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Flammable Liquids Bulk Storage Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1148)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2015-06-18. Previous Versions

PART VILoading and Unloading

  •  (1) During loading and unloading operations, the tank car shall be protected on the connected end or ends of the siding by a sign of metal or other suitable material 12 inches by 15 inches in size and reading “STOP — TANK CAR CONNECTED”. The word “STOP” shall be in letters at least four inches high and the other words in letters at least two inches high. The letters shall be white on a blue background.

  • (2) The “STOP — TANK CAR CONNECTED” sign shall be placed on the tank car, or the loading or unloading track by the party responsible for the loading or unloading operations in such a manner that will ensure its visibility to the crew of an engine approaching the tank car on the same track.

  •  (1) During loading or unloading operations, the party responsible shall keep the hand brakes applied and shall block the wheels at both ends to prevent any movement of the tank car.

  • (2) Tank cars shall be disconnected from pipelines or hose lines immediately after the completion or suspension of loading or unloading operations.

  • (3) At least one experienced operator supplied by the party responsible for the loading or unloading operations shall be in attendance on the installation site and shall be responsible for the safety of the transfer operations during the entire period that the tank car is connected to the loading or unloading racks or terminals.

  • (4) Loading or unloading operations shall be carried out in daylight only unless adequate permanent lighting installed in accordance with section 54 is used.

 Except as provided in Schedule II, the direct transfer of Class I flammable liquids between tank cars and tank trucks or drums is prohibited on carrier’s right-of-way.

 All tracks, racks, terminals and piping systems used for loading or unloading Class I flammable liquids and crude petroleum shall be grounded and bonded in accordance with the requirements of the Electric Sparks Prevention Regulations.

 Loading or unloading racks shall be constructed of metal, concrete or other material of equivalent permanence, strength and fire resistance.

  •  (1) When the carrier’s track is a team or business track, it is recommended, when practicable, that Class I flammable liquid tank cars be protected during loading or unloading operations by a locked derail or switch located at least one car length from the tank car on the connected end or ends of such team or business track.

  • (2) The loading or unloading of Class I flammable liquids from the bottom outlet of a tank car located on a team or business track is not permitted unless specifically requested by the applicant and approved by the Commission. Bottom unloading is prohibited less than 25 feet from the main track.

  • (3) The procedure for loading or unloading tank cars as detailed in section 74.561 of the Regulations for the Transportation of Dangerous Commodities by Rail shall be followed.

PART VIIGeneral

  •  (1) The installation site shall be free of debris or other combustible material, and grass and weed growth shall not be permitted to exceed six inches.

  • (2) No combustible or dangerous commodities other than those sanctioned by the approving order shall be stored on the installation site.

 Defective piping, valves or fittings shall be repaired or replaced immediately.

 Smoking and the use of portable open flame lights or equipment is prohibited, except in isolated, clearly designated safe areas. Signs to this effect shall be posted at plant entrances, storage tanks, loading and unloading sites.

 Welding is prohibited within 100 feet of a Class I flammable liquid or a crude petroleum loading or unloading site while loading or unloading operations are in progress. At other times, welding may be permitted only under close supervision and in accordance with the provisions of Canadian Standards Association Pamphlet W-117-1952 or subsequent edition.

  •  (1) Dry powder, carbon dioxide, or other fire extinguishers suitable for small flammable liquid fires shall be readily available on the premises of every flammable liquid installation. Extinguishers subject to freezing shall be adequately protected. At least one fire extinguisher should be maintained on the outside premises.

  • (2) It is recommended that all flammable liquid installations be protected by at least one standard fire hydrant so located that a 2 1/2-inch hose stream may be used for controlling a fire on the site, or for cooling storage tanks in case of adjacent fires. Consultation with the local fire authority is recommended.

  •  (1) Except as provided in section 17, all electrical equipment and facilities located out-of-doors within 25 feet of a storage tank, loading, unloading rack or terminal, pump or pumphouse used for Class I flammable liquids or crude petroleum shall comply with the requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code for Class I, Division II, Group D hazardous locations.

  • (2) Except as provided in section 41, all electrical equipment and facilities located inside a pumphouse, warehouse or other building where any flammable liquid is dispensed, processed or otherwise exposed to evaporation, leakage or spillage, or where Class I flammable liquids are stored or handled shall comply with the requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code for Class I, Division I, Group D hazardous locations.

