CONTROL
First Edition Jan 1994
Second Edition Jan 1996
Third Edition Feb 2000
Third Edition Feb 2001
(with amendments) Jun 2002
Feb 2004
Feb 2009
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
1
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
TERMINOLOGY
1 JUDICIOUS SITING OF INDUSTRIES
2 REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIES, WAREHOUSES AND BUSINESS
PARKS
2.1 Clean Industry
2.2 Light Industry (amended in Jun 2002)
2.3 General Industry
2.4 Special Industry
2.5 Warehouses
2.6 Business Parks
3 CLEARANCE, WRITTEN APPROVAL, LICENCE AND PERMIT
REQUIRED TO OPERATE A FACTORY
3.1 Clearance on the Use of Industrial Premises
3.2 Written Approval
3.3 Licence
3.4 Permit (amended in Feb 2001)
4 POLLUTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
4.1 Water Pollution Control (amended in Jun 2002)
4.2 Air Pollution Control
4.3 Noise Pollution Control
5 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES CONTROL (amended in Jun 2002)
6 TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES CONTROL
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
2
7 CONTROL OF LAND POLLUTION AND REMEDIATION OF
CONTAMINATED SITES (amended in Jun 2002)
7.1 Pollutive Activities
7.2 Site Assessment Study and Clean-up of Contaminated sites
7.3 Standards and Technical Guidelines for Assessment and Remediation of
Sites
7.4 List of Third Party Consultants
7.5 Certification of Remediated Sites
8 PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING BUILDING PLAN APPROVAL AND
TEMPORARY OCCUPATION PERMIT/CERTIFICATE OF
STATUTORY COMPLETION
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
3
Appendix
1 List of Clean Industries
2 List of Light Industries
3 List of General Industries
4 List of Special Industries
5 List of Scheduled Premises
6 List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
7 List of Hazardous Substances (amended in Feb 2009)
8 List of Specified Quantities of Hazardous Substances (amended in Feb 2009)
9 Allowable Limits for Trade Effluent Discharge (amended in Feb 2009)
10 Trade Effluent Tariff Scheme (amended in Jun 2002)
11 Trade Effluent Sampling Sump
12 Requirement on Continuous On-Line pH Monitoring and Effluent Discharge
Control at Last Inspection Chamber of Factory (amended in February 2004)
13 Installation of pH Meter and Penstock
14 Guidelines for Leak Test
15 Guidelines for Contingency Plan
16 Recommendation on Storage of Hazardous Substances
17 Retention Basin for Fire-Fighting Water for Warehouse Storing Hazardous
Substances
18 Dilution Tank
19 Standards of Concentration of Air Impurities (amended in Feb 2009)
20 Allowable Boundary Noise Limits for Factory Premises
21 Pollutive Activities Subject to Site Assessment Before Change of Use or
Rezoning (amended in Jun 2002)
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
4
INTRODUCTION
Environmental impact due to developments and related pollution problems can be
mitigated by ensuring that such developments are sited in designated areas and pollution
control measures are incorporated in the design of the developments. Control at the
planning stage is, therefore, important in the prevention of pollution.
Planning and development authorities consult the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of
the Ministry of the Environment (ENV) on the siting requirements for new developments
and compatibility with the surrounding land use. PCD also checks at this early stage that
the level of environmental management and control of the proposed developments is
acceptable.
Before a proposed development can be constructed under the Building Control Act, the
developer must submit Building Plans (BPs) of the building works to the Building Plan
and Management Division of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for
approval.
Before BCA approves the BPs, the BPs will have to be submitted and cleared by various
authorities such as the Fire Safety Bureau (FSB), National Parks Board, ENV, etc. In
ENV, the Central Building Plan Unit (CBPU) of PCD issues clearance of BPs subject to
compliance with sewerage, drainage, environmental health and pollution control
requirements. Technical requirements on pollution control are stipulated in the
Environmental Pollution Control Act and its regulations, and the Code of Practice on
Pollution Control.
A Working Committee was tasked to review and update the technical requirements in the
Code of Practice on Pollution Control. The Working Committee comprised ENV officers
and representatives from the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES),
Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) and Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) as
follows:
(a) Mr Foong Chee Leong (Chairman)
Pollution Control Department, ENV
(b) Mr Tan Wee Hock
Pollution Control Department, ENV
(c) Mr Koh Sek Tong
Pollution Control Department, ENV
(d) Mr Hui Kok Choy
Pollution Control Department, ENV
(e) Er Tony Tay Chye Teck
Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
5
(f) Er Loh Chew Thong
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore
(g) Dr Chris Vickery
Singapore Institute of Architects
(h) Madam Eng Yew Hoon
Singapore Institute of Architects
The aim of the Code of Practice is to inform industrialists, architects, professional
engineers and consultants on pollution control requirements for the submission of
development proposals and BPs. The requirements in the Code of Practice have been
changed from prescription-based to performance-based ones. The objective is to enable
industrialists, architects, professional engineers and consultants to exercise flexibility and
creativity in their designs and at the same time meet the requirements.
The latest edition of this Code of Practice contains eight sections as follow:
(a) Judicious Siting of Industries.
(b) Requirements for Industries, Warehouses and Business Parks.
(c) Clearance, Written Approval, Licence and Permit to Operate a Factory.
(d) Pollution Control Requirements.
(e) Hazardous Substances Control.
(f) Toxic Industrial Wastes Control.
(g) Control of Land Pollution and Remediation of Contaminated Sites
(h) Procedure for Obtaining Building Plan Approval and Temporary Occupation
Permit/Certificate of Statutory Completion.
General amendments and revisions are expected from time to time and any major
changes will be made known to the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore,
Institution of Engineers Singapore and Singapore Institute of Architects.
Clarification on any aspect of this Code of Practice may be made with the Pollution
Control Department, National Environment Agency, Singapore.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
6
TERMINOLOGY
“air impurities” includes smoke, cinders, solid particles of any kind, gases, fumes, odours
and radioactive substances.
“fuel burning equipment” means any furnace, boiler, fire place, oven, retort or incinerator.
“hazardous substance” means any of the substances listed in the first column of Part I of
Appendix 7 but shall not include –
(a) such substance when contained in any substance, preparation or product
specified in the second column of Part I corresponding to that substance;
or
(b) such substance when contained in any substance, preparation or product
specified in Part II of Appendix 7.
“public sewer” includes
(a) a sewer which was vested in the Government before the appointed day
under the repealed Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act (Chapter
238) or any other written law;
(b) a sewer with respect to which a declaration of vesting has been made
under Section 9 of the Sewerage and Drainage Act;
(c) a sewer constructed by the Government on any private property at its
expense or acquired by the government; and
(d) a sewer erected on private property which is maintained by the
Government.
“pollutive substance” means any oil, solvent or chemical that can cause pollution to a
watercourse.
“scheduled premises” means any premises listed in Appendix 5.
“sewage” includes water-borne domestic waste and trade effluent.
“storm water” means rainwater or surface water but does not include sewage.
“toxic industrial waste” means any of the wastes listed in Appendix 6.
“trade effluent” means any liquid, either with or without particles of matter in suspension
therein, which is the outflow from any trade, business or manufacture or of any works of
engineering or building construction.
“unprotected water catchment” means an area from which potable water supplied by the
Public Utilities Board (PUB) is obtained but does not include a watercourse from which
water is pumped into a main of PUB.
“watercourse” includes a reservoir, lake, river, stream, canal, drain, spring or well or a
part of the sea abutting on the foreshore and any other natural, artificial or sub-surface
body of water.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
7
“controlled watercourse” means a watercourse from which potable water supplied by
PUB under the Public Utilities Act is obtained but does not include a watercourse from
which water is pumped into a main of PUB.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
8
1 JUDICIOUS SITING OF INDUSTRIES
1.1 Environmental impact can be mitigated by ensuring that any development is sited
in a designated area and pollution control measures are incorporated in its design.
It is, therefore, important at the planning stage of any development project for the
architect, professional engineer and developer to ascertain the impact of the
development in relation to the surrounding environment and vice versa. The
measures to control air, water and noise pollution, the management of hazardous
substances, and the treatment and disposal of toxic wastes should be examined
and indicated clearly in the development proposal.
1.2 To guide land use planning and help industrialists select suitable industrial
premises, industries are classified under 4 categories namely clean, light, general
and special industries based on the impact of residual emissions of fumes, dust
and noise on surrounding land use.
1.3 Depending on their scale of operations, food industries are also classified into
light, general or special category. However, in order to prevent crosscontamination
due to residual emissions from neighbouring premises, food
industries shall be sited in industrial premises in areas designated as food zones or
in areas with compatible industrial uses.
1.4 Industrial premises located close to residential areas and within unprotected water
catchments shall be allocated to clean or light industries only.
1.5 Warehouses located within unprotected water catchments shall not be used for
bulk storage of hazardous or pollutive substances.
1.6 To minimise risk from the handling of hazardous substances, special industries
which use large quantities of such chemicals are sited on off-shore islands or
industrial estates which are located away from residential estates.
2 REQUIREMENTS FOR INDUSTRIES, WAREHOUSES AND BUSINESS
PARKS
2.1 Clean Industry
(a) No buffer is required.
(b) Factory shall not generate air and water pollution as well as noise and
smell nuisance that can affect neighbouring premises.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
9
(c) Factory shall not use large quantities of hazardous substances such as
solvents, acids and other chemicals.
(d) A list of some clean industries is given in Appendix 1.
2.2 Light Industry
(a) There shall be a buffer distance of at least 50m between a light industrial
building and the nearest residential building.
(b) Factory shall not use equipment burning solid or fuel oil. Boilers using
diesel (0.005%S) and heating equipment such as furnaces, ovens and
autoclaves using gaseous fuel or electricity may be allowed.
(c) Factory shall not generate large quantities of trade effluent or solid waste.
(d) Factory shall not generate excessive impulsive or continuous noise.
(e) Factory shall not use large quantities of hazardous substances such as
solvents, acids and other chemicals.
(f) A list of some light industries is given in Appendix 2.
2.3 General Industry
(a) There shall be a buffer distance of at least 100m between a general
industrial building and the nearest residential building.
(b) Factory shall install, operate and maintain pollution control equipment to
minimise air, water and noise pollution arising from its operations as
specified by the Pollution Control Department (PCD).
(c) A list of some general industries is given in Appendix 3.
2.4 Special Industry
(a) There shall be a buffer distance of at least 500m between the boundaries
of a factory and the nearest residential building.
(b) Special industries, which can potentially cause serious pollution such as
oil refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants, toxic industrial wastes
treatment facilities, etc, shall be sited at least 1 km from the nearest
residential building.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
10
(c) Factory shall install, operate and maintain pollution control equipment to
minimise air, water and noise pollution arising from its operations as
specified by PCD.
