Liquid-tight Facility Declaration

Various operational activities can lead to soil contamination. Government agencies may permit such activities, provided facilities and/or control measures are taken to prevent soil contamination.

The Relevant Activities Order
The activities for which the Dutch government impose specific requirements are specified in the Relevant Activities Order, which came into effect on January 1st 2008. The Relevant Activities Order is a General Administrative Order (GAO) which combines eleven preceding GAOs and the Storage in Underground Tanks Order. Many more activities must meet the requirements of the Relevant Activities Order than was previously the case.

The Relevant Activities Order distinguishes between three types of business:

Type A: Businesses where the activities have little negative effect on the environment. These businesses fall under the so-called "light" regime.
Type B: Businesses where no licensing requirement applies and which are covered entirely by the general rules, but which do not fall under Type A and are not therefore subject to the "light" regime.
Type C: companies to which the licensing duty applies or continues to apply. Such businesses must have an environmental permit.

As many target requirements as possible have been included in the Relevant Activities Order. Such target requirements set down a quantitative requirement, for example the prevention of soil contamination.
Requirements relating to control measures are included in a separate ministerial order. Technical measures with which companies can meet the targets in the Relevant Activities Order are set out here.

Verklaring Vloeistofdichte Voorzieningen

Liquid-tight facility
In certain cases the government will require a demonstrably liquid-tight facility. This may relate to a floor, a wall or a hard surface, a factory sewerage system or a geomembrane tank system.
The liquid tightness of a facility can be demonstrated by means of a Liquid-tight Facility Declaration. A declaration of this type may be issued if the result of an inspection in accordance with Dutch CUR/PBV Recommendation 44 (fourth revision) "Assessment of Liquid-tightness of Liquid-tight facilities" is such that the facility is deemed to be liquid-tight.

Inspection
QSI are accredited to carry out inspections of liquid-tight facilities and to issue the Liquid-tight Facility Declaration (previously known as a PBV Declaration).

For more information, please contact Fré de Jonge or Iljo Fluit, tel. 0031 318 431400. You can also fill out your data online in order to ask your question or request a quotation.