Leak Detection and Repair Services (LDAR)

We offer comprehensive Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) services to reduce VOCs and VHAPs (Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutants) emissions and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Our team supports you to maintain site safety, minimize operational disruption and meet environmental goals.

What is Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR)?

LDAR regulations target emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Volatile Hazardous Air Pollutants (VHAPs) from leaking equipment in industrial plants across multiple sectors.

Element’s LDAR services involve systematic monitoring procedures, ensuring compliance through techniques including Optical Gas Imaging (OCI) cameras, Flame Ionisation Detection (FID), Photo Ionisation Detection (PID) and Method 21 monitoring.

Why is LDAR important?

LDAR programs aim to minimize emissions by leaks from various types of components and valves. The Regulator conducts audits and conditions in permits to ensure that industrial facilities are complying with regulations aimed at minimizing emissions.

The benefits of choosing Element’s LDAR services

• Minimize operational disruptions to improve overall process efficiency. Our LDAR programs provide the data you need to fix problems and refine operations.
• Maintain a safe work environment for employees and surrounding communities by minimizing fugitive emissions. We pinpoint leaks to specific components, allowing you to identify hazardous zones and make the appropriate on-site modifications.
• Identify product loss from leaking components and increase profitability. We target emissions by type so you can better understand and plan for losses. 
• Choose the experience and expertise of the UK’s largest air emissions sampling team. Located across 11 regional offices, our experts are on hand to provide fast and effective support.
• Remain compliant with the latest environmental regulations. We stay up-to-date with the latest environmental regulations to make certain that your site is prepared for all compliance challenges.
• Utilize our digital platform, e-mission to track and trend emissions data. Our platform is designed to simplify environmental compliance management and deliver data visibility to help you reduce emissions and enhance operational effectiveness.

Maintain environmental compliance

Non-compliance with environmental regulations can result in fines and penalties, potentially harming the company's reputation and net zero goals. Leaking equipment can disrupt operations and reduce process efficiency, leading to increased downtime and maintenance costs.

Choosing Element for LDAR programs provides you with the data you need to maintain your industrial site and comply with regulations. Our team utilize precise instruments to locate the source of leaks, allowing you to carry out maintenance on your infrastructure to remain fully operational.

Ensure site safety

Leaking components can contribute to a hazardous work environment, endangering the safety of employees and site visitors. Unknown emissions contribute to site air pollution and contamination, potentially harming the wider environment and causing public health concerns.

Our LDAR programs pinpoint the source of leaks across industrial sites to minimize emissions exposure and maintain employee safety. LDAR also identifies broader emissions hazards associated with leaks that can affect the environment beyond the fence line.

Our LDAR services and capabilities

We follow the six steps below to ensure an effective LDAR testing program, with initial setup requiring time but resulting in streamlined processes and minimal overheads once established.

1. Component Identification: Create an electronic log of all appropriate components, assigning unique IDs and physically locating them on site diagrams. Maintain a comprehensive site plan of all components, updating the log as components are replaced or repaired.
2. Leak Detection Procedure: Develop a site-specific leak detection procedure, defining the leak threshold based on site-specific concentrations of methane. Components exceeding 2.5% of the leak threshold are considered leaking.
3. Monitoring Process: Follow our technical sampling procedures method detect VOC leaks, focusing on valves and connectors that are prone to major leaks.
4. Reporting Results: Provide clear results to the client, updating the electronic log with findings, timestamps, and measured component results. Highlight leaking components based on the established leak definition.
5. Component Repair: Operators are responsible for repairing leaking components, following first-step repair procedures. Update the electronic log with repair actions. Components requiring extensive repair can be deferred to a predetermined maintenance period.
6. Record Keeping and Audit: Maintain an ongoing electronic register of all leak check procedures, including timestamps and concentration data for each component. Reduce check frequency for consistently non-leaking components, documenting changes in the electronic register.

The Element advantage

We operate the UK & Ireland’s largest team of air quality engineers, located across our network of 11 regional offices. We offer an unparalleled array of sampling equipment and industry-leading instruments. You can trust to deliver accurate, robust data and unmatched expertise to your site.

Our services minimize operational disruptions, enhancing overall process efficiency. By identifying and addressing product loss from leaking components, you can boost profitability. Moreover, we prioritize safety, maintaining a secure work environment for employees and surrounding communities.

Contact one of our friendly Environmental Compliance team who will be happy to discuss your requirements