(d) Developers of special industries using or storing large quantities of
hazardous chemicals may be required to conduct the following studies:
(i) Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) Study
· To identify and quantify hazards and risks related to the
transport, use and storage of hazardous chemicals;
· To determine impact zones due to an accident which will lead
to fire, explosion or release of toxic gases (the impact zones
shall not extend to any residential building);
· To recommend measures to be incorporated in the design and
operation of the plant to keep risks to a low level and to
minimise impact zones; and
· To facilitate the development of emergency response plans to
deal with all credible accident scenarios.
(ii) Pollution Control (PC) Study
· To identify the sources of emission of air pollutants, discharge
of trade effluent, generation of wastes and emission of noise;
and
· To propose measures to reduce pollution and to mitigate
adverse pollution impact on surrounding land use.
(e) A list of some special industries is given in Appendix 4. Special
industries also include industries that have the potential to cause serious
air pollution or that store large quantities of hazardous substances
classified as Scheduled Premises. A list of Scheduled Premises is given in
Appendix 5.
2.5 Warehouses
(a) Warehouses located within unprotected water catchments are not allowed
tostore hazardous or pollutive substances.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
11
(b) Warehouses storing toxic and hazardous substances shall be provided
with pollution control facilities.
2.6 Business Parks
(a) No buffer is required.
(b) Activities shall not generate air and water pollution as well as noise and
smell nuisance that can affect neighbouring premises.
(c) Activities can include high technology manufacturing, research and
development, product design and development, data processing, software
development and industrial training that do not require the use or storage
of significant quantities of hazardous substances and solvents.
3 CLEARANCE, WRITTEN APPROVAL, LICENCE AND PERMIT
REQUIRED TO OPERATE A FACTORY
3.1 Clearance on Use of Industrial Premises
Prospective industrialists shall obtain clearance from PCD on the use of industrial
premises. At this stage of industrial development, PCD screens prospective
industries for compliance with the following:
(a) the premises is sited in a designated industrial estate and is compatible
with the surrounding land use.
(b) clean technology is adopted to minimise the use of hazardous substances
and the generation of wastes. The processes used will facilitate recycling,
reuse and recovery of the wastes.
(c) the use or storage of hazardous substances will not pose unmanageable
health and safety hazards and pollution problems.
(d) the discharge of trade effluent and emission of air impurities can comply
with discharge or emission standards.
(e) the wastes generated can be safely managed and properly disposed of.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
12
3.2 Written Approval
A written approval is required for any person to discharge trade effluent into a
public sewer.
3.3 Licence
(a) A licence is required for any person to discharge trade effluent into a
watercourse or controlled watercourse.
(b) A licence is required for any person to occupy and use any industrial
premises classified as Scheduled Premises. Industries that have the
potential to cause serious air pollution or that store large quantities of
hazardous substances are classified as Scheduled Premises. A list of
Scheduled Premises is in Appendix 5.
(c) A licence is required before any person can set up and operate a disposal
facility for toxic industrial wastes listed in Appendix 6.
(d) A licence is required for any person to collect or accept any toxic
industrial waste for storage, processing, use, treatment or disposal.
(e) A licence is required for any person to import, sell or export hazardous
substances which are listed in Appendix 7. Approval is also required to
transport hazardous substances exceeding quantities specified in
Appendix 8.
3.4 Permit
A permit is required for any person to store, purchase or use any hazardous
substances excluding ozone depleting substances except for methyl bromide.
3.5 Application for Clearance, Written Approval, Licence and Permit
Guidelines and forms on the application for Clearance, Written Approval,
Licence and Permit are available on the NEA web-site at:
http://www.nea.gov.sg/info/cbpu
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
13
4 POLLUTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
Industrial developments shall be designed and incorporated with pollution control
facilities to reduce and control pollution so as to minimise any adverse pollution
impact on surrounding developments.
4.1 Water Pollution Control
4.1.1 General Requirements
(a) Trade effluent shall be treated to the allowable limits before discharge
into a public sewer, or into a watercourse if public sewer is not available.
The limits for the discharge of trade effluent into a public sewer and
watercourse are given in Appendix 9.
(b) Trade effluent containing Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total
Suspended Solids (TSS) exceeding the allowable limits may be
discharged into a public sewer subject to payment of trade effluent fees as
given in Appendix 10.
(c) Rainwater shall not be discharged into a public sewer. It shall be
channeled into a watercourse. Contaminated rainwater from process areas
shall be collected and treated before discharge into the watercourse.
(d) Secondary containment facilities shall be provided for storage tanks
containing oils and chemicals to contain accidental release of the entire
content of the largest storage tank.
(e) The occupier or owner of any premises shall notify PCD immediately of
any accidental release, leakage or spillages of oil or chemical.
(f) The occupier or owner shall take immediate mitigating measures to
control and contain the release, leakage or spillage and to clean up any
land, watercourses or other areas affected by the release, leakage or
spillage. All wastes generated shall be treated and disposed of safely.
4.1.2 Specific Requirements
(a) Trade Effluent Treatment Plant
A separate effluent drain-line shall be provided to collect and convey
trade effluent generated into a sampling sump before discharge into a
sewer. A schematic drawing of the sampling sump is given in Appendix
11.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
14
Industries generating trade effluent which does not meet the allowable
limits given in Appendix 9 shall install, operate and maintain a treatment
plant to treat the effluent to the allowable limits before discharge.
Diluting trade effluent with potable water, rainwater or industrial water to
comply with the allowable limits is not permitted. The trade effluent
treatment plant shall be designed and provided with spill containment
facilities to channel any spill to the treatment plant for treatment. The
containment facilities shall not collect rainwater. A sampling sump as
shown in Appendix 11 or other suitable effluent monitoring or sampling
system shall be provided at the final effluent discharge point prior to the
connection to a sewer.
For a trade effluent treatment plant, which includes neutralisation, a pH
monitoring cum effluent discharge control system shall be provided in the
last inspection chamber of the premises. The details of the monitoring and
control system are illustrated in Appendices 12 and 13.
(b) Cooling Tower
The overflow/drain-off of a cooling tower shall be discharged into a
public sewer.
(c) Boiler
Wastewater from boiler blow-down shall be cooled to below 45°C before
discharge into a public sewer.
(d) Chemical/Oil Store
A chemical/oil store shall be provided with facilities to contain any leak
and spillage. Such an area shall not have any outlet/opening leading to a
storm water drain or a sewer. All leaks and spillage shall be collected for
proper disposal as toxic industrial wastes.
(e) Chemical/Oil Bulk Storage Tanks
A full containment facility shall be provided for underground or above
ground bulk storage tanks (including skid tanks). The capacity of the
containment facility shall not be less than the capacity of the largest tank.
For a secondary containment facility that is fully enclosed, a leak
detection system with an alarm device shall be provided within the
secondary containment facility. A leak test shall be conducted before the
tank is put into
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
15
use. The leak test shall conform to the guidelines given in Appendix 14.
A contingency plan shall be developed and put in place to deal with leaks.
The contingency plan shall meet the requirements given in Appendix 15.
For an elevated storage tank, the secondary containment facility shall be
provided with measures to contain a shooting jet of chemical/oil escaping
from a rupture in the tank.
For a secondary containment facility exposed to the weather, it shall be
provided with a system to discharge rainwater collected in the
containment facility. The discharge system shall be designed and operated
to allow only rainwater to be discharged. If the rainwater is contaminated,
it shall be treated before discharge into a watercourse.
The connection point for a filling pipe of a bulk storage tank shall be
provided with measures to contain spillage.
(f) Chemical Warehouses
(i) Separate fire compartments shall be provided for the storage of
substances that can react dangerously with one another.
Substances in the same hazard categories may be stored together
as long as the compartment is protected against the most
hazardous substance. Recommendation on the storage of
hazardous substances is given in Appendix 16.
(ii) A retention basin for fire fighting water shall be provided for the
storage of hazardous substances.
(iii) The capacity of the retention basin depends on whether a fire
compartment is provided with automatic fire extinguishing system
such as water sprinklers. A smaller retention basin may be
provided if an automatic fire extinguishing system is installed.
The recommended volume of the retention basin for fire fighting
water is given in Appendix 17.
(iv) The floor of the chemical warehouse shall be coated with a layer
of chemical-resistant material.
(g) Laboratory
Wastewater generated from a chemical analysis laboratory shall be
discharged into a sewer via a balancing tank, which is also known as a
dilution tank. A sketch of the tank is shown in Appendix 18.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
16
If there is more than one chemical analysis laboratory, a common
balancing tank may be provided to serve the laboratories. The wastewater
from the laboratories may also be discharged into a trade effluent
treatment plant, if one is provided.
Wastewater generated from a biological/food analysis laboratory,
however, shall be discharged directly into a sewer.
(h) Aquacultural Farm
Trade effluent generated from aquacultural farms shall be treated to
comply with the allowable limits before it is discharged into a
watercourse. If the trade effluent does not include rainwater, it may be
treated for discharge into a public sewer.
Sludge, if generated, shall be stabilised, dewatered and disposed of as
solid waste.
(i) Livestock Farm
Livestock shall not be reared in the open. Proper covered sheds shall be
erected for the rearing of livestock.
Trade effluent generated shall be collected and treated to comply with the
allowable discharge limits before discharging into a public sewer or
watercourse where a public sewer is not available.
Animal wastes and sludge generated from wastewater treatment shall be
stabilised, dewatered and disposed of as solid waste.
Poultry wastes may be collected for disposal as solid wastes. The wastes
shall be stored inside a storage shed with a containment facility.
(j) Horticultural Farm
Pesticides and fertilizers that are approved by PCD or the Agri-food and
Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) shall be used. For farms within
unprotected water catchments, the pesticides and fertilizers used shall also
be approved by PUB. The pesticides and fertilizers shall be applied
strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the manufacturers or
distributors to prevent pollution of surface water.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
17
4.2 Air Pollution Control
(a) The use of open fire to dispose of waste wood, timber and other
combustible wastes is prohibited.
(b) Trade and industrial premises, which carry out activities that can generate
air impurities, are required to install, operate and maintain air pollution
control equipment properly and efficiently. The pollution control
equipment shall be designed to comply with the allowable emission
standards. The emission standards for air impurities are given in
Appendix 19. For air impurities with no prescribed emission standards,
the best practical means shall be adopted to minimise air pollution.
Exhaust gases from the pollution control equipment shall be emitted into
the atmosphere through a discharge stack of a height approved by PCD to
ensure safe dispersion.
(c) Fuel burning equipment shall be efficiently operated and maintained. The
fuel burning equipment shall use a fuel approved by PCD. The sulphur
content of the fuel will be specified by PCD to ensure that the emission of
sulphur dioxide would not affect ambient air quality. Fuel burning
equipment installed at industrial premises that are sited within 100m of
any residential building shall use gaseous fuel or diesel with a sulphur
content of not more than 0.005% by weight.
(d) A chimney of an approved height shall be provided for the safe dispersion
of flue gases from fuel burning equipment. The height of the chimney is
computed based on the mass of sulphur dioxide emitted and the height of
buildings in the vicinity. The minimum height shall be at least 3m above
roof level of the factory building or 15m measured from ground level
whichever is the higher.
