{"id":12105,"date":"2025-03-17T17:04:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T16:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quimipol.com\/focos-de-emision-que-son-y-como-se-regulan-segun-la-it-at-004\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T21:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:45:17","slug":"focos-de-emision-que-son-y-como-se-regulan-segun-la-it-at-004","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quimipol.com\/en\/focos-de-emision-que-son-y-como-se-regulan-segun-la-it-at-004\/","title":{"rendered":"Emission Sources: What they are and how are they
regulated according to IT-AT-004"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Emission sources are points in an industrial facility where polluting emissions are generated that can be released into the atmosphere.<\/h2>\n

These can come from different processes, such as the ventilation of tanks and silos, the combustion of fuels or the handling of chemical products.<\/h3>\n

In this article, we will explain in a clear and didactic way what emission sources are, how they are regulated and what measures can be taken to minimise them, based on Technical Instruction IT-AT-004<\/strong>, applicable specifically in Catalonia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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What is an Emission Focus?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

An emission source is any point in an industrial facility<\/a> from where pollutants are released into the air. These emissions can be continuous<\/strong> (such as a working boiler chimney) or discontinuous<\/strong> (such as the vents in a tank that are activated when it is filled or emptied).<\/p>\n

The IT-AT-004 standard classifies tank and silo vents into two categories:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Similar to process sources<\/strong>: These are those that can emit polluting substances in significant quantities and, therefore, must be regulated and monitored.<\/li>\n
  2. Not assimilable to process sources<\/strong>: These are those whose ventilation does not pose a significant environmental risk and are exempt from certain measurement requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Types of Emission Sources according to IT-AT-004<\/strong><\/p>\n

    IT-AT-004 establishes criteria to determine which tank and silo vents are considered regulated emission sources<\/strong>. To do so, they must meet the following conditions:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Belong to an industrial activity classified in groups A, B or C of the CAPCA<\/strong> (Catalogue of Activities Potentially Polluting the Atmosphere).<\/li>\n
    2. Be connected to an outlet pipe<\/strong> and not simply be pressure valves or fire extinguishing devices.<\/li>\n
    3. Emitting volatile substances or particles<\/strong> that may pose an environmental risk.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      In other words, if a tank or silo has a vent that can release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter or inorganic gases, it is considered a source of emission and must comply with registration and control obligations.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Recording and measurement obligations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Companies that operate with tanks and silos whose ventilation is considered a source of emission are obliged to:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Electronically record<\/strong> their emissions data in the environmental control system.<\/li>\n
      2. Perform periodic measurements<\/strong> if:\n