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The principal sources of concern are processes registered under the provisions of
the Alkali, Etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906. The Minister of Housing and Local
Government brought into operation the Alkali Etc. Works Order 1966 which
further extended the list of noxious and offensive gases mentioned in the Alkali
Etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906. The order consolidated the various orders
previously made and added two additional processes. These industries, which
usually have complex combustion problems associated with their processes, are
the responsibility of the Alkali Inspectorate. Close liaison and full co-operation is
maintained with the District Inspector.
Factory chimneys are kept under observation and any emission of dark smoke
which exceeds the permissible limits in the Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations,
1958, is immediately dealt with. The discharge of dark smoke from a
chimney usually arises from a mechanical mishap rather than from inadequate
plant or inefficient boiler management. In cases of obdurate technical difficulty,
boiler plant owners can avail themselves of advice from the National Industrial
Fuel Efficiency Service.
A further objective designed to ensure adequate dispersion of flue emissions
is contained in Section 10 of the Act, which requires that, when building plans
for industrial premises incorporating the construction of a chimney for carrying
smoke, grit, dust or gases are submitted for Building Regulations approval, the
Council must be satisfied that the height of the chimney will be sufficient to prevent
nuisance.
The height of chimneys is calculated in accordance with the Ministry's memorandum
on chimney heights and there is general acceptance of these standards.
Aesthetic considerations may be a complicating factor, but public health
requires the proper dispersion of the gaseous effluents of combustion and this can
only be achieved by adequate chimney heights, having due regard to surrounding
buildings, etc. If a high chimney is unacceptable, an alternative method of heating
should be used.
Existing chimneys into which a new plant is connected cause some difficulties.
The new plant may be considerably larger than the former plant and may discharge
into a chimney which was already too low for the equipment used. Much can be
and is achieved by persuasion, but powers to enforce an increased chimney height
in such circumstances are lacking in the present legislation.
During the year, 17 plans incorporating chimneys were submitted and all were
approved — 12 only after amendment.
Section 3 of the Act requires that new furnaces (except those of domestic
capacity) must, as far as practicable, be capable of being operated without emitting
smoke when burning fuel of a type for which the furnace is designed; it is an offence
to install such furnaces without previously notifying the local authority, but whilst
notification is obligatory, the submission of plans for approval is optional.
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