(e) Monitoring equipment shall be provided at the discharge stacks and
chimneys to monitor air impurities emitted. The monitoring equipment
shall be installed in accordance with the technical specifications of the
equipment supplier to give accurate readings. If sampling ports are
provided for manual installation of portable sampling equipment, the
ports shall be installed such that they are accessible. As an alternative to
monitoring the emission of air impurities at discharge stacks or chimneys,
equipment may be provided to monitor the performance of automatic
devices used to secure more efficient operation of any pollution control or
fuel burning equipment.
(f) Special waste incinerators for toxic industrial wastes shall be designed
and operated to comply with emission standards to be specified by PCD.
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and Feb 2009)
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4.3 Noise Pollution Control
(a) All practical noise abatement measures shall be adopted to comply with
the allowable boundary noise levels. The allowable boundary noise levels
are given in Appendix 20.
(b) For clean or light industries located adjacent to noise-sensitive and
residential developments, mechanical equipment such as air compressors,
chillers, cooling towers and air-conditioners, etc. shall be sited as far
away as practical from the noise-sensitive and residential buildings. Noise
abatement measures, if required, shall be provided to comply with the
allowable boundary noise levels.
5 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES CONTROL
(a) Companies that import, store and use hazardous substances are required
to obtain licences/permits from PCD. They are also required to obtain
approval from PCD to transport hazardous substances exceeding specified
quantities. The controls are to ensure that preventive measures are taken
to minimize accidental releases of hazardous substances into the
environment and emergency response plans are put in place to deal with
all credible accident scenarios of release of hazardous substances. The
preventive measures include the following:
(i) containers constructed and inspected in accordance with
internationally acceptable standards are used for the storage of
hazardous substances and affixed with approved labels;
(ii) storage areas are equipped with containment as well as disposal
facilities to deal with any accidental release of hazardous
substances;
(iii) route and time of transportation are specified for the
transportation of hazardous substances exceeding specified
quantities;
(iv) drivers of road tankers and tankers carrying hazardous substances
are required to undergo a special training course on safety
requirements and precautions, first aid and fire fighting and a
refresher course once every three years.
(v) The owner or consignor of any consignment of any hazardous
substance shall notify immediately of any accidental release,
leakage or spill of hazardous substances during transport.
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(vi) The owner or consignor shall ensure immediate mitigating
measures are taken to control and contain the release, leakage or
spill and clean up any land, drain or water courses affected by the
release, leakage or spill. All wastes generated shall be treated and
disposed of safely.
(b) Companies that are licensed to store and use large quantities of hazardous
substances are required to carry out a safety audit to systematically
identify and rectify weakness in their management systems and practices
for handling hazardous substances on a regular basis. The companies can
either conduct their own safety audits in-house or engage accredited
consultants to do so on their behalf.
6 TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES CONTROL
(a) Factories are required to install in-house treatment facilities to recycle and
reuse their toxic waste or to treat their toxic waste for safe disposal.
Factories may, however, apply for clearance from PCD to engage
licensed toxic industrial waste collectors to collect their wastes for
recycling or treatment for safe disposal.
(b) Pathogenic wastes are listed as toxic industrial wastes. Hospitals and
polyclinics are required to segregate pathogenic wastes and put in colour
coded plastic bags. The wastes are then stored in special containers for
collection by licensed toxic industrial waste collectors for disposal in high
temperature incinerators.
(c) Operators of specialised toxic waste recycling, treatment and disposal
plants are required to obtain licences from PCD to collect, treat and
dispose of toxic industrial wastes from industries. They are also required
to obtain approval to transport toxic industrial wastes exceeding specified
quantities. The controls are to ensure that all toxic industrial wastes are
collected, treated and disposed of in compliance with the stipulated
standards. The operators are required to maintain a proper record on
collection, treatment and disposal of toxic industrial wastes.
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7 CONTROL OF LAND POLLUTION AND REMEDIATION OF
CONTAMINATED SITES
When a site that is used for pollutive activities is to be redeveloped, rezoned or
reuse for a non-pollutive activity, a study shall be conducted on the site to assess
extent of land contamination. If the site assessment study shows that the site is
contaminated, the contaminated site shall be cleaned up to standards acceptable
or the intended use.
7.1 Pollutive Activities
A list of pollutive activities is at Appendix 21.
7.2 Site Assessment Study and Clean-up of Contaminated Sites
Owners/occupiers or the prospective buyers/lessees may carry out the site
assessment study and clean up using in-house or second party experts. The use of
inhouse or second party experts is subject to approval from PCD. Alternatively,
they may engage a third party specialist consultant with recognised competence
in site assessment studies and remediation of contaminated sites to carry out the
site assessment study and clean up of the site.
(When a site used for a pollutive activity is to be leased, transferred or sold to
another party for the same or other pollutive activity, it is advisable that a site
assessment study be conducted to allow parties involved to ascertain extent of
existing contamination.
When a site is to be developed for a pollutive activity, it is advisable that a site
assessment study be conducted to establish the baseline soil conditions for future
assessment of land contamination.)
A report of the site assessment study and clean-up plan shall be submitted to PCD
and shall include the following information:
(a) Purpose and objective
(b) Site location and boundaries
(c) Site ownership
(d) Party responsible for assessment and management, if not owner.
(e) Soil consultant’s expertise
(f) Proposed use of site
(g) History of site - activities of previous owners
(h) Site assessment standard/methodology adopted
(i) Site inspection and evidence of possible contamination
(j) Initial testing - sampling protocol, locations, laboratory used
(k) Results of soil and groundwater (if applicable) analysis
(l) Conclusions.
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7.3 Standards and Technical Guidelines for Assessment and Remediation of
Sites
The following standards and technical guidelines may be adopted for site
assessment and remediation of contaminated sites:
(a) Dutch Guidelines for Soil Protection
(More information on the standards can be found at the following website:
http://www2.minvrom.nl/pagina.html/id=5027)
(b) ASTM E 1527-00 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments:
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process
(c) ASTM E 1903-97 Standard Guide for Environmental Site Assessments:
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process
(d) ASTM E1739-95e1 Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action
Applied at Petroleum Release Sites
(More information on the ASTM standards may be obtained from
http://www.astm.org.)
(e) Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Petroleum Hydrocarbon
Contaminated Sites in New Zealand
(More information on the standards can be found at the following website:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/about/publications/contam_sites/oil/oil_guide.htm)
and any other standards or technical guidelines acceptable to PCD.
7.4 List of Third Party Specialist Consultants
A list of third party specialist consultants for site assessment studies and
remediation of contaminated sites is at the following website:
http://www.nea.gov.sg/info/cbpu
7.5 Certification of Remediated Sites
The remediated sites shall be certified by a second party expert or a third
party specialist consultant to meet standards required for its proposed
landuse. The certification shall contain the following:
(a) a statement that the subject site has been remediated to meet the
standards required for proposed use of the site; and
(b) a statement that the certification given is a true and unbiased
representation of the facts and that all reasonable professional
skill, care and diligence have been taken in checking the facts
The originals or authenticated copies of the certification shall be
submitted to PCD
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8 PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING BUILDING PLAN APPROVAL AND
TEMPORARY OCCUPATION PERMIT/CERTIFICATE OF
STATUTORY COMPLETION
The procedure for obtaining Clearance Certificate for building plan approval and
Compliance Certificate for Temporary Occupation Permit/Certificate of Statutory
Completion for industrial developments is available on the NEA website at:
http://www.nea.gov.sg/info/cbpu
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and Feb 2009)
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APPENDIX 1
LIST OF CLEAN INDUSTRIES
1 Software design and development.
2 Product/prototype design, industrial and engineering design.
3 Fashion designing.
4 Manufacture of polyethylene products (not involving printing operation).
5 Assembly and repair of computer hardware, audio-visual equipment, and other
communication/electronic equipment, apparatus and parts (not involving spray-painting,
electroplating or galvanising operations. Only minor soldering will be allowed).
6 Information Technology (IT) technical support/maintenance centres.
7 Assembly and repair of office, computing and accounting machinery (not involving spray-painting,
electroplating or galvanising operations).
8 Assembly and repair of electrical appliances and housewares (not involving spray-painting,
lectroplating or galvanising operations. Only minor soldering will be allowed).
9 Assembly and repair of photographic and optical goods (not involving spray-painting,
electroplating or galvanising operations).
10 Manufacture and repair of watches and clocks (not involving spray-painting, electroplating or
galvanising operations).
11 Warehousing activities and storage of finished products such as furniture, electric appliances,
garments, canned food and beverages etc.
12 Manufacture of paper products without printing activities.
13 Manufacture of professional, scientific, measuring and controlling equipment (not involving the
use of chemicals, inclusive of gaseous chemicals).
14 Diagnostics laboratories and referral laboratories.
15 International Specialist and engineering consultancy eg. oil exploration.
16 Medical and specialist centres eg. eye institutes, paediatrics, bionic limbs, health screening.
Clean industries are generally compatible to food industries. The food industries to be sited
adjacent to clean industries shall not give rise to any emissions that may affect the activities of the
clean industries..
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APPENDIX 2
LIST OF LIGHT INDUSTRIES
Food industries:
1 Packing of dried foodstuff, blending of food ingredients, bottling of syrups/cordial juice.
2 Packing and bottling of medicinal herbs and medicated oil.
Others
3 Research & Development involving small quantities of chemicals.
4 Biotechnology.
5 Manufacture of made-up textile goods (except wearing apparel) without dyeing, bleaching and/or
other finishing operations.
6 Knitting mills without dyeing, bleaching and/or other finishing operations.
7 Manufacture of carpets and rugs without dyeing, bleaching and/or other finishing products.
8 Manufacture of wearing apparel (except footwear) without dyeing and/or bleaching operations.
9 Manufacture of footwear, except for those made of plastic or vulcanised or moulded rubber.
10 Manufacture of products of leather and leather substitutes, except footwear and wearing apparel.
11 Printing, publishing and allied industries.
12 Mould-making without metal stamping, etching or electroplating.
13 Manufacture of plastic products, not elsewhere classified.
14 Manufacture of containers and boxes of paperboard.
15 Manufacture of paper products also involving printing activities without pulping works or
bleaching operations.
16 Manufacture of aluminium window frames and grills from aluminium extrusions without
spraypainting operations.
17 Servicing and refilling of fire extinguishers.
Other light industries are generally compatible to food industries. The food industries to be sited
adjacent to light industries shall not give rise to any emissions that may affect the activities of the
light industries
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APPENDIX 3
LIST OF GENERAL INDUSTRIES
Food industries:
1 Manufacture of food products (factories not having scheduled boilers):-
(i) Those food processing factories such as food catering, confectioneries, which generate
wastewater containing high concentration of oil and grease shall be sited in units which
are served by a separate sanitary plumbing system connected to a grease trap; and
2 Blending of flavours and fragrances.
Others that are compatible to food industries provided they are separated by light industries.
3 Manufacture of jewellery and related articles - very small-scale jewellery electroforming
operations could be allowed in flatted factories that are used for light industries.
4 Manufacture of electrical apparatus and supplies, not elsewhere classified.
5 Manufacture of professional, scientific, measuring and controlling equipment, not elsewhere
classified.
