Axion launches Fire Prevention Plan

A new Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) service has been launched by Axion Consulting, aimed at helping waste site operators to minimise fire risk at their premises and meet regulatory requirements.

The Environment Agency introduced FPP with the aim to reduce fires on waste sites by 50% from their 2011 levels. Now a compulsory requirement of the agency’s application process, FPPs are necessary for new Environmental Permits or changes to existing permits.

Submitted at the same time as the permit application, FPPs must be approved alongside the application or the whole permit application will be rejected. In order to minimise the chance of fire, minimise the spread within the site and to neighbouring sites, and aim to extinguish a fire within four hours, they must satisfy three key EA objectives.

The need for ‘high-risk sites’ was highlighted after recent high-profile fires at waste facilities, to ensure compliance as well, says Axion.

Axion Senior consultant, Jon Tomkins said that major incidents also cause huge economic impacts to the business, leading to loss of revenue and some cases jobs. They also can result in negative publicity for the businesses involved, from which some may never recover, he added.

New permits must be applied for or changes must be made to existing permit conditions to include a FPP, for all permitted waste site operators who handle combustible waste. All site may require one in future.

Clients can be offered a complete FPP package from undertaking initial site inspections, liaising with relevant authorities to drafting and submitting the plan. Its bespoke service includes practical, cost-effective solutions for a compliant FPP.

65% of FPPs submitted by waste operators since July 2015 were rejected, it was revealed last summer by the Environment Agency.

For a wide range of clients within the recycling and process industries, Axion Consulting develops and optimises processing and collection methods to recover value from waste resources. The team specify, design and commission innovative process plants for companies in the recycling sector, advising on plant design and equipment selection.