Many industries and businesses are legally required to minimise odour emissions. If you operate a permitted site, your permit will include odour control requirements. The goal is to limit odour pollution that may be harmful or offensive to neighbouring communities. Non-compliance can lead to complaints, fines, legal action and reputational damage.

At Silsoe Odours, we help operators plan, implement, and maintain effective odour control for compliance.

This article guides you through three essential steps to manage odours efficiently and cost-effectively.

Step 1: Odour Control Planning

A strong plan is the foundation of odour control. This involves identifying all potential odour sources and taking early action to reduce their impact. Your approach will depend on whether your site is new or being redeveloped, but data is always key.

Using Data for Effective Odour Control

• Use odour dispersion modelling to predict how odours travel and their potential impact on the local community. This helps prioritise control measures and optimise equipment design.

• Conduct odour sampling to understand the magnitude and characteristics of emissions.

• For sites with fugitive gas or VOC emissions, atmospheric monitoring methods such as EN 17628:2022 can also support emissions characterisation.

These datasets provide the foundation for designing effective odour control systems and containment strategies.

Learn more about quantifying emissions in our guide to how to measure odour.

Community Engagement

Managing odour complaints and community relationships is a key part of odour management.

This approach lets you spot issues and resolve odour complaints quickly. It also shows your commitment to managing odours responsibly. This is key to strengthening both your reputation and regulatory compliance.

Step 2: Good Odour Abatement Equipment Design

Once you understand your odour sources, design your system using data-driven insights. Effective odour management requires properly designed odour control equipment and containment measures:

• Biofilters, scrubbers, or chemical treatment systems tailored to your emissions.

• Building containment: including fast-acting doors, custom strip curtains and sealed surfaces. Use smoke testing to identify fugitive odour leaks if needed.

• Energy-efficient operation: selecting the right equipment capacity reduces energy use while maintaining performance.

For a deeper breakdown of system design risks, see Odour Control Equipment: Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them.

Step 3: Ongoing Operational Control

Implementing equipment is only part of the solution. Regular monitoring and maintenance ensure long-term compliance and odour management.

Best Practices

• Inspect fans, ducts, and containment areas daily.

• Keep floors, drains, and surfaces clean.

• Ensure doors remain closed where possible.

• Maintain accurate records of odour management activities.

Odour Sensitivity Testing

Staff conducting odour assessments must complete sensitivity testing in line with BS EN 13725:2022. This ensures compliance with European standards.

Long-Term Success

Effective odour control is a combination of planning, design and operational discipline.

A structured approach should always include:

This is the same framework set out in our main guide to Odour Control: How to Control Emissions for Compliance.

Support with Effective Odour Control

Silsoe Odours can provide initial and ongoing data to support your odour management goals.

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^{_{Published 2022. Last updated April 2026.}}