6 Manufacture of musical instruments.
7 Manufacture of sporting and athletic goods (not involving woodworking or electroplating
operations) - woodworking operations should not be allowed.
8 Manufacture of cutlery, hand tools and general hardware.
9 Manufacture of emergency lighting and power supply systems.
10 Blending of detergents and cleaning preparations, perfumes, hair-care products, cosmetics and
other toilet preparations.
Others that are not compatible to food industries and can be considered only if they are located
100m away
11 Manufacture of made-up textile goods, with dyeing, bleaching and/or other finishing operations.
12 Manufacture of textiles, not elsewhere classified.
13 Knitting mills with dyeing, bleaching and/or other finishing operations.
14 Manufacture of carpets and rugs with dyeing, bleaching and/or other finishing operations.
15 Manufacture of furniture and fixtures, except those made primarily of metal - activities must not
include the manufacture of rubber or polyurethane foam.
16 Manufacture of wooden and cane containers and small cane wares - bleaching of cane should not
be carried out.
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17 Manufacture of wood and cork products, not elsewhere classified.
18 Cordage, rope and twine industries.
19 Manufacture of metal drums and containers.
20 Manufacture of metallic components using powder metallurgy methods.
21 Manufacture of other metallic products involving metal-stamping, wire drawing and spring coiling.
22 Manufacture of dry cells and batteries - activities must not include manufacture of metal electrodes.
23 Cutting, grinding and polishing of marble and ceramic tiles.
24 Manufacturing industries, otherwise classified as clean or light industries, with spray-painting
operations.
25 Vehicle repair and servicing.
26 Repair and maintenance of engines, motors and mechanical pumps.
27 Industrial laundry services without scheduled boilers.
28 Filling/bottling of inert industrial gases such as nitrogen, helium and argon.
29 Storage of chemicals, detergents, oils, solvents, pesticides and related products.
30 Storage of rubber products and other odorous products.
31 Manufacturing industries, not elsewhere classified.
32 Manufacturing of joss sticks.
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APPENDIX 4
LIST OF SPECIAL INDUSTRIES
Food industries (obnoxious)
1 Slaughtering, preparing and preserving meat.
2 Manufacture of dairy products.
3 Canning and preserving of fruits and vegetables.
4 Canning, preserving and processing of fish, crustaceans and similar food.
5 Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats.
6 Grain mill products.
7 Sugar factories and refineries.
8 Manufacture of prepared animal feed.
9 Other food-manufacturing industries with scheduled boilers.
10 Manufacture of alcoholic products.
11 Manufacture of drugs and medicines.
Others that are non compatible to food industries and can be allowed if they are located 100m
away
12 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and lacquers.
13 Other manufacturing industries involving the use of large quantities of organic solvents.
14 Assembly of computer hardware, audio-visual equipment, and other communication/ electronic
equipment, apparatus and parts involving electroplating.
15 Assembly of office, computing and accounting machinery involving electroplating or galvanizing
operations.
16 Assembly of electrical appliances and housewares involving electroplating or galvanizing
operations.
17 Assembly of photographic and optical goods involving electroplating or galvanising operations.
18 Manufacture of watches and clocks involving electroplating or galvanising operations.
19 Manufacture of sporting and athletic goods involving woodworking or electroplating operations.
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20 Other manufacturing industries with electroplating or galvanising operations.
21 Manufacture of furniture and fixtures that are primarily made of metal.
22 Iron and steel basic industries.
23 Manufacture of structural steel products.
24 Non-ferrous metal basic industries.
25 Metal-refining industries, including recovery of precious metals.
26 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, not elsewhere
classified.
27 Manufacture of engines and turbines.
28 Manufacture of agricultural machinery and equipment.
29 Machining of metal and woodworking machinery.
30 Manufacture of special industrial machinery and equipment, except metal and woodworking
machinery.
31 Manufacture of machinery and equipment, except electrical, not elsewhere classified.
32 Manufacture of electrical industrial machinery and apparatus.
33 Tanneries and leather finishing.
34 Dressing and dyeing industries.
35 Spinning, weaving and finishing of textiles.
36 Manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard including bleaching operations.
37 Sawmills and planing mills.
38 Other woodworking industries, not elsewhere classified.
39 Manufacture of basic industrial chemicals, except fertilisers.
40 Manufacture of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.
41 Manufacture of soaps and cleaning preparations, perfumes, cosmetics and other toilet preparations
(except those without chemical reactions).
42 Petroleum refineries.
43 Manufacture of synthetic resins, plastic materials and man-made fibres and foams, except those
made of glass.
44 Manufacture of miscellaneous products of petroleum and coal.
45 Manufacture of chemical products, not elsewhere classified.
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46 Processing of waste oils and waste chemicals.
47 Processing of food wastes, including composting plant.
48 Bulk storage of hazardous substances.
49 Tyre and tube industries.
50 Manufacture of rubber products, not elsewhere classified.
51 Manufacture of pottery, china and earthen ware.
52 Manufacture of glass and glass products.
53 Manufacture of structural clay products.
54 Manufacture of cement, lime and plaster.
55 Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products, not elsewhere classified.
56 Industries using radioactive materials.
57 Shipbuilding and repairing.
58 Manufacture of railroad equipment.
59 Manufacture of motor vehicles.
60 Manufacture of motorcycles and bicycles.
61 Manufacture of aircrafts.
62 Manufacture of transport equipment, not elsewhere classified.
63 Any other industrial premises classified as scheduled premises.
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APPENDIX 5
LIST OF SCHEDULED PREMISES
Scheduled Premises are any premises —
(a) being used for —
(i) cement works, being works for the manufacture or packing of portland cement,
similar cement or pozzolanic materials;
ii) concrete works, being works for the manufacture of concrete and of each batch
capacity greater than 0.5 cubic metre;
(iii) asphalt works, being works for the manufacture of asphalt or tarmacadam;
(iv) ceramic works, being works in which any products such as bricks, tiles, pipes,
pottery goods, refractories or glass are manufactured in furnaces or kilns fired
by any fuel;
(v) chemical works, being works in which acids, alkali, chemical fertilizer, soap,
detergent, sodium silicates, lime or other calcium compounds, chlorine,
chemicals or chemical products are manufactured;
(vi) coke or charcoal works, being works in which coke or charcoal is produced and
quenched, cut, crushed or graded;
(vii) ferrous and non-ferrous metal works, being works in which metal melting
process for casting and/or metal coating are carried out;
(viii) gas works, being works in which coal, coke, oil or other mixtures or derivatives
are handled or prepared for carbonisation or gasification and in which such
materials are subsequently carbonised or gasified;
(ix) crushing, grinding and milling works, being works in which rock, ores, minerals,
chemicals or natural grain products are processed by crushing, grinding, milling
or separating into different sizes by sieving, air elutriation or in any other
manner;
(x) petroleum works, being works in which crude or shale oil or crude petroleum or
other mineral oil is refined or reconditioned;
(xi) scrap metal recovery works, being works in which scrap metals are treated in
any type of furnace for recovery of metal irrespective of whether this is the
primary object of any specific premises or not;
(xii) primary metallurgical works, being works in which ores are smelted or
converted to metal of any kind;
(xiii) pulping works, being works in which wood or cellulose material is made into
pulp;
(xiv) abrasive blasting works, being works in which equipment or structures are
cleaned by abrasive blasting;
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(b) on which there is erected any boiler of steam generating capacity of 2,300 kilogrammes
or more per hour, incinerator or furnace burning 500 kilogrammes or more of solid
combustible material per hour or 220 kilogrammes or more of liquid material per hour;
(c) being used or intended to be used for storing —
(i) more than 100 tonnes of one or more of the following substances: chemicals,
chemical products, hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products which are toxic or
which produce toxic gases on burning or on contact with water or air; or
(ii) more than 1,000 tonnes of one or more of the following substances: chemicals,
chemical products, hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products with a flashpoint
lower than 55°C.
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APPENDIX 6
LIST OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTES
List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
Acids
1. Spent inorganic acids
Eg. hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrofluoric acid, boric acid and
pickling acid
2. Spent organic acids
Eg. acetic acid, formic acid, benzoic acid and sulphonic acid
Alkalis
1. Spent alkaline solutions
2. Spent ammoniacal solutions
3. Metal hydroxide sludges and oxide sludges
Antimony and its Compounds
1. Spent antimony potassium tartrate
Arsenic and its Compounds
1. Timber preservative residues containing arsenic
2. Wastes containing gallium arsenide
Asbestos
1. Asbestos wastes from asbestos/cement manufacturing processes
2. Empty sacks/bags which have contained loose asbestos fibre
Cadmium and its Compounds
1. Plating effluents and residues containing cadmium
2. Wastes containing cadmium from Ni/Cd battery manufacturing
Chromium Compounds
1. Plating effluents and residues containing chromium
2. Timber preservative residues containing chromium
3. Spent and aqueous solutions containing chromium compounds
4. Tannery effluents and residues containing chromium
Copper Compounds
1. Plating effluents and residues containing copper
2. Spent etching solutions containing copper from printed circuit board manufacturing
3. Timber preservative residues containing copper
Cyanides
1. Plating effluents and residues containing cyanides
2. Heat treatment residues containing cyanides
3. Spent quenching oils containing cyanides
4. Spent processing solutions containing cyanides from photographic processing
Fluoride Compound
1. Timber preservative residues containing fluorides
2. Spent ammonium bi-fluoride
Isocyanates
1. Spent di-isocyanates
Eg. toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) and methylene di-isocyanate
(MDI) from polyurethane foam-making process
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List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
Laboratory Wastes
1. Obsolete laboratory chemicals
2. Toxic chemical wastes from chemical analysis
Lead Compounds
1. Sludges containing lead oxide/sulphate
2. Spent organo-lead compounds
Eg. tetraethyllead (TEL) and tetramethyllead (TML)
3. Waste lead-acid batteries, whole or crushed
Mercury and its Compounds
1. Effluents, residues or sludges containing mercury from
chlor-alkali industry
2. Wastes containing mercury from equipment
manufacturing involving the use of metal mercury
3. Spent catalysts from chemical processes containing
mercury
4. Spent organo-mercury compounds
Metal Catalysts
1. Spent metal catalysts from chemical processes and petroleum refining
Eg. catalysts containing chromium and cobalt
Nickel Compounds
1. Plating effluents and residues containing nickel
Organic Compounds containing Halogen
1. Spent halogenated organic solvents
Eg. trichloroethylene, 111-trichloroethane, perchloro-ethylene, methylene chloride, tetrachloromethane
and 112-trichloro-122-trifluoroethane
2. Residues from recovery of halogenated organic solvents
3. Packaging materials or residues containing chloro- benzenes and/or chlorophenols and their salts
Organic Compounds not containing Halogen
1. Spent non-halogenated organic solvents
Eg. benzene, toluene, xylene, turpentine, petroleum, thinner, kerosene, methanol, ethanol, isobutanol,
iso-propanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, isopropyl ether, diethyl ether, hexane,
dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl sulphoxide
2. Residues from recovery of non-halogenated organic solvents
Other Wastes
1. Obsolete/abandoned chemicals and pesticides from storage, manufacturing and trading activities
2. Used containers, bags and process equipment contaminated by chemicals and pesticides from
storage, manufacturing and trading activities
3. Wastes/residues containing unreacted monomers, eg. vinyl chloride and styrene monomers, from
polymer manufacturing processes
4. Tar residues from distilling and tarry materials from refining
5. Wastes from toxic waste treatment processes Eg. wastes and residues from solidification, fixation
and incineration processes
6. Wastes from toxic chemical drums and tank cleaning activities
7. Chemical and oil slops from ship tankers
8. Wastes from the production, formulation and use of resins, latex, plasticisers, glues/adhesives
containing solvents and other contaminants.
