Guidance for Air Quality Management at Clay Brick Installations

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) has embarked on a project aimed at reviewing and amending prioritised Registration Certificates issued in terms of section 10 of the APPA and to develop initial capacity within government in respect of Atmospheric Emission Licenses as contemplated in the new Air Quality Act. The main aim of the so-called APPA Registration Certificate Review Project is:

The review and amendment of the Registration Certificates for prioritised air polluters in such a way as to ensure the building of initial air quality management capacity in provinces and affected local authorities as well as ensuring measurable air quality improvements during, and immediately following, the period of transition between APPA and AQA

A total of 9 industry sectors were selected on various criteria to be reviewed as part of this project of which the Clay Brick Sector is one. In the review and amendment of existing APPA registration certificates, a single, comprehensive ‘registration certificate’ will be compiled for selected enterprises operating at a specific site.

In addition, ‘Clamp kilns for brick production’ is a listed activity (Listed Activity no. 5.2) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act No 39 of 2004 with draft national minimum emission limits. Listed Activity 5.2 (under the Mineral Processing Industry category) has identified sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulates (in the form of dust fallout) to be controlled.

• For dust fallout the requirement is a minimum of 8 dust fallout buckets placed on the facility boundary in the eight principal wind directions based on the method prescribed in SANS 1929:2004. Dust fallout must be measured monthly and the three month running average must not exceed the limit value for adjacent land use according to SANS 1929:2004
• Ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2) must be measured monthly using passive diffusive samplers for a twelve month running average not to exceed limit value for adjacent land use according to SANS 1929:2004.