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Legal basis for diesel particulate filters

Switzerland

Switzerland is the prime example for fighting against fine dust from diesel engines. Many laws like the Environmental Law from 1983, the Air Pollution Control Law from 1985 and the Federal Constitution from 1999 are considering the limitation of emissions. According to the SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Association) diesel soot is considered to be carcinogenic. Therefore the emissions of diesel driven equipment are the subject of specific limitations.

In the VERT project (survey about the reduction of emissions of machines in tunnelling applications) filter system were analysed in the years between 1994 and 1997. A special test cycle for appropriate filter systems in this severe application was created and is known in our days as the VERT test. The VERT test has become an international standard for particle filter systems today.

In Switzerland it is only allowed to use filter systems being listed in the VERT list. The usage of particulate filters in mining application is regulated by the SUVA, the usage of filters on construction sites is regulated by the BUWAL regulation dated from 1992 (Federal Authority for Environment, Forest and Landscape; today renamed as BAFU: Federal Authority for Environment). According to this construction sites are categorised in category “A” and “B”.  On construction sites type “B” diesel driven equipment need to be equipped with diesel particulate filter systems named in the VERT list. This regulation is valid for machines with 50 hp performance or higher since September 1st, 2002. Engines with a performance of 25 hp or higher, need to fulfil this requirement since that date (see BUWAL guidance for air pollution control on construction sites, 1992, p. 14).