9. Wastes from the production, formulation and use of inks, dyes, pigments, paints, lacquers, varnish
containing organic solvents, heavy metals or biocides.
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List of Toxic Industrial Wastes
Pathogenic Wastes
1. Pathogenic wastes from hospitals
Phenolic Compounds
1. Sludges/residues from paint stripping using chemicals containing phenols
2. Residues containing unreacted phenol and formaldehyde from adhesive industry
Polychlorinated Bi-phenyl (PCB) including
Poly-chlorinated Ter-phenyl (PCT)
1. Spent transformer oil containing PCB and/or PCT
2. Retrofilled transformer contaminated with PCB and/or PCT
3. Electrical equipment and parts containing or contaminated with PCB and/or PCT
Eg. Capacitors and transformers
4. Containers and all waste materials contaminated with PCB and/or PCT
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
1. All waste materials containing PVC
Eg. PVC insulated wires, PVC pipes and trunking, PVC parts, PVC upholstery and PVC resins
Silver Compounds
1. Spent processing solutions containing silver from photographic processing
Used, Contaminated Oil
1. Used mineral, lubricating and hydraulic oil from machine cylinders, turbines, switch gears and
transformers
2. Spent motor oils from petrol and diesel engines
3. Spent quenching oil from metal hardening
4. Oil recovered from solvent degreasers
5. Spent oil water emulsions
Eg. Spent coolants from metal working industries
6. Oil water mixtures (mainly oil)
Eg. Oily ballast water from ship tankers
7. Oil and sludge from oil interceptors
8. Tankers sludges and oil sludges/residues from storage tanks
9. Oil sludges containing acid from recovery and recycling of used oil
Zinc Compounds
1. Plating effluents and residues containing zinc
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APPENDIX 7
LIST OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Part I – Hazardous substances
Hazardous Substances
Substance Exclusion
1,2-dibromoethane (EDB)
Acetic acid Substances containing not more than 80%, weight in weight, of
acetic acid;
Preparations and solutions for photographic use.
Acetyl bromide
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alkali metal bifluorides; Ammonium
bifluoride; Potassium fluoride; Sodium
fluoride; Potassium silicofluoride;
Sodium silicofluoride; Silicofluoric acid
Preparations containing not more than 0.3%, weight in weight, of
potassium fluoride in radiator protectors;
Preparations containing not more than 0.96%, weight in weight, of
potassium fluoride in photographic chemicals;
Substances containing not more than 3%, weight in weight, of
sodium fluoride or sodium silicofluoride as a preservative;
Substances containing sodium fluoride intended for the treatment
of human ailments.
Ammonia Preparations and solutions of ammonia containing not more than
10%, weight in weight, of ammonia;
Refrigeration equipment;
Photographic and plan developers;
Hair colour dyes;
Perm lotions;
Smelling bottles.
Ammonium chlorate
Anionic surface active agents Preparations containing less than 5% by weight of anionic surface
active agents;
Preparations containing anionic surface active agents which are not
less than 90% biodegradable under a test carried out in accordance
with that part of the OECD method which is referred to
as ?Confirmatory Test Procedure? in European Communities
Council Directive No. 73/405/EEC (C) or other equivalent test
methods acceptable to the Director.
Antimony pentachloride Polishes
Antimony trihydride
Arsenical substances, the following:
Arsenic acid
Pyrites ores or sulphuric acid containing arsenical poisons as
natural impurities;Animal feeding stuffs containing not more than
0.005%, weight in weight, of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl-arsonic
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and Feb 2009)
36
Arsenic sulphide
Arsenic trichloride
Arsine
Calcium arsenite
Copper arsenate
Copper arsenite
Lead arsenate
Organic compounds of arsenic
Oxides of arsenic
Potassium arsenite
Sodium arsenate
Sodium arsenite
Sodium thioarsenate
acid and not containing any other arsenical poison;
Animal feeding stuffs containing not more than 0.01%, weight in
weight, of arsanilic acid and not containing any other arsenical
poison;
Animal feeding stuffs containing not more than 0.0375%, weight
in weight, of carbarsone and not containing any other arsenical
poison.
Asbestos in the form of crocidolite,
actinolite, anthophyllite, amosite,
tremolite, chrysotile and amphiboles and
products containing these forms of
asbestos
Asbestos in the form of chrysotile in any vehicle brake or clutch
lining installed in any vehicle registered before 1st April 1995.
Boric acid; Sodium borate Boric acid or sodium borate in medicinal preparations, cosmetics,
toilet preparations and substances being preparations intended for
human consumption;
Preparations containing boric acid or sodium borate or a
combination of both where water or solvent is not the only other
part of the composition.
Boron tribromide
Boron trichloride
Boron trifluoride
Bromine; Bromine solutions
Cadmium-containing silver brazing
alloy
Captafol
Carbamates Benomyl;
Carbendazim;
Chlorpropham;
Propham;
Thiophanate-methyl;
Preparations containing not more than 1%, weight in weight, of
propoxur and not containing any other carbamate;
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and Feb 2009)
37
Preparations containing not more than 1%, weight in weight, of
methomyl and not containing any other carbamate.
Carbon monoxide Gas mixtures containing carbon monoxide weighing less than 1
metric tonne;
Gas mixtures containing carbon monoxide as by-products from
combustion activities.
Carbon tetrafluoride
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, the
following:
Aldrin
Benzene hexachloride (BHC)
Bromocyclen
Camphechlor
Chlorbenside
Chlorbicyclen
Chlordane
Chlordecone
Chlordimeform
Chlorfenethol
Chlorfenson
Chlorfensulphide
Chlorobenzilate
Chloropropylate
Dicophane (DDT)
pp'-DDT
Dicofol
Dieldrin
Endosulfan
Endrin
Fenazaflor
Paper impregnated with not more than 0.3%, weight in weight, of
benzene hexachloride or gamma - BHC provided it is labelled with
directions that no food, wrapped or unwrapped, or food utensils are
to be placed on the treated paper, and that it is not to be used where
food is prepared or served.
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and Feb 2009)
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Fenson
Fluorbenzide
Gamma benzene hexachloride (Gamma -
BHC), also known as lindane
HCH (mixed isomers)
HEOD [1,2,3,4,10,10-hexachloro-6,7-
epoxy-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a- octahydro-1, 4
(exo): 5,8 (endo)-dimethano
naphthalene]
HHDN [1,2,3,4,10,10-hexachloro-
1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-1,4 (exo):5,8
(endo)-dimethano naphthalene]
Heptachlor
Hexachloroethane
Isobenzan
Isodrin
Kelevan
Methoxychlor [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-di-(pmethoxyphenyl)
ethane]
Mirex
Tetrachlordiphenylethane
[TDE; 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (pchlorophenyl)
ethane]
Tetradifon
Tetrasul
Toxaphene
Allied chlorinated hydrocarbon
compounds used as pesticides
(insecticides, acaricides, etc.)
Chlorine Chlorine used for chlorination of water in swimming pools.
Chlorine trifluoride
Chlorobenzenes, the following:
Monochlorobenzene
Meta-dichlorobenzene
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and Feb 2009)
39
Ortho-dichlorobenzene
Trichlorobenzene
Tetrachlorobenzene
Pentachlorobenzene
Hexachlorobenzene
Chlorophenols, the following:
Monochlorophenol
Dichlorophenol
Trichlorophenol
Tetrachlorophenol
Pentachlorophenol and its salts and
esters
Substances containing not more than 1%, weight in weight, of
chlorophenols.
Chlorophenoxyacids; their salts, esters,
amines, which include but are not
limited to -
2,4,5-T and its salts and esters
Chloropicrin
Chlorosilanes, the following:
Hexachlorodisilane
Phenyltrichlorosilane
Tetrachlorosilane
Chlorosulphonic acid
Chromic acid Substances containing not more than 9%, weight in weight, of
chromic acid;
Photographic solutions containing chromic acid in individual
containers containing not more than 15 kilograms each of such
solutions and of aggregate weight of not more than 500 kilograms
of such solutions.
Cyanides Ferrocyanides;
Ferricyanides;
Acetonitrile;
Acrylonitrile;
Butyronitrile;
2-Dimethylaminoacetonitrile;
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
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Isobutyronitrile;
Methacrylonitrile;
Propionitrile.
Diborane
Dibromochloropropane
Diethyl sulphate
Dinitro-ortho-cresol (DNOC)and its
salts (such as ammonium salt, potassium
salt and sodium salt)
Dinosam; its compounds with a metal or
a base
Dinoseb and its salts and esters, which
includes but is not limited to -
Binapacryl
Diquat; its salts
Drazoxolon; its salts Dressings on seeds.
Dustable powder formulations
containing a combination of -
Benomyl at or above 7 percent,
carbofuran at above 10 percent, thiram
at or above 15 percent.
Endothal; its salts
Epichlorohydrin
Ethyl mercaptan Substances containing less than 1%, weight in weight, of ethyl
mercaptan
Ethylene dichloride
Ethylene imine
Ethylene oxide Mixtures of inert gases and ethylene oxide comprising not more
than 12%, weight in weight, of ethylene oxide contained in
cylinders of water capacity less than 47 litres and for aggregate of
not more than 3 numbers of such cylinders.
Ferric chloride
Fipronil Formulated products containing Fipronil approved for household
use and belonging to the WHO class IV hazards.
Fluorine
Fluoroacetamide
Formaldehyde Substances containing not more than 5%, weight in weight, of
formaldehyde;
Photographic glazing or hardening solutions.
Formic acid Substances containing not more than 5%, weight in weight, of
formic acid.
Germane
Hydrazine anhydrous; Hydrazine
aqueous solutions
Hydrochloric acid Substances containing not more than 9% , weight in weight, of
hydrochloric acid.
Hydrofluoric acid Preparations or solutions containing not more than 2%, weight in
weight, of hydrofluoric acid.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
41
Hydrogen chloride
Hydrogen cyanide; Hydrocyanic acid Preparations of wild cherry;
In reagent kits supplied for medical or veterinary purposes,
substances containing less than the equivalent of 0.1%, weight in
weight, of hydrocyanic acid.
Hydrogen fluoride
Hydrogen selenide
Isocyanates Polyisocyanates containing less than 0.7%, weight in weight, of
free monomeric diisocyanates;
Pre-polymerised isocyanates in polyurethane paints and lacquers;
Hardeners and bonding agents for immediate use in adhesives.
