Air Quality and Solvents

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

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

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

 

Regulations Governing VOC Emissions from Business Activities

• European Union (Installations and Activities using Organic Solvents) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 565 of 2012) (PDF) - 137 kbs – Dry Cleaners and other companies using solvents in their manufacturing or cleaning processes. 
  
  
• European Union (Paints, Varnishes, Vehicle Refinishing Products and Activities) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 564 of 2012) (PDF) - 102 kbs

 

How to Register your Business

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

1. An inspection needs to be carried out by an Assessor from the Panel of Approved Assessors below: 

Approved Assessors

Name	Phone Number	Website
Name	Phone Number	Website
EnviroGuide Consulting	01 5654730	www.enviroguide.ie

 

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

 

Certificate of Compliance

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

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

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

 

Annual Self-Assessment Compliance Report

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

 

Enforcement

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

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

 

Register of Compliant Facilities

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

  

Register of Certified Vehicle Refinishing Operators

Register/Cert No.	Company/Trading Name	Address	Contact Details	Expiry Date
Register/Cert No.	Company/Trading Name	Address	Contact Details	Expiry Date
DR-SO-01	Cawley Commercials Ltd.	Drinaghan, Co. Sligo.	071 916 9555	17/01/2025
DR-SO-02	James Foy Auto Service	Dromore West, Co. Sligo	096 47052	12/01/2025
DR-SO-05	Meadowbank Body Repairs Ltd.	Meadowbank Industrial Estate, Finisklin, Sligo	071 917 0222	Due for Renewal
DR-SO-10	Chris McLoughlin, T/A Auto Tech Body Repairs	Old Dublin Road, Carraroe, Sligo, F91 RC91	071 917 0745	Due for Renewal
DR-SO-11	Connolly Crash Repair Centre	Unit 10 B Old Dublin Road, Carraroe, Co. Sligo	071 911 5333	Due for Renewal
DR-SO-12	Colin Currid Crash Repairs	Grange, Co. Sligo	071 917 3777	Due for Renewal
DR-SO-13	Mr. Ciaran Meade, Ace Autobody Ltd	Old Dublin Road, Carraroe, Co. Sligo	071 930 0600	Due for Renewal

 

Register of Installations Using Organic Solvents

Name	Address	Telephone No.	Cert. No.	Expiry Date
Name	Address	Telephone No.	Cert. No.	Expiry Date
Keady Dry Cleaners	3 Lower Pearse Road, Sligo	071 9169791	OSR-SO-01	Due for Renewal
Like Nu Dry Cleaners	11 High Street, Sligo	071 9144043	OSR-SO-02	Due for Renewal
Master Dry Cleaners	Unit 12A, Cleveragh Business Centre, Sligo	071 9145114	OSR-SO-03	Due for Renewal
Fresh Spin	12a Cleveragh Business Park, Sligo	085 885 0975	New application pending	Due

 

Downloads

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

 

Further Information

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