Adhesives used in manufacturing
This guidance covers any adhesives you use to glue components together when you assemble machinery or equipment.
If you use adhesives you must control your odour and solvent emissions.
Noise, odour and other nuisances
What you must do
Comply with your authorisation
If you have an authorisation you must comply with its conditions. Your authorisation will be either a:
- permit, licence or exemption, in Northern Ireland
- an EASR authorisation, in Scotland
Your authorisation may contain conditions controlling your noise, odour or air emissions. You can be fined or even sent to prison if you do not comply with conditions.
Comply with your waste responsibilities
You must comply with your duty of care responsibilities when you use or handle waste adhesives and adhesive containers.
If you use adhesives that contain organic solvents or 'two-pack' fixatives you must comply with any relevant hazardous/special waste controls.
Good practice
Keep adhesives that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sealed containers to reduce your site's odour emissions.
Store your adhesives in a locked, bunded area away from direct sunlight. A bund is a structure designed to prevent substances from escaping into the environment if the storage tank or barrels containing adhesives or other substances leak or burst.
If you spill adhesives, use absorbent or adsorbent granules to clean up the spill. Do not wash down your site where adhesives containing VOCs have been spilt.
Ask your suppliers if they can supply you with adhesives that do not contain VOCs.
Only pour out the amount of adhesive you require for each assembly shift to avoid waste.