Lead compounds in paint Lead compounds in paint in which the lead content is not more
than 0.06% by weight of the paint;
Lead compounds in paint in which the container is affixed with an
appropriate label.
The labels to be used for paints containing lead compounds are in
accordance with Part IV of the Second Schedule
Lead tetra-ethyl and similar lead
containing compounds in petrol intended
for use in Singapore as fuel for motor
vehicles
Mercury compounds including inorganic
mercury compounds, alkyl mercury
compounds, alkyloxyalkyl and aryl
mercury compounds, and other organic
compounds of mercury
Mercury and its compounds in batteries Batteries other than mercury oxide batteries, zinc carbon batteries
containing more than 0.001% by weight of mercury per cell and
alkaline batteries, except those in button form, containing more
than 0.025% by weight of mercury per cell.
Metanil yellow (sodium salt of
metanilylazo-diphenylamine)
Dye-indicators used in laboratories
Methyl chloride
Methyl mercaptan Substances containing less than 1%, weight in weight, of methyl
mercaptan
Monomethyltetrachloro diphenyl
methane
Monomethyl-dichloro-diphenyl methane
Monomethyl-dibromodiphenyl methane
Neonicotinoid compounds used as
pesticides, the following :
Imidacloprid
Formulated products containing Imidacloprid approved for
household use and belonging to the WHO class IV hazards.
Niclofolan
Nicotine sulphate
Nitric acid Substances containing not more than 9%, weight in weight, of
nitric acid.
Nitric oxide
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and Feb 2009)
42
Nitrobenzene Substances containing less than 0.1%, weight in weight, of
nitrobenzene;
Soaps containing less than 1%, weight in weight, of nitrobenzene;
Polishes and cleansing agents.
Nitrogen trifluoride
Ozone depleting substances, namely:
(a) Chlorofluorocarbons, the following:
Chloroheptafluoropropane
Chloropentafluoroethane
Chlorotrifluoromethane
Dichlorodifluoromethane
Dichlorohexafluoropropane
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane
Heptachlorofluoropropane
Hexachlorodifluoropropane
Pentachlorofluoroethane
Pentachlorotrifluoropropane
Tetrachlorodifluoroethane
Tetrachlorotetrafluoropropane
Trichlorofluoromethane
Trichloropentafluoropropane
Trichlorotrifluoroethane
(b) Halons, the following:
Bromochlorodifluoromethane
Bromochloromethane
Bromotrifluoromethane
Dibromotetrafluoroethane
(c) Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, the
Products containing any ozone depleting substance other than the
following products:
(a) in the case of chlorofluorocarbons ?
(i) air-conditioners in vehicles registered on or after 1st January
1995 or intended for such vehicles;
(ii) equipment for domestic or commercial refrigeration or airconditioning
installed on or after 1st January 1993, or heat pump
equipment, which contains any chlorofluorocarbon substance as a
refrigerant or in any insulating material of such equipment;
(iii) refrigerators that have a compressor rating which exceeds
one horsepower;
(iv) non-pharmaceutical aerosol products;
(v) insulation boards, panels or pipe covers;
(vi) polystyrene sheets or finished products;
(b) in the case of Halons, portable fire extinguishers; and
(c) in the case of bromotrifluoromethane, fire protection systems
with building plans approved after 17th June 1991 and installed
after 31st December 1991.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
43
following:
1,1-dichloro-1-fluoro-ethane
1,1-dichloro-2,2,3,3,3-
pentafluoropropane
1,3-dichloro-1,2,2,3,3-
pentafluoropropane
1-chloro-1,1-difluoro-ethane
Chlorodifluoroethane
Chlorodifluoromethane
Chlorodifluoropropane
Chlorofluoroethane
Chlorofluoromethane
Chlorofluoropropane
Chlorohexafluoropropane
Chloropentafluoropropane
Chlorotetrafluoroethane
Chlorotetrafluoropropane
Chlorotrifluoroethane
Chlorotrifluoropropane
Dichlorodifluoroethane
Dichlorodifluoropropane
Dichlorofluoroethane
Dichlorofluoromethane
Dichlorofluoropropane
Dichloropentafluoropropane
Dichlorotetrafluoropropane
Dichlorotrifluoroethane
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and Feb 2009)
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Dichlorotrifluoropropane
Hexachlorofluoropropane
Pentachlorodifluoropropane
Pentachlorofluoropropane
Tetrachlorodifluoropropane
Tetrachlorofluoroethane
Tetrachlorofluoropropane
Tetrachlorotrifluoropropane
Trichlorodifluoroethane
Trichlorodifluoropropane
Trichlorofluoroethane
Trichlorofluoropropane
Trichlorotetrafluoropropane
Trichlorotrifluoropropane
(d) Hydrobromofluorocarbons, the
following:
Bromodifluoroethane
Bromodifluoromethane
Bromodifluoropropane
Bromofluoroethane
Bromofluoromethane
Bromofluoropropane
Bromohexafluoropropane
Bromopentafluoropropane
Bromotetrafluoroethane
Bromotetrafluoropropane
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and Feb 2009)
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Bromotrifluoroethane
Bromotrifluoropropane
Dibromodifluoroethane
Dibromodifluoropropane
Dibromofluoroethane
Dibromofluoromethane
Dibromofluoropropane
Dibromopentafluoropropane
Dibromotetrafluoropropane
Dibromotrifluoroethane
Dibromotrifluoropropane
Hexabromofluoropropane
Pentabromodifluoropropane
Pentabromofluoropropane
Tetrabromodifluoropropane
Tetrabromofluoroethane
Tetrabromofluoropropane
Tetrabromotrifluoropropane
Tribromodifluoroethane
Tribromodifluoropropane
Tribromofluoroethane
Tribromofluoropropane
Tribromotetrafluoropropane
Tribromotrifluoropropane
(e) Carbon tetrachloride
(f) 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl
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and Feb 2009)
46
chloroform)
(g) Methyl bromide
Oleum
Orange II [sodium salt of p-(2-hydroxy-
1-naphthylazo) benzenesulphonic acid]
Dye-indicators used in laboratories
Organic peroxides Car puttys;
Substances and preparations containing not more than 3%, weight
in weight, of organic peroxides;
Solutions of not more than 60%, weight in weight, of methyl ethyl
ketone peroxides and total aggregate weight of less than 50
kilograms of such solutions.
Organo-tin compounds, the following:
Compounds of fentin
Cyhexatin
Tributyl tin compounds
Paraquat; its salts Preparation in pellet form containing not more than 5%, weight in
weight, of salts of paraquat ion.
Perchloromethyl mercaptan Substances containing less than 1%, weight in weight, of
perchloromethyl mercaptan
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
Phenols, the following:
Catechol
Cresol
Hydroquinone
Octyl phenol
Phenol
Resorcinol
Preparations containing less than 1%, weight in weight, of
phenols;
Phenols which are intended for the treatment of human ailments
and other medical purposes;
Soaps for washing;
Tar (coal or wood), crude or refined;
Photographic solutions containing hydroquinone in individual
containers containing not more than 15 kilograms each of such
solutions and of aggregate weight of not more than 500 kilograms
of such solutions.
Phosgene
Phosphides
Phosphine
Phosphoric acid Substances containing not more than 50%, weight in weight, of
phosphoric acid.
Phosphorus compounds used as
pesticides (insecticides, acaricides, etc.),
which includes but is not limited to :
Methamidophos
Methyl-parathion
Monocrotophos
Parathion
Acephate;
Bromophos;
Iodofenphos;
Malathion;
Pirimiphos-methyl;
Temephos;
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and Feb 2009)
47
Phosphamidon Tetrachlorvinphos;
Trichlorfon;
Preparations containing not more than 0.5%, weight in weight, of
chlorpyrifos and not containing any other phosphorus compound;
Preparations containing not more than 0.5%, weight in weight, of
dichlorvos and not containing any other phosphorus compound;
Materials impregnated with dichlorvos and not containing any
other phosphorus compound for slow release;
Preparations containing not more than 1%, weight in weight, of
azamethiphos and not containing any other phosphorus compound.
Phosphorus oxybromide
Phosphorus oxychloride
Phosphorus pentabromide
Phosphorus pentachloride
Phosphorus pentafluoride
Phosphorus trichloride
Polybrominated biphenyls
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs), the following :
Penta-brominated diphenyl ether
Octa-brominated diphenyl ether
Deca-brominated diphenyl ether
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Polychlorinated terphenyls
Potassium hydroxide Substances containing not more than 17%, weight in weight, of
potassium hydroxide;
Accumulators;
Batteries.
Prochloraz
Pyrethroid compounds used as
pesticides, the following :
Fenvalerate
Formulated products containing Fenvalerate approved for
household use and belonging to the WHO Class IV hazards.
Sodium azide Air bag devices in motor vehicles
Sodium hydroxide Substances containing not more than 17%, weight in weight, of
sodium hydroxide;
Made-up formulated preparations either liquid or solid for
biochemical tests.
Sulphur in diesel intended for use in
Singapore as fuel for motor vehicles or
industrial plants
Sulphur in diesel in which the sulphur content is 0.005% or less by
weight.
Sulphur tetrafluoride
Sulphur trioxide
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and Feb 2009)
48
Sulphuric acid Substances containing not more than 9%, weight in weight, of
sulphuric acid;
Accumulators;
Batteries;
Fire extinguishers;
Photographic developers containing not more than 20%, weight in
weight, of sulphuric acid.
Sulphuryl chloride
Sulphuryl fluoride
Tetraethyl lead, tetramethyl lead and
similar lead containing compounds
Thallium; its salts
Titanium tetrachloride
Tris (2, 3-dibromo-l-propyl) phosphate
Tungsten hexafluoride
Part II - General Exemptions
Adhesives;
Anti-fouling compositions;
Anti-fouling compositions other than those containing tributyl tin compounds as defined in this List;
Builders' materials other than those containing asbestos as defined in this List;
Ceramics;
Distempers;
Electrical valves;
Enamels;
Explosives;
Fillers;
Fireworks;
Fluorescent lamps;
Glazes;
Glue;
Inks;
Lacquer solvents;
Loading materials;
Matches;
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
49
Motor fuels and lubricants except diesel oil and petrol;
Paints other than paints containing mercury compounds, paints containing lead compounds and paints
containing asbestos as defined in this List;
Pharmaceutical Aerosols
Photographic paper;
Pigments other than those containing tributyl tin compounds as defined in this List;
Plastics;
Propellants other than those containing ozone depleting substances;
Rubber;
Varnishes;
Vascular plants and their seeds.
