Pollution control equipment can generally fall between two categories: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) Control, or Odor Control. But what is the difference between these two classifications?
VOC: The Environmental Protection Agency classifies Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) to mean “any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions.”
Odor: The EPA refers to this category as “nuisance odors.” A nuisance odor is any strong smell coming from a facility, that could potentially disrupt the community. These odors are generally the result of cooking or processing of organic compounds.
Although the chemical makeup of some odors are regulated by the EPA, these nuisance odors are not generally regulated at a federal level; however, many state and local agencies have established nuisance odor guidelines and limitations. Failure to plan for appropriate odor control often leads to complaints, unplanned shutdowns, as well as sometimes pricey equipment upgrades and retrofits. [Read more…]
