Determination of the scope of operations, or ratio calculation
If a production facility stores or handles dangerous chemicals on a large scale, it requires a permit from Tukes before the start of operations. If operations are minor, i.e., the quantities of dangerous chemicals you handle in the facility are small, a permit from Tukes is not required, and notifying the rescue authorities is enough. A very small quantity of chemicals may remain below the notification limit, in which case no notification is required.
Go to Tukes’ permit application (in Finnish)
Go to the rescue authority’s notification form (in Finnish)
Assess in KemiDigi whether a permit from Tukes is required for your operations
Use the list of chemicals or the ratio calculator available in the KemiDigi system to determine whether the operations are large-scale or not. As a rule, the more chemicals are stored and the more dangerous they are, the more large-scale the operations are considered. When assessing the dangerousness of a chemical, physical, health-related and environmental hazards are taken into consideration. If operations are large-scale, you must apply for a permit from Tukes.
The ratio calculator is a tool for the preliminary determination of the scope of operations. The ratio calculator cannot be used to create a list of chemicals, and the data added to it cannot be saved in KemiDigi. If the ratio calculator indicates that the operations are large-scale, a separate list of chemicals must be created in KemiDigi.
Creating a chemical list requires logging in to KemiDigi. If the operator knows or has a strong suspicion that their operations are large-scale and require a permit from Tukes, it is advisable to draw up a chemical list immediately instead of using the ratio calculator. The chemical list also yields the ratio calculation results, but it requires more data than the ratio calculator. In addition to Tukes, other authorities also use KemiDigi and may require that a list of chemicals be created in KemiDigi (e.g., in environmental permit matters). You can find instructions for creating a chemical list below.
Practical examples for the preliminary assessment of the scope of operations and using the ratio calculator and the list of chemicals are available on the page Kemikaaliluettelon laadinnassa huomioitavia asioita (in Finnish).
Principles of calculation and an example
The sum of ratios s that determines the scope of operations is calculated as follows: s = q1/Q1+ q2/Q2… qn/Qn . In the formula, qn refers to the amount of the dangerous chemical in the production facility, and Qn refers to the minimum amount based on the classification of the chemical, Annex I, Part 1, or the chemical-specific amount, Annex I, Part 2.
If the value of the ratio s is 1 or less, the obligations of the facility are determined based on the scope indicated by the ratio.
The sum of ratios is calculated separately for each of the three hazard groups:
- chemicals that are hazardous to health
- chemicals that are hazardous to the environment
- chemicals that pose a physical hazard, such as flammable or explosive chemicals.
When calculating the sums, each chemical is included in each of the abovementioned groups to which it belongs due to one of its hazardous properties.
You can use the following table (pdf, 344 kt , in Finnish) to help with the calculations.
The following chemicals are stored and processed in the facility:
- 45 t Anhydrous ammonia (Annex I/Part 2)
Press.Gas, H280
Flam. Gas 2, H221
Skin Corr. 1B, H314
Acute Tox. 3, H331
Aquatic Acute 1, H400 - 36 t Sulphuric acid 98% (Annex I/Part 1)
Skin Corr. 1A, H314 - 10 t Liquid oxygen (Annex I/Part 2)
Ox Gas 1, H270 - 6 t Liquefied petroleum gas (Annex I/Part 2)
Flam. Gas 1, H220
Compressed gas, H280
These chemicals have hazardous properties to be added together:
- The sum of the ratios with the minimum amounts for large-scale operations is calculated, Annex I, Parts 1 and 2, column 2:
- chemicals that are hazardous to health: 45/10 + 36/1000 > 1
- chemicals that pose a physical hazard: 45/10 + 10/60 + 6/5 > 1
- chemicals that are hazardous to the environment: 45/10 > 1
The operations are large-scale, meaning that when at least one of the ratios is >1, based on all hazard groups, the facility must apply to Tukes for a permit.
It is calculated if the facility must draw up a major accident prevention policy document.
- The sum of the ratios is calculated based on the minimum amounts for the obligation to draw up a major accident prevention policy document, Annex I, Parts 1 and 2, column 3. Note! The amount of sulphuric acid is not included in the sum, because a minimum amount for it has only been determined for the notification and permit obligation:
- chemicals that are hazardous to health: 45/50 < 1
- chemicals that pose a physical hazard: 45/50 + 10/200 + 6/50 > 1
- chemicals that are hazardous to the environment: 45/50 < 1
Because the ratio is >1, a major accident prevention policy document must be drawn up based on the amount of chemicals that pose a physical hazard.
The safety report permit limits are checked in the same way, Annex 1, Parts 1 and 2, column 4. In the case shown in the example, they were not exceeded for any of the groups.
Ratio calculation results
The ratio calculation of the ratio calculator or the list of chemicals yields one of the following results on the scope of operations:
- Operations at the site do not require a notification: Operations at the site do not require a notification.
- Minor operations: Minor operations at the site. Operations at the site must be reported to the municipal rescue authority.
- Facility with an authorisation: Authorisation must be applied for operations from Tukes.
- Facility obliged to provide a major accident prevention policy document: Authorisation must be applied for operations from Tukes, and a major accident prevention policy document must be prepared.
- Facility obliged to provide a safety report: Authorisation must be applied for operations from Tukes, and a safety report must be prepared.
If operations at the site are considered minor, notify the rescue authorities. Go to the rescue authority’s notification form (in Finnish)
If operations at the site are large-scale (facility with an authorisation, facility obliged to provide a major accident prevention policy document, facility obliged to provide a safety report), apply for the permit required for operations to Tukes. Apply for the permit at least 8 months before the start of new operations.
The information required for a permit application is presented in these instructions (in Finnish). A list of chemicals created in KemiDigi is required as an appendix to the permit application.
Draw up the application using the online service (in Finnish). The processing of the application includes hearing and referral stages.