Efficacy of the Leak Detection and Repair Program in the Italian Industrial Plants

Industrial plants interact with various environmental matrices, and managing fugitive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is particularly challenging. Under the European Directive on Industrial Emissions (IED) 2010/75/EU, plant managers are encouraged to implement best available techniques (BAT) for measuring and mitigating these emissions. The European Commission has established Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs to monitor VOCs, focusing on emissions from equipment deterioration over time. Regular inspections using analyzers identify leaking components, which are then repaired to reduce environmental and economic risks. This study examined LDAR programs at three different industrial facilities - a refinery, a chemical plant, and a thermal cogeneration plant - utilizing various detection techniques. The results indicate that effective maintenance planning significantly reduces fugitive emissions.