Section 338.11811. Amalgam separator; installation and operation; requirements.

(1) On or before December 31, 2013, a dentist shall install, or shall have installed, an amalgam separator on each wastewater drain in his or her dental office that is used to discharge dental amalgam waste. In addition to meeting the requirements of the code and these rules, a dentist who is required to install an amalgam separator shall comply with all of the following:

(a)     Install an amalgam separator that meets the requirements of R 338.11813.

(b)           Install,  operate,  and   maintain  the   amalgam  separator  according  to  the manufacturer’s instructions.

(c)        Ensure the installed amalgam separator is properly sized to accommodate maximum dental amalgam wastewater flow rates at the dental office. The maximum allowable flow rate through an amalgam separator at a dental office shall not exceed the maximum flow rate capacity at which the amalgam separator was tested under R 338.11813(1)(a).

(d)      Ensure that all wastewater from the dental office containing dental amalgam waste passes through an installed and properly functioning and maintained amalgam separator before being discharged.

(2)     Subrule (1) of this rule shall not apply to any of the following:

(a)     Oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

(b)     Oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

(c)     Oral pathologists.

(d)    Orthodontists.

(e)     Periodontists.

(f)     Dentists while providing services in a dental school, in a hospital, or through a local health department.

(g)       Dentists who install and use a holding tank and do not discharge amalgam waste.

History: 2012 AACS.