PG6/2(04) - Manufacture of Timber and Wood Based Products

Summary of guidance note

This process guidance note applies to sites "likely to use" >1,000m³  of timber in any 12 month period. The threshold increases to 10,000m³ if the wood is sawn only, i.e. not sanded or drilled etc. "Timber" in this instance also refers to any board materials such as MDF.

The main aim of this legislation is to ensure the correct extraction and collection of wood dust to prevent environmental harm and the creation of neighbourhood nuisance. In reality, the guidance note largely duplicates the existing environmental, health and safety requirements imposed by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Duty of Care with respect to waste.

In brief, the note requires:

• The replacement of cyclones with bag filters unless particularly wet or large chips are produced

• Daily visual checks on the system with associated record keeping

Changes following BFM representation

Representation by BFM Ltd succeeded in one significant alteration on behalf of member companies during the review which culminated in the 2004 version of the note:

• Drafts had proposed a requirement for continuous indicative monitoring to be fitted to extraction plant handling >300m³/min. DEFRA argued that this would only cost around £300 per company, but work by BFM showed that the true cost could be over £100,000 for certain large sites. This requirement has now been dropped.

The note can be downloaded at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/lapc/pgnotes/pdf/minpg6-2.pdf