Code of Practice on Pollution Control (2000 Edition) (with amendments in Feb 2001, Jun 2002, Feb 2004
and Feb 2009)
50
APPENDIX 8
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES –
QUANTITIES EXCEEDING WHICH TRANSPORT APPROVAL IS REQUIRED
Substance Qty (kgs)
1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) 0
Acetyl bromide 0
Allyl isothiocyanate 0
Acetic acid 1000
Ammonia (35% or greater) 500
Ammonia (less than 35%) 1000
Antimony pentachloride 50
Antimony trihydride 0
Arsine 0
Arsenical Substances 50
Boric Acid; Sodium borate 5000
Boron tribromide 0
Boron trichloride 50
Boron trifluoride 50
Bromine, bromine solutions 50
Captafol 0
Carbamates except bendiocarb, BPMC (fenobucarb), mercaptodimethur
(methiocarb) 0
Carbon monoxide 1000
Carbon tetrafluoride 500
Chlorine 500
Chlorine trifluoride 50
Chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds used as pesticides 0
Chlorobenzenes 0
Chlorophenols 0
Chlorophenoxyacids; their salts, esters, amines 0
Chlorosilanes 50
Chlorosulphonic acid 50
Chromic acid 50
Cyanides 50
Diborane 50
Dibromochloropropane 50
Diethyl sulphate 500
Epichlorohydrin 50
Ethyl mercaptan 50
Ethylene dichloride 0
Ethylene imine 0
Ethylene oxide 50
Ferric chloride 1000
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and Feb 2009)
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Fipronil 5000
Fluorine 0
Fluoroacetamide 0
Formic acid 1000
Germane 0
Hydrazine anhydrous, hydrazine aqueous solutions 50
Hydrochloric acid 1000
Hydrocyanic acid; Hydrogen cyanide 0
Hydrofluoric acid 500
Hydrogen chloride 500
Hydrogen selenide 0
Isocyanates 500
Lead tetra-ethyl and similar lead containing compounds in petrol
intending for use in Singapore as a fuel for motor vehicles 0
Mercury compounds including inorganic mercury compounds, alkyl
mercury compounds, alkyloxyalkyl and aryl mercury compounds, and
other organic compounds of mercury
0
Metanil yellow (sodium salt of metanilylazo-diphenylamine) 5000
Methyl bromide 50
Methyl chloride 50
Methyl mercaptan 50
Monomethyltetrachloro diphenyl methane 0
Monomethyl-dichloro-diphenyl methane 0
Monomethyl-dibromo-diphenyl methane 0
Neonicotinoid compounds used as pesticides 5000
Nitric acid (95% or greater) 50
Nitric acid (less than 95%) 1000
Nitric oxide 0
Nitrogen trifluoride 50
Oleum 50
Orange II (sodium salt of p-(2-hydroxy-1 naphthylazo)
benzenesulphonic acid) 5000
Organic peroxides 500
Organo-tin compounds 0
Perchloro methyl mercaptan 50
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 0
Phenols 500
Phosgene 0
Phosphides 0
Phosphine 0
Phosphorous compounds except dimethoate, fenchlorophos,
fenitrothion, Phenthoate, profenophos, Prothiophos, quinalphos 0
Phosphorus oxybromide 0
Phosphorus oxychloride 50
Phosphorus pentabromide 0
Phosphorus pentachloride 50
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and Feb 2009)
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Phosphorus pentafluoride 50
Phosphorus trichloride 50
Polybrominated biphenyls 0
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) 0
Polychlorinated biphenyls 0
Polychlorinated terphenyls 0
Potassium hydroxide 1000
Prochloraz 0
Pyrethroid compounds used as pesticides 5000
Sodium azide 0
Sodium hydroxide 1000
Sulphur in diesel intended for use in Singapore as fuel for motor
vehicles or industrial plants 0
Sulphur tetrafluoride 0
Sulphur trioxide 50
Sulphuric acid 1000
Sulphuryl chloride 0
Sulphuryl fluoride 0
Tetraethyl lead, tetramethyl lead and similar lead containing compounds 0
Titanium tetrachloride 1000
Tris(2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate 0
Tungsten hexafluoride 0
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and Feb 2009)
53
APPENDIX 9
ALLOWABLE LIMITS FOR TRADE EFFLUENT DISCHARGED
INTO A PUBLIC SEWER/WATERCOURSE/CONTROLLED WATERCOURSE
Items Of Analysis Public Sewer Watercourse Controlled
Watercourse
(Units in milligram per litre or otherwise stated)
1 Temperature of discharge 45 °C 45 °C
2 Colour 7 Lovibond Units 7 Lovibond Units
3 pH Value 6 - 9 6 - 9
4 BOD (5 days at 20°C) 50 20
5 COD 100 60
6 Total Suspended Solids 50 30
7 Total Dissolved Solids - 1000
8 Chloride
(as chloride ion)
- 250
9 Sulphate
(as SO4)
- 200
10 Sulphide
(as sulphur)
0.2 0.2
11 Cyanide
(as CN)
0.1 0.1
12 Detergents (linear alkylate
sulphonate as methylene
blue active substances)
15 5
13 Grease and Oil 10 (Total)
10(Hydrocarbons)
1 (Total)
14 Arsenic 0.1 0.01
15 Barium 2 1
16 Tin - 5
17 Iron (as Fe) 10 1
18 Beryllium - 0.5
19 Boron 5 0.5
20 Manganese 5 0.5
21 Phenolic Compounds
(expressed as phenol)
0.2 Nil
22 *Cadmium
Please refer to
PUB's web page
0.1 0.003
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and Feb 2009)
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23 *Chromium (trivalent and
hexavalent)
1 0.05
24 *Copper 0.1 0.1
25 *Lead 0.1 0.1
26 *Mercury 0.05 0.001
27 *Nickel 1 0.1
28 *Selenium 0.5 0.01
29 *Silver 0.1 0.1
30 *Zinc 1 0.5
31 *Metals in Total 1 0.5
32 Chlorine (Free) 1 1
33 Phosphate
(as PO4)
5 2
34 Calcium
(as Ca)
- 150
35 Magnesium (as Mg) - 150
36 Nitrate
(as NO3)
- 20
NOTE: * Where 2 or more of the metals listed in the table are present in the trade effluent, the total
concentration of the metals shall not exceed 1 and 0.5 milligrams per litre for discharge into
a watercourse and a controlled watercourse respectively.
“Controlled Watercourse” means a watercourse from which potable water supplied by PUB
under the Public Utilities Act is obtained but does not include a watercourse from which
water is pumped into a main of the PUB.
The trade effluent discharged into any watercourse shall not contain any of the following
substances:-
(1) radioactive material;
(2) any pesticide, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, rodenticide or fumigant;
(3) refuse, garbage, sawdust, timber, human or animal waste or solid matter;
(4) petroleum or other inflammable solvent; or .
(5) a substance that either by itself or in combination or by reaction with other waste
or refuse may give rise to any gas, fume, or odour or substance which is or is likely
to be a hazard to human life, a public nuisance, injurious or otherwise
objectionable.
The trade effluent shall be analysed in accordance with the latest edition of 'Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater' published jointly by the
American Water Works Association and the Water Pollution Control Federation of the
United States.
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APPENDIX 10
TRADE EFFLUENT TARIFF SCHEME
The scale of fee to be levied for the discharge of biodegradable trade effluent into a public sewer
is as follows:-
Fee at $ per cubic metre Concentration or part thereof
(mg/l) BOD TSS
400 - 600 0.21 0.15
601 - 800 0.42 0.30
801 - 1000 0.63 0.45
1001 - 1200 0.84 0.60
1201 - 1400 1.05 0.75
1401 - 1600 1.26 0.90
1601 - 1800 1.47 1.05
1801 - 2000 1.68 1.20
2001 - 2200 1.89 1.35
2201 - 2400 2.10 1.50
2401 - 2600 2.31 1.65
2601 - 2800 2.52 1.80
2801 - 3000 2.73 1.95
3001 - 3200 2.94 2.10
3201 - 3400 3.15 2.25
3401 - 3600 3.36 2.40
3601 - 3800 3.57 2.55
3801 - 4000 3.78 2.70
NB: BOD = Biochemical Oxygen Demand (5 days at 20OC)
TSS = Total Suspended Solids
Trade effluent containing BOD or TSS greater than 4000 mg/l shall be treated to the required
limit prior to discharge into a public sewer.
Prior approval is required to dispose of organic sludge at a designated Water Reclamation
Plants/Sludge Treatment Works on the payment of a fee at a rate of $7.00 per cubic meter or part
thereof. Organic sludge means the organic matter in trade effluent which has a minimum solid
content of 97 per cent by weight.
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APPENDIX 11
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APPENDIX 12
REQUIREMENTS ON CONTINUOUS ON-LINE pH MONITORING AND EFFLUENT
DISCHARGE CONTROL AT LAST INSPECTION CHAMBER OF FACTORY
1 Continuous pH monitoring and effluent discharge control shall be carried out at the last
inspection chamber before the discharge enters a public sewer.
2 A concrete hump of not more than 50mm (vertical height) shall be constructed across the
flow channel of the last inspection chamber to maintain effluent in the channel when
there is no effluent discharge.
3 A chemical resistant pH probe (range of 0-14) shall be installed in the channel upstream
of the hump. The pH probe shall detect/monitor the pH value of the discharge. The probe
shall be positioned firmly such that the tip of the probe is constantly in contact with the
liquid in the channel. It shall also be easily lifted out of the chamber and repositioned
back without the need to go down the chamber. An auto flushing system using water or
compressed air shall be provided to prevent any fouling or clogging of the sensor of the
pH probe.
4 The cable of the pH probe shall be laid in a heavy duty PVC conduit. The mountings for
the pH probe inside the last inspection chamber shall be of corrosion resistant materials.
5 A pH recorder chart (range of 0-14) shall be provided to record the pH value detected as
well as to record the 'open' and 'close' position of the penstock. The pH value shall be
recorded on a chart which can be continuously operated for a month.
6 A penstock with an electrically operated actuator shall be installed at the inlet to the last
inspection chamber. If a pneumatic actuator is used, the air/gas supply shall be tapped
from a cylinder. The actuator shall be linked to a pH controller and the record chart. A
limit switch to indicate the 'open' or 'close' position of the penstock shall be incorporated.
The switch shall be linked directly to the recorder chart. The setting of the actuator shall
be such that the penstock remains open as long as the pH value varies within the
allowable limit of 6 to 9. Exceeding the limit, the pH controller shall activate the actuator
to close the penstock.
7 The pH meter, recorder with alarm and penstock actuator shall be operated either on AC
or DC supply. However, the system should incorporate a power back-up such that during
power failure/interruption, the back-up shall continue to operate the pH meter and
recorder for a period of 5 hours and the actuator (if necessary). During normal operation,
power shall be supplied from the AC main to operate the monitoring instrument and
charge the power pack simultaneously.
8 An instrument panel (weather-proof) shall be provided to house:-
(a) pH meter cum controller (range of 0 - 14).
(b) pH chart recorder (range of 0 - 14).
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(c) alarm - audible type.
(d) power pack (rechargeable batteries).
(e) AC/DC converter.
(f) Air/gas cylinder, if any.
(g) Resetting switch/button for the actuation of the penstock.
9 The door of the instrument panel shall be provided with a glass or plastic window for
viewing the pH recorder chart.
