READ THE
BRITISH STANDARDS,
READ THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEM
“Regular interceptor emptying and cleaning is an important part of keeping your site running efficiently”
stating “Light liquid and sludge shall be
“It is recommended that interceptors are regularly maintained and cleaned ……. every three to six months.”
volume or 80 % of the storage capacity of
“It’s vitally important to carry out regular interceptor emptying, cleaning and maintenance”
Earlier this year we were asked to “read the standing orders, read them and understand them” all be it by an apoplectic parish councillor. When it comes to separators however, it is important that as an industry we read the British Standards, read them and understand them.
Whilst the above quotes are all accurate in the fact that regular maintenance is important, they all share the common
removed as required……NOTE Emptying is recommended when one half of the sludge the separator is reached.” In addition by simply emptying and cleaning the separator the essential checks to the separator’s functionality are not being undertaken. Compliant 6 monthly maintenance will require:
determining the volume of sludge,
misconception that emptying and cleaning
determining the volume of light
are essential components of regular
liquids (oil),
maintenance.
checks on the automatic closure
This practice is not what is required under the British Standard and does not meet the requirements to prove that adequate maintenance checks have been undertaken, in addition it generates unnecessary hazardous waste, water usage and carbon creation. One of our clients who switched from emptying their separators on a 6 monthly basis to having maintenance inspections conducted made annual
British Standard BS EN 858-2:2003 covers,
reductions of over 1,000,000 litres of
as well as other areas, the guidance on how
water, 1,000,000 litres of hazardous waste
to maintain separators (interceptors). With
and 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions. In addition
PPG 3 having been withdrawn and, as of
and most crucially they also ensured
yet, not re-released as a GPP the British
that appropriate maintenance was being
Standard guidance is the authority for
conducted.
device (ACD), checks on the coalescing device, checks on the warning device (alarm), checks on the sampling shaft. A layman’s term analogy would be having a vehicle MOT. As with separator maintenance, it is a service which is required periodically to ensure your infrastructure is in good working order.
compliant separator maintenance across the UK. The industry standard (for companies who actually have their separators maintained)
During an MOT, checks must be undertaken
is to have them emptied every 6 months.
to test the condition and performance of certain components of your vehicle.
Unsurprisingly companies who operate
Following the MOT you are given a
tankers have perpetuated the myth that
report into the condition of your vehicle.
emptying is required every 6 months with
You may be given a certificate stating
the below phrases all taken from tanker
everything is in good working order and
companies websites in June 2021: GPT separator auditing stats
“Interceptors must be maintained regularly (emptied and cleaned)”
In truth BSEN 858 is quite explicit that emptying does not form an essential part of the 6 monthly maintenance
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no further action is required; or you may have issues which need additional work to be undertaken to ensure the vehicle is working properly and not likely to cause an incident.
