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

• 17 (1) All pumphouses and outdoor pumps that are driven by non-explosion proof motors or internal combustion engines shall be located not less than 10 feet from any storage tank, loading or unloading rack or terminal, building or any other enclosure.

• (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), outdoor pumps driven by motors marked or labelled Class I, Division I, Group D, and wired in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code for Class I, Division I, Group D, hazardous locations may be located anywhere on the installation site.

• (3) The installation of pumps or motors under a storage tank or in a warehouse or other building where flammable liquids are stored or handled or in buildings attached thereto is prohibited.

• (4) The distances of a pumphouse or an outdoor pump used for Class I flammable liquids from a refuse burner, furnace, forge, welding operation or similar source of ignition shall not be less than 50 feet and when practicable, such distance should be greater than 50 feet.

18 Petroleum refineries and similar processing plants, except storage tanks and tank car transfer facilities of such plants, shall be located not less than 250 feet from a main track.

19 Notwithstanding any provision in this Part, where the distance requirements prescribed therein cannot be met, the Commission may, at the request of an applicant, approve lesser distances if the Commission is satisfied that the approval of the lesser distances will not affect the overall safety of an installation.

PART IIIStorage Tanks

• 20 (1) Vertical above ground storage tanks shall be installed on non-combustible foundations of strength adequate to permanently support the tank in a true vertical position. The bottom of the tank shall be suitably protected against corrosion.

• (2) Horizontal above ground storage tanks shall be installed on non-combustible foundations of strength adequate to permanently support the tank in a true horizontal position.

• (3) Steel foundations exceeding 18 inches in height at the lowest point for above ground storage tanks with a capacity in excess of 3,000 Imperial gallons shall be made fireproof with a material that has a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours.

• (4) Below ground storage tanks shall be set on a firm foundation surrounded with soft earth or sand well tamped in place. Ashes or any other corrosive material shall not be used to cover storage tanks.

• (5) Except as provided in subsection (6) and in subsection (7), underground storage tanks shall be covered with a minimum of two feet of earth or with not less than one foot of earth, on top of which shall be placed a slab of reinforced concrete not less than four inches in thickness.

• (6) If below ground storage tanks may be subjected to vehicular traffic, they shall be protected against damage with at least three feet of earth cover or 18 inches of well tamped earth plus either six inches of reinforced concrete or eight inches of asphaltic concrete that shall extend at least 12 inches horizontally beyond the storage tank extremities in all directions.

• (7) Notwithstanding subsection (5), below ground storage tanks that are not entirely buried shall be covered with earth to a minimum depth of two feet with a slope on all sides not less than 1 1/2 feet horizontally to one foot vertically.

• 21 (1) Storage tanks shall be designed, constructed, tested and inspected in accordance with the Standards of the National Fire Protection Association, (Pamphlet 30, May 1962 issue and amendments thereto) and the appropriate API or A.S.M.E. code unless the requirements of the provincial government having jurisdiction in the surrounding area are of a higher standard than those of the N.F.P.A., in which case, the more stringent requirements shall apply.

• (2) A copy of both the storage tank test and the inspection report or other evidence of compliance with the applicable code shall be kept on file by the owning or operating company for examination when requested by the Commission.

• (3) Welding to any part of a storage tank shall be in accordance with the code under which the storage tank was fabricated. Welding shall not be permitted until the tank has been completely emptied and thoroughly purged.

• (4) The storage of flammable liquids in open top storage tanks is prohibited.

22 Each storage tank shall be permanently stamped or labelled as required by the code under which the storage tank was manufactured, and in accordance with the regulations of the provincial government concerned.

23 If the ground resistance of a storage tank exceeding 3,000 Imperial gallons is greater than 15 ohms, ground rods or other grounding devices shall be used.

• 24 (1) All flammable liquid storage tanks shall be equipped with vent pipes or devices sized to keep the internal pressure or vacuum within the design limits of the tank.

• (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), all vents on storage tanks containing Class I flammable liquids shall be equipped with corrosion resistant flame arrestors or breather valves or venting devices that normally remain closed.

• (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), open vents may be installed on a storage tank containing a Class I flammable liquid if the capacity does not exceed 3,000 Imperial gallons.

• (4) All above ground storage tanks shall be provided with a means of emergency pressure relief. In a vertical storage tank, this may take the form of a weak seam or joint on the top of the tank or between the head and the shell of the storage tank. The total venting capacity of both normal and emergency vents shall be sufficient to prevent violent rupture of the storage tank when exposed to fire.

• (5) Gauge hatch covers shall be fitted with a spark resistant material.

• (6) The lower end of the vent pipe on all storage tanks shall not extend more than one inch through the top of the storage tank and shall be installed so that the pipe will drain into the storage tank without traps or bends in which liquid can collect.

