Based in Shannon, Co Clare, Irish-owned Chemifloc is the country’s largest producer of water treatment chemicals.
Client & Project Overview
Chemifloc operates within the highly regulated water treatment chemicals sector, where safety, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance are fundamental to day-to-day operations. To meet growing demand for their products, Chemifloc needed to upgrade and future-proof their Shannon facility. The project required improved site accessibility, enhanced safety for personnel, and full compliance with stringent environmental and planning regulations governing chemical storage and handling.
PEMCAS was engaged to provide specialist engineering and fire safety services, alongside the development of a site-wide master plan to support the safe, long-term development of the facility. A key requirement was ensuring that all proposed works aligned with the conditions of Chemifloc’s environmental licence, while also satisfying local authority planning and building control requirements.
Working closely with the client, PEMCAS developed detailed site models and layouts that addressed both current operational needs and projected future expansion. Particular focus was placed on vehicle movement, pedestrian safety, fire separation distances, emergency access, and containment strategies, ensuring that safety and compliance were embedded into the design from the outset.
In parallel with design development, PEMCAS engaged directly with the local authority to manage the planning and regulatory approval process. This proactive engagement enabled statutory permissions to be secured efficiently, ensuring that regulatory requirements were clearly addressed and allowing Chemifloc to continue developing their site with confidence. The result was a compliant, accessible, and future-ready facility delivered safely and sustainably.
Key Insights
Projects within highly regulated industrial environments rely on early and informed engagement with regulatory bodies to achieve successful outcomes. By integrating compliance with planning, fire safety, and environmental licence conditions into the design process from the outset, risks to programme and long-term operability can be significantly reduced.
For Chemifloc, safety, accessibility, and regulatory assurance were not simply statutory obligations but core business priorities. PEMCAS’s experience in managing complex regulatory pathways and working closely with local authorities enabled a clear and efficient approval process, supporting safe site development without compromising operational continuity. This approach demonstrates the value of combining technical expertise with proactive compliance management when delivering specialised industrial facilities.
