Indicate significant changes to the plant for the use of organic solvents above the threshold values

Do you operate a plant with solvent consumption exceeding the threshold values? Find out here how to report significant changes to the plant.

Detailed description

Many facilities, such as printing plants, paint shops, or cleaning companies, use solvents like alcohol or acetone. These substances can pollute the air and endanger health.


You must report important changes to such systems in a timely manner, even if no special permit is required.


Important changes include, for example:

  • Changes that may have noticeable negative effects on health or the environment
  • Changes that increase solvent vapor emissions by more than 25 percent
  • Changes that increase solvent vapor emissions by more than 10 percent
 

Information

Prerequisites

  • They operate a plant that does not require a permit and consumes solvents.
  • Solvent consumption is above the permissible thresholds.
  • They are planning significant changes to the facility.
    • A significant change occurs whenever the impact of your investment could noticeably worsen. This is the case, for example, if:
      • The authority assesses that a change to your facility could have significant disadvantages for human health or the environment,
      • You can change the capacity of your plant in such a way that significantly more solvent vapors are produced – for certain types of plants, this applies even if emissions increase by more than 25 percent or
      • You change the capacity of your plant and thereby increase overall emissions by more than 10 percent.

Documents required

  • Full display with the data relevant to the plant

Please note

If you fail to submit the notification, or submit it incorrectly, incompletely, or not on time, you are committing an administrative offense.

Deadlines

Submit the advertisement before making any major changes.

Procedure

  • You submit your application with the data relevant to the plant to the office responsible for you.
  • The relevant authority is reviewing your complaint.
  • If necessary, the responsible authority will request further documents from you.

Processing time

There is no legally mandated processing time.

Fees

There are no costs involved.

Legal remedies

No legal remedy is provided for.

Legal basis

Section 5 paragraph 2 sentence 3 of the Ordinance on the Limitation of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds when Using Organic Solvents in Certain Installations (31st Federal Immission Control Ordinance)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bimschv_31_2024/__5.html

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Keywords: Solvent

Last updated: 19.07.2026