Section 530. Performance standards

A. All incinerators for regulated medical waste shall maintain the following level of operational performance at all times:

1. Operational temperature and retention time. Whenever regulated medical wastes are incinerated, all the regulated medical waste shall be subjected to a burn temperature of not less than 1,400°F (760°C) for a period not less than one hour. For all incinerators, gases generated by the combustion shall be subjected to a temperature of not less than 1,800°F (982°C) for a period of one second or more. For certain incinerators, gases generated by the combustion shall be subjected to a temperature of not less than 2,000°F (1,094°C) for a period of two seconds or more under separate requirements of the State Air Pollution Control Board. Except at start-up, interlocks or other process control devices shall prevent feeding of the incinerator unless the required conditions are achieved.

2. Loading and operating controls. The incinerator shall have interlocks or other process control devices to prevent feeding of the incinerator until the conditions in subdivision A 1 of this section are achieved. Such devices may have an override for cold start-up. In the event low temperatures occur, facilities shall have automatic auxiliary burners that are capable of maintaining the secondary chamber temperature at the minimum of 1,800°F.

3. Monitoring. There shall be continuous monitoring and recording of primary and secondary chamber temperatures. Monitoring data shall be retained for a period of three years.

4. Waste destruction efficiency. All combustible regulated medical waste shall be converted by the incineration process into ash that is not recognizable as to its former character.

B. The incinerator shall be permitted under regulations of the State Air Pollution Control Board and be in compliance with the regulations of that body.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR672-40-01:1 § 7.2, eff. June 29, 1994; amended, Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. June 19, 2002.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1402 of the Code of Virginia.