Sanitary protection zone project:
what is it and why

A sanitary protection zone (SPZ) project is special design documentation developed for industrial facilities that impact the environment and human health. A SPZ is a territory with a special use regime created around industrial facilities to protect the population from possible negative impact. Such a zone serves as a buffer between industrial enterprises and residential areas, gardens, vegetable gardens, playgrounds and other areas where people are constantly present.

The main task of the sanitary protection zone is to reduce the level of exposure to harmful factors (chemical emissions, noise, vibrations, electromagnetic fields) to safe values established by sanitary norms and rules. The sanitary protection zone project is necessary for both existing enterprises and those facilities that are only planning construction or reconstruction.

The development of a sanitary protection zone project is mandatory for all enterprises of hazard classes I – III. For objects of hazard classes IV – V, the project is developed in the presence of relevant requirements from regulatory authorities.

Why do we need a sanitary protection zone project?

The sanitary protection zone project performs several important functions at once:

• Ensures compliance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.
• Determines the size of the territory around the enterprise where the placement of residential buildings and other regulated objects is prohibited.
• Allows to assess the adequacy of the existing sanitary zone and develop measures to reduce the negative impact on the environment.
• Ensures the safety of the company’s employees and residents of adjacent areas.
• Reduces the risk of conflict situations with regulatory authorities and the public.
• Accelerates the completion of permitting procedures due to compliance with current legislation.

Stages of development of the sanitary protection zone project

The development of a sanitary protection zone project is a multi-stage process. Let’s consider the main stages in more detail.

Collection of initial data

At the first stage, specialists collect all the necessary information about the enterprise: technical characteristics of production, operating mode, data on the land plot, buildings and structures. Information on background concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere is also requested from the Department of Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.

Conducting research and calculations

Next, an inventory of environmental impact sources is conducted: emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, noise, vibrations and electromagnetic radiation. Laboratory measurements of the levels of these physical factors are carried out. Based on the data obtained, calculations are made of the expected air pollution taking into account background concentrations of pollutants.

Development of design documentation

After collecting the initial data, the direct development of the design documentation begins. Environmental designers determine the optimal size of the sanitary protection zone and justify it with calculations and the results of the studies conducted. Within the framework of this stage, the customer may be offered services for the development of the sanitary protection zone project from specialized organizations with the necessary experience in this area.

Expertise of the sanitary protection zone project

The completed project is sent to an accredited organization for sanitary and epidemiological examination. The purpose of this examination is to confirm the project’s compliance with all current sanitary norms and rules. Based on the results of the inspection, an expert opinion is issued.

Coordination with regulatory authorities

After receiving a positive expert opinion, the project is sent for approval to the territorial body of Rospotrebnadzor. During the review, specialists check the project’s compliance with the requirements of the current legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of public health and environmental protection. The approval period can be up to 30 calendar days for most enterprises or up to six months for particularly complex objects of hazard classes I - II.

Preparation of design documentation

After the design documentation has been approved by the regulatory authorities, the boundaries of the sanitary protection zone are officially approved and marked on cadastral maps. This allows the enterprise to legally operate production facilities without the risk of violating environmental and public health laws.

Monitoring and adjustment of the sanitary protection zone project

After the sanitary protection zone boundaries have been approved, it is necessary to regularly monitor the state of the environment: measure the levels of noise, vibration, electromagnetic radiation and concentration of pollutants in the air. If permissible levels are found to be exceeded, additional measures are developed to reduce the negative impact on the population and the environment. Based on the monitoring results, it may be necessary to adjust the size of the established sanitary zone.

Timeframe for development of the sanitary protection zone project

The timeframe for developing a sanitary protection zone project depends on the complexity of the facility and the number of sources of negative impact. On average, the timeframe ranges from two weeks to six months, excluding the time for approval by regulatory authorities. The approval itself may take an additional 30 to 60 calendar days.