Recommendations for urban planning around industrial sites in Vienna

Hazard studies of certain installations classified for the protection of the environment (ICPE) show that the effect distances of accidents likely to occur within these establishments may, where appropriate, extend beyond the ownership limits of the industries concerned. Future urbanisation around these sites should therefore be controlled in order to limit the risk exposure of riparian populations. To help municipalities exercise their planning powers, a specific zoning has been carried out according to the zones of effect in order to easily identify the recommendations to be taken into account when drawing up planning documents or for the investigation of acts of application of land law. Four different recommended areas were defined in relation to the level of technological risk, determined according to the probability of occurrence, the kinetics and intensity of the hazardous phenomena and the potential severity of the accidents likely to arise from the operation of the industrial installation: — a dark red area (R) corresponds to a very high risk whose general principle is inconstructibility, — a light red zone (r) corresponds to a high risk whose general principle is inconstructibility except for installations compatible with this environment, — a dark blue zone (B) corresponds to a medium risk, the general principle of which is constructability, provided that the population exposed to the risks is not increased, — a light blue zone (b) corresponds to a low risk associated with indirect overpressure effects (glass breaks) whose general principle is constructibility subject to resistance to these effects. The recommendations applicable to each area can be consulted in the “industrial risk” awareness sent to the mayors concerned by these classified facilities. The recommendations applicable to each zone are as follows: —Very high risk dark red area (R): Constructions, installations and modes of land use of any kind are prohibited, with the exception of industrial installations directly linked to the activity causing the risks. — Bright red area of high risk (r): Constructions, installations and modes of land use of any kind are prohibited, with the exception of industrial installations directly linked to the activity causing the risks, developments and extensions of existing installations or new installations classified as being subject to authorisation compatible with that environment (in particular with regard to domino effects and emergency management). The construction of transport infrastructure is prohibited, with the exception of the service routes of the listed establishment and the industrial zone. — Medium risk dark blue area (B): New constructions and the development, extension and change of destination of existing buildings are permitted provided that the population exposed to risks is not increased (therefore, construction of new dwellings, establishments receiving the public, regularly occupied premises, etc. are prohibited). Communication lines with a flow rate of more than 2,000 vehicles per day, as well as railways on which more than 30 passenger trains per day operate are prohibited. — Light blue area of low risk (b): New constructions and the fitting-up, extension and change of destination of existing buildings are permitted provided that they are designed and carried out in such a way that the safety of occupants, buildings and users is ensured against a hazard corresponding to an overpressure effect of 20 mbar (hPa).