On 6 December 2024, the BAT conclusions of the BREF for smitheries and foundries (SF) were published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The decision in this publication can be accessed via this link.
These BAT conclusions apply to the following activities described in Annex I of Directive 2010/75/EU:
2.3. Processing of ferrous metals:
(b) operation of smitheries with hammers the energy of which exceeds 50 kilojoules per hammer, where the calorific power used exceeds 20 MW.
2.4. Operation of ferrous metal foundries with a production capacity exceeding 20 tonnes per day.
2.5. Processing of non-ferrous metals:
(b) melting, including the alloyage, of non-ferrous metals, including recovered products, and operation of non-ferrous metal foundries, with a melting capacity exceeding 4 tonnes per day for lead and cadmium or 20 tonnes per day for all other metals.
6.11. Independently operated treatment of waste water not covered by Directive 91/271/EEC (1), provided that the main pollutant load originates from the activities covered by these BAT conclusions.
Additionally, the BAT conclusions also apply to specific activities directly related to the above-mentioned processes, such as: Ferrous metal foundries employing continuous casting processes for the production of grey or nodular iron castings at or near their final shape, non-ferrous metal foundries using alloyed ingots, scrap, recovered products or liquid metal for the production of castings at or near their final shape, the combined treatment of waste water from different origins, provided that the main pollutant load originates from the activities covered by these BAT conclusions and that the waste water treatment is not covered by Directive 91/271/EEC (1), the coating of moulds and cores in ferrous and non-ferrous metal foundries, the storage, transfer and handling of materials, including the storage and handling of scrap and sand in foundries, combustion processes directly associated with the activities covered by these BAT conclusions provided that the gaseous products of combustion are put into direct contact with material (such as direct feedstock heating or direct feedstock drying).
The permits for classified installations or activities (IIOAs) with a relevant IED installation will be evaluated within two years from the publication date, following the multi-annual programme (MJP) for general evaluations. The MJP will be updated no later than two months after the publication date of the BAT conclusions and can be accessed via this link.