10 Wherever appropriate the instrument panel shall be located near or within the guardhouse.
11 Means to seal the instrument panel and the last inspection chamber cover shall be
provided. PCD will seal the instrument panel and the last inspection chamber. The seal
will be broken when the instrument panel or inspection chamber is opened.
12 The instrument panel and the last inspection chamber shall not be opened without PCD's
approval. PCD will replace the seal after each occasion when the instrument panel or
inspection chamber has been opened.
13 Details of the monitoring and control system shall be submitted to PCD before
installation.
NOTES:
1 The factory is responsible for the proper maintenance of the system which include
regular cleaning and calibration of the pH probe.
2 Failure to discharge the effluent within the allowable limit at all times will render the
factory liable to prosecution under the Sewerage and Drainage(Trade Effluent)
Regulations, 1999.
3 The pH recorder chart shall be endorsed by the factory before it is submitted to PCD
for checking on a monthly basis.
4 The above system will ensure that only properly neutralised effluent is discharged to a
public sewer. This is to protect the sewerage system from being damaged by corrosive
discharge.
5 In order to prevent inconvenience caused by the shutting of the penstock (due to
undesirable pH level), factories may consider providing effluent recycling facilities to
accommodate any unforeseen event.
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APPENDIX 13
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APPENDIX 14
GUIDELINES FOR LEAK TEST
A leak test shall be conducted before an underground tank is put into use. The leak test shall
conform to the following guidelines:-
° The leak test method shall be able to measure a leak rate of at least 0.19 litre per hour,
and be capable of testing the entire tank system, including piping.
° If the tank has a loss rate in excess of 0.19 litre per hour, the tank shall be considered to
be leaking.
° The leak tests shall be carried out in accordance with an established leak test method and
certified by professional engineers. The test results shall be submitted to PCD.
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APPENDIX 15
GUIDELINES FOR CONTINGENCY PLAN
A contingency plan to deal with leaks from underground tanks shall be submitted to PCD. The
contingency plan shall include the following :-
° To appoint a competent party or person to deal with leaks from underground tanks.
° To set up guidelines to activate the contingency plan (ie. who, when and how to contact
emergency coordinator, confirmation of leak, etc).
° To inform PCD as soon as leak is detected. FSB shall also be informed if the
chemical/product is flammable or combustible.
° To remove chemical/product from the tank to a temporary storage by the competent party
or person.
° To remove the tank for inspection.
° To remove the contaminated soil for proper disposal.
° To carry out soil testing to ensure that all the pollutants have been removed.
° To repair or replace the tank and re-construct the secondary containment chamber if
necessary.
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APPENDIX 16
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APPENDIX 17
RETENTION BASIN FOR FIRE-FIGHTING WATER FOR WAREHOUSE
STORING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
Fire Compartment
(m2)
Average Fire-
Fighting Water Used
(l/m2
min)
Retention Of Fire-
Fighting Water
(m3/m2)
Total Volume of
Retention Required
(m3)
50 WO WS
With WS
3.3
3.3
0.1
0.1
5
5
100 WO WS
With WS
6.6
6.6
0.2
0.2
20
20
150 WO WS
With WS
8.8
8.8
0.4
0.4
60
60
200 WO WS
With WS
10.0
10.0
0.6
0.6
120
120
300 WO WS
With WS
7.7
6.6
0.7
0.4
210
120
400 WO WS
With WS
6.6
5.0
0.8
0.3
320
120
500 WO WS
With WS
6.0
4.0
0.9
0.25
450
120
600 WO WS
With WS
5.8
3.3
1.0
0.2
600
120
800 WO WS
With WS
5.6
2.5
1.2
0.15
960
120
1000 WO WS
With WS
5.4
2.0
1.4
0.12
1400
120
1200 WO WS
With WS
5.2
1.7
1.5
0.1
1800
120
1600 WO WS
With WS
5.0
1.3
1.5
0.075
2400
120
>1600 WO WS
With WS
5.0
1.3
1.5
0.075
To Be Calculated
120
WO WS = Without Water Sprinklers.
With WS = With Water Sprinklers.
NOTE: The retention volume does not include materials leaked out from containers and rainwater.
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APPENDIX 18
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APPENDIX 19
STANDARDS OF CONCENTRATION OF AIR IMPURITIES
Substance Trade, industry, process, fuel
burning equipment or industrial
plant
Emission limits
(a) Ammonia and ammonium
compounds
Any trade, industry or process 76 mg/Nm3 expressed as ammonia
(b) Antimony and its
compounds
Any trade, industry or process 5 mg/Nm3 expressed as antimony
(c) Arsenic and its compounds Any trade, industry or process 1 mg/Nm3 expressed as arsenic
(d) Benzene Any trade, industry or process 5 mg/Nm3
(e) Cadmium and its
compounds
Any trade, industry or process 3 mg/Nm3 expressed as cadmium
(f) Carbon monoxide Any trade, industry, process or fuel
burning process
625 mg/Nm3
(g) Chlorine Any trade, industry or process 32 mg/Nm3
(h) Copper and its compounds Any trade, industry or process 5 mg/Nm3 expressed as copper
(i) Dioxins and furans Any waste incinerator i 1.0 ng TEQ/Nm3 for waste
incinerators commissioned before 1st
Jan 2001
ii 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm3 for waste
incinerators commissioned on or after
1st Jan 2001
(j) Ethylene oxide Any trade, industry or process 5 mg/Nm3
(k) Fluorine, hydrofluoric acid
or inorganic fluorine
compounds
Any trade, industry or process 50 mg/Nm3 expressed as hydrofluoric
acid
(l) Formaldehyde Any trade, industry or process 20 mg/Nm3
(m) Hydrogen chloride Any trade, industry or process 200 mg/Nm3
(n) Hydrogen sulphide Any trade, industry or process 7.6 mg/Nm3
(o) Lead and its compounds Any trade, industry or process 5 mg/Nm3 expressed as lead
(p) Mercury and its compounds Any trade, industry or process 3 mg/Nm3 expressed as mercury
(q) Oxides of nitrogen Any trade, industry, process or fuel
burning equipment
700 mg/Nm3 expressed as nitrogen
dioxide
(r) Particulate substances
including smoke, soot, dust,
ash, fly-ash, cinders, cement,
lime, alumina, grit and other
Any trade, industry, process, fuel
burning equipment or industrial
plant (except for any cold blast
foundry cupolas)
i 100 mg/Nm3*; or
ii where there is more than one flue,
duct or chimney in any schedules
premises, the total mass of the
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Substance Trade, industry, process, fuel
burning equipment or industrial
plant
Emission limits
solid particles of any kind particulate emissions from all of
such flue, duct or chimney divided
by the total volume of such
emissions shall not exceed 100
mg/Nm3 and the particulate
emissions from each of such flue,
duct or chimney shall not exceed
200 mg/Nm3 at any point in time.
(s) Smoke All stationary fuel-burning sources Ringelmann No. 1 or equivalent opacity
(Not to exceed more than 5 minutes in
any period of one hour)
(t) Styrene monomer Any trade, industry or process 100 mg/Nm3
(u) Sulphur dioxide (noncombustion
sources)
Any trade, industry or process 500 mg/Nm3
(v) Sulphur trioxide and other
acid gases
The manufacture of sulphuric acid 500 mg/Nm3 expressed as sulphur
trioxide
Effluent gases shall be free from
persistent mist.
(w) Sulphur trioxide or
Sulphuric acid mist
Any trade, industry or process,
other than any combustion process
and any plant involving the
manufacture of sulphuric acid
100 mg/Nm3 expressed as sulphur
trioxide
(x) Vinyl chloride monomer Any trade, industry or process 20 mg/Nm3
Note: The concentration of any substance specified in the first column emitted from any operation in any
trade, industry, process, fuel burning equipment or industrial plant specified in the second column
shall not at any point before admixture with air, smoke or other gases, exceed the limits specified
in the third column.
‘‘dioxins and furans’’ means polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans
(PCDF), being tricyclic and aromatic compounds formed by 2 benzene rings which are connected by 2
oxygen atoms in PCDD and by one oxygen atom in PCDF and the hydrogen atoms of which may be
replaced by up to 8 chlorine atoms;
‘‘mg’’ means milligram;
‘‘ng’’ means nanogram;
‘‘Nm 3 ’’ means normal cubic metre, being that amount of gas which when dry, occupies a cubic metre at a
temperature of 0 degree Centigrade and at an absolute pressure of 760 millimetres of mercury;
‘‘TEF’’ means Toxic Equivalency Factor;
‘‘TEQ’’ means Toxic Equivalent, being the sum total of the concentrations of each of the dioxin and furan
compounds specified in the first column of the table below multiplied by their corresponding TEF specified
in the second column thereof:
Dioxin/Furan TEF
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 1
1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 1
1,2,3,4,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 0.1
1,2,3,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 0.1
1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 0.1
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1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 0.01
Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin 0.0001
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran 0.1
1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran 0.05
2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran 0.5
1,2,3,4,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran 0.1
1,2,3,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran 0.1
1,2,3,7,8,9-Hexachlorodibenzofuran 0.1
2,3,4,6,7,8-Hexachlorodibenzofuran 0.1
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-Heptachlorodibenzofuran 0.01
1,2,3,4,7,8,9-Heptachlorodibenzofuran 0.01
Octachlorodibenzofuran 0.0001
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APPENDIX 20
BOUNDARY NOISE LIMITS FOR FACTORY PREMISES
The maximum permitted boundary noise levels are as follows:
Maximum permitted noise level (reckoned as the
equivalent continuous noise level over the
specified period) Type of affected in decibels (dBA)
premises
Day
7 am - 7 pm
Evening
7 pm - 11 pm
Night
11 pm -7 am
Noise Sensitive
Premises 60 55 50
Residential
Premises 65 60 55
Commercial
Premises 70 65 60
Maximum permitted noise level (reckoned as the
equivalent continuous noise level over
Type of affected 5 minutes) in decibels (dBA)
premises
Day
7 am - 7 pm
Evening
7 pm - 11 pm
Night
11 pm -7 am
Noise Sensitive
Premises 65 60 55
Residential
Premises 70 65 60
Commercial
Premises 75 70 65
Factory
Premises 75 70 65
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APPENDIX 21
Pollutive Activities Subject To Site Assessment
Before Change of Use Or Rezoning
a) Oil installations and other premises storing, handling and using large quantities of
oils and similar hydrocarbons products, including the following:
Oil refineries;
Oil depots;
Petrochemical complexes;
Petrol stations and refueling depots;
Aircraft manufacture and repair industries;
Motor repair workshops.
b) Chemical plants, chemical warehouses or terminals including the following:
Chemical warehouses or terminals;
Pharmaceutical/biomedical plants;
Pesticides formulation factories;
Wood treatment and preservation facilities;
Large electroplating works;
Factories that use, manufacture or store toxic chemicals.
c) Shipyards and grit blasting works
d) Gas works
e) Power stations
f) Toxic wastes treatment facilities
g) Scrap yards
h) Landfill site for municipal or industrial wastes
i) Facilities for the treatment of sewage.

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