  • (3) All electrical equipment and facilities used in environments where explosion proof equipment and facilities are prescribed in this section shall be approved for Class I, Division I, Group D hazardous locations and shall be so marked or labelled by the manufacturer.

  •  (1) It is recommended that every flammable liquid bulk storage installation be completely enclosed within a steel mesh fence not less than five feet in height. The mesh shall be made from steel wire of not less than 0.10 inch diameter. The mesh openings shall not be greater than six inches. The fence should be provided with at least two gates. Each gate shall be equipped with a lock.

  • (2) If the installation is not fenced, then all storage tank shut-off valves shall be locked in the fully closed position when the plant is unattended. (Valves shall not be locked in an open position).

 Stairs, platforms and walkways should be constructed of metal, concrete or some other non-combustible material.

  •  (1) Storage tanks installed on ground which drains toward railway tracks, rights-of-way, adjacent waters, sewers, or congested areas shall be protected by suitable dikes.

  • (2) Storage tanks containing crude petroleum shall be diked where railway or adjacent private property would be exposed in the event of a boil-over of the liquid.

  • (3) Dikes for Class I or Class II liquids shall have a net capacity not less than the capacity of the largest storage tank plus 10 per cent of the aggregate capacity of all other storage tanks in the diked area.

  • (4) Dikes for crude petroleum shall have a net capacity not less than the capacity of all the storage tanks in the diked area. The dikes shall be provided with flareback sections at the top of the dike designed to turn back a boil-over wave. These flareback sections shall not be required for dikes enclosing approved floating roof storage tanks, or when storage tanks are provided with approved attached extinguishing systems.

  • (5) No dike enclosing crude petroleum storage tanks shall include storage tanks containing Class I or Class II flammable liquids.

  • (6) Provision may be made for draining water from diked areas if the area where the piping passes through the dikes is protected from seepage by flanges or other suitable means.

 The drainage of dikes, tanks, pipelines, etc. containing flammable liquids or flammable liquid residues into lakes, streams, storm sewers or sanitary sewers is prohibited.

  •  (1) In the spring of each year after the ground has completely thawed, the owning or operating company shall test for leakage by subjecting all marine dock pipelines on carrier’s property to a pressure test of 50 per cent in excess of the maximum working pressure.

  • (2) The results of the last annual leakage test shall be retained on file by the owning or operating company for examination when requested by an inspector of the Commission.

  • (3) During pumping operations, all marine dock pipelines shall be inspected by the owning or operating company at regular intervals.

 No electric lines other than those serving the installation shall cross over the installation. These lines shall not be constructed over tanks and shall be restricted to non-hazardous areas.

 Open manholes of any above ground or underground flammable liquid storage tank shall not be used for filling purposes.

  •  (1) Each above ground storage tank should have painted conspicuously upon its shell or upon a sign board suspended from the shell in letters at least six inches high the common name of the product and the words “Flammable — Keep Flame Away”.

  • (2) On application, the Railway Transport Committee may approve means of identification other than that prescribed by subsection (1).

  • SOR/81-143, s. 1

 All flammable liquid bulk storage installations are subject to inspection at any time by any authorized officer of the Commission.

 The owning or operating company shall report immediately by wire to the railway company concerned and to the Director of Operation, Canadian Transport Commission, Ottawa, every fire, explosion, pipeline rupture or storage tank failure occurring on the installation, followed by a detailed report to the Commission within 30 days.

 Violations of any of the provisions of these Regulations are subject to such penalty as may be provided in the Railway Act.

 For additional information, the following publications are suggested:

  • (a) Flammable Liquid Pamphlets Nos. 30, 30E, 325 and 325A published by the National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch Street, Boston 10, Massachusetts;

  • (b) N.F.P.A. Handbook of Fire Protection published by the National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch Street, Boston 10, Massachusetts;

  • (c) publications Nos. RP 2000, RP 2003 and 620 published by the American Petroleum Institute, 50 West 50th Street, New York 20, N.Y.;

  • (d) pamphlets Nos. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12F published by the American Petroleum Institute, Dallas 1, Texas;

  • (e) Handbook of Industrial Loss Prevention published by McGraw Hill Book Company Incorporated, 253 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario;

  • (f) Recommended Good Practice for Safeguarding Flammable Liquids Storage and Processing, published by the Factory Insurance Association; and

  • (g) National Safety Council Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations, fourth edition, published by the National Safety Council, 425 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 11, Illinois.

 

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