SFG20 & Separator Compliance:

What Facilities Managers Need To Know

What is SFG20?

FG20, developed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), is the UK’s definitive standard for planned preventative maintenance (PPM). It provides a cloud-based library of over 1,200 schedules, helping facilities managers meet legal, safety, and performance obligations efficiently.

SFG20 and Legal Compliance

While not legislation itself, SFG20 is closely aligned with UK laws and technical standards. It’s often used as a benchmark by regulators, insurers, and auditors to assess whether organisations are fulfilling their legal duties. SFG20 is designed to support compliance with:

BS EN 858-2:2003 – Separator systems for light liquids (e.g. oil & petrol)
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (UK-wide)
Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015
ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Systems

Failing to align with SFG20 can result in legal action, penalties, and reputational harm - particularly during environmental investigations.

Update: SFG20 (Schedule 48-03)

Schedule 48-03 of SFG20 has recently been updated to reflect the current requirements under BS EN 858-2:2003 for separator maintenance.

Previous Guidance	Updated Requirements
Annual servicing	Service at least every 6 months
Basic Visual Checks	Integrity testing every 5 years
Informal Reporting	Full maintenance records required for inspection
No alarm system requirements	Install and test high-level alarms/automatic warning devices

Why it Matters for Facilities Managers

What's at Risk?

Financial penalties up to 100% of pre-tax profits
Court costs and expensive environmental clean-up bills
Director-level liability
Reputational damage and future contract risk
Insurance difficulties and non-compliance with ISO 14001

The Environment Agency is taking a tougher stance on failed separators - don’t get caught out.

What You Need To Do

To ensure compliance with SFG20 Schedule 48-03 and avoid enforcement action, you should:

Install warning/alarm systems on all separator units
Service separators every 6 months, even if they appear to be operating normally
Conduct full integrity inspections every 5 years
Maintain full servicing and inspection records - digitally where possible
Stay up to date with SFG20 revisions and asset-specific requirements
Cross-check with manufacturer guidance for site-specific risks

How GPT Environmental Can Help

At GPT Environmental, we support facilities management teams in meeting all current SFG20 and BS EN 858-2:2003 requirements. Our services include:

Scheduled 6-monthly separator servicing
Five-yearly integrity testing
Separator alarm installation and verification
Digital compliance documentation and audit trails
On-call emergency response and remedial work
Ongoing compliance support for ISO 14001 and CIRIA C736

SFG20 is no longer just a best practice tool - it’s a critical compliance framework. With changes to Schedule 48-03 now in force, facilities managers must take proactive steps to manage separator systems effectively.

Contact GPT Environmental today for expert advice and compliance support.