Regulations relating to pollution control (Pollution Regulations). This is an unofficial translation of the Norwegian regulation.

Laid down pursuant to section 9 of Act no. 6 of 13 March 1981 concerning protection against pollution and concerning waste (the Pollution Control Act).

10-1. Purpose
The purpose of the provisions in this chapter is to reduce pollution from crematoriums.

10-2. Scope
The provisions in this chapter set rules for incineration, emissions to air and discharge to water, registration, measurements and reporting for crematoriums.

10-3. Definitions
The following definitions apply in this chapter:

crematorium: cremation installation,

cremation: incineration of human bodies that have been placed in appropriate caskets,

category I crematoriums: crematoriums with 200 or more cremations per year,

category II crematoriums: crematoriums with less than 200 cremations per year,

10-4. Registration
For a crematorium to be lawful pursuant to this chapter, the person in charge of the crematorium shall send a report with the crematorium's details to the competent authority within 1 month after the entry into force of this chapter.

10-5. Emissions to air
Emissions to air in connection with cremation shall not exceed the following limit values for category I and category II with the averaging periods listed in the table:

The limit values indicate the mass concentration of the elements in the waste gases measured in relation to the volume of the waste gases at normal temperature and pressure (normal condition: 273 K and 101.3 kPa), after extracting moisture content in the form of water vapour, and with an 11 volume per cent of oxygen in the discharge gas. The limit values are defined as a maximum concentration that shall not be exceeded by the average of a fixed test series of at least 3 tests.

The averaging period is the period for calculating the arithmetic mean of the tests in a reading. The averaging period for dust and mercury is at least 6 hours for installations with continuous operation. For installations with non-continuous operation the averaging period is 1 cremation, where cremation start is defined as the time the casket is inserted for installations with intermittent operation.

10-6. Technical requirements for incineration
The temperature in the afterburn chamber during the cremation cycle shall be at least 850° C.

The flue gas shall remain in the afterburn chamber for at least 1 second.

10-7. Requirements for stacks
The exhaust from crematoriums shall be released through a stack with a height of at least 10 metres above the ground, and at least 3 metres above the roof.

During normal operating conditions, the following requirements shall apply to flue gas:

- the speed of the flue gas out of the top of the stack shall be at least 10 m/s during the first 30 minutes of the incineration,
- the flue gas temperature upon entry into the stack after the bleed-air inlet shall be at least 150° C. 

10-8. Discharge to water
For crematoriums with wet treatment technology, the following requirements shall apply to washing water:

- mercury shall be removed from the washing water so that the mercury concentration in the washing water after cleaning does not exceed 2.0 mg Hg/litre.
- the gauge readings will be related to 250 litres of water per tonne incoming quantity at the crematorium.

10-9. Measurements and reporting
Those in charge of category I crematoriums shall check the operation and incineration conditions, and perform control measurements of dust and mercury in emissions to air at least once a year. For installations with discharge to water, the controls shall cover washing water. For category II crematoriums, corresponding control measurements shall be made of incineration conditions and emissions to air every 2 years.

During the averaging period, at least 3 tests of sufficient duration per test will be conducted, to give a representative picture of the emissions to air.

Continuous measurements are required for carbon monoxide and oxygen, with registration of the integrated mean every minute.

The temperature in the afterburn chamber shall be monitored and registered continuously.

The results of the annual control reading and continuous measurements shall be filed for at least 5 years.

For category I crematoriums, the result of the control mentioned in subsection 1 shall be reported to the environmental authorities by 1 March every year. The report shall contain conversion/calculation of annual discharge and an evaluation of the results, in relation to the requirements. The report will also contain information about the number of cremations. For category II crematoriums, the results from the control measurements will be reported in corresponding fashion to the environmental authorities if the measurements show a deviation from the requirements in this chapter.

10-10. Exceptions
In special cases, the County Governor can make decisions, allowing exceptions from the provisions in this chapter, and set the conditions required to counter damage or inconvenience.

10-11. Competent authority and supervision
The County Governor is the competent authority pursuant to this chapter and ensures compliance with the provisions in this chapter, or with decisions made pursuant to this chapter.

10-12. Transitional provisions
For installations that existed prior to 1 January 2003, sections 10-5 through 10-9 shall not apply until 1 January 2007.