• (7) The discharge point of all storage tank vent pipes shall be located outside buildings so that flammable vapours will not enter building openings, or be trapped under eaves or other obstructions, or be exposed to a source of ignition.

• (8) For Class I flammable liquids, the point of discharge of a vent pipe on a below ground storage tank shall be higher than the fill pipe opening, shall discharge upwards, and shall be at least 12 feet above adjacent ground level.

• (9) The discharge point of vent pipes on Class II below ground flammable liquid storage tanks shall be located above the highest recorded snow level. The vent pipes may be fitted with return bends, coarse screens or other devices to minimize the ingress of foreign material.

25 Storage tanks equipped with heating coils, jackets or other heating devices shall be equipped with thermometers and suitable temperature regulators to ensure that the temperature of the contents is maintained within safe limits.

26 All pipe connections to below ground storage tanks shall be made through the top of the storage tank above the liquid level, and shall be graded toward the storage tank. Storage tank shells shall be properly reinforced where pipe connections enter the tank.

• 27 (1) All storage tank shells shall be protected against corrosion by a suitable corrosion resistant coating.

• (2) It is recommended that the final coat of paint on an above ground storage tank be a white enamel, a self cleansing white paint, or other heat reflective material.

28 Below ground storage tanks shall be securely anchored or weighted when floating or moving of the tank due to changes in ground water level is likely to be encountered.

29 A storage tank shall not be subjected to a pressure in excess of its maximum working pressure. Removal of the tank contents by the use of air pressure is prohibited. A pressure not exceeding five pounds per square inch may be used to detect leaks.

PART IVPiping and Transfer Equipment

30 Flammable liquid pumps shall be of a type suitable for the liquid being transferred and shall be designed to the maximum working pressure to which they will be subjected in service.

• 31 (1) Piping systems for flammable liquids shall be designed for the maximum working pressure to which they will be subjected in service, and shall be fabricated of a material compatible with the flammable liquid being handled.

• (2) Shut-off valves and pipe fittings installed on storage tanks, and the main shut-off valves and pipe fittings installed on loading or unloading racks or terminals shall be fabricated of steel.

• (3) Welded joints or welding flanges are recommended for storage tank connections exceeding a nominal diameter of two inches.

• (4) Welding shall only be done by a qualified welder and in accordance with the provisions of Canadian Standards Association Pamphlet W-117-1952 and amendments thereto.

• (5) All piping, valves and fittings shall be tested after installation and before operations begin at a pressure 50 per cent in excess of the maximum working pressure, but in no case less than 5 psig and that pressure shall be maintained for a period of not less than 30 minutes.

• (6) Pipe wall thickness shall be in accordance with the American Standards Association Code for Pressure Piping and amendments thereto.

• (7) All piping and fittings both above or below ground, if subject to external corrosion, shall be suitably protected by paint or other corrosion resistant coating.

• (8) On installations where more than one class or type of flammable liquid is handled, all exposed piping or valves shall be identified by coloured markings or by durable tags to indicate the type of flammable liquids being carried.

• 32 (1) Flammable liquid piping systems shall contain a sufficient number of valves, properly installed, to protect the storage plant in the event of an emergency and to control the flow of liquid in normal operation.

• (2) Pipelines used for loading or unloading tank cars shall be equipped with shut-off valves both at the loading or unloading connections and at the storage tanks.

• (3) Pipelines used for transferring flammable liquids from tank cars or tank trucks into above ground storage tanks shall be equipped with suitable check valves or fittings to prevent accidental back flow of the flammable liquid from the storage tanks.

• (4) Shut-off valves located below liquid level on above ground storage tanks shall be located as close as possible to the storage tank shell.

33 All gauges and accessory equipment shall be of a material that is compatible that the flammable liquid being handled under the service conditions to which they may be subjected.

34 All materials such as joint compounds, gaskets, valve seats and packing shall be compatible with the flammable liquids being handled under the service conditions to which they may be subjected.

• 35 (1) Piping shall be carried on permanent supports of steel or concrete.

• (2) Supports for pipelines more than four feet above ground shall be supported on footings that extend below the frost line or rest on bedrock.

• (3) Pipelines exposed to damage by vehicular traffic shall be protected by guard rails or curbs of concrete or metal.

• (4) Provision shall be made in pipelines for expansion, contraction, jarring, vibration and settling.

• (5) Steel supports for pipelines carrying Class I flammable liquids and more than four feet above ground should be made fireproof with a material that has a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours.

• 36 (1) Valves on loading or unloading pipe terminals located below ground level and within 20 feet of a track shall be enclosed by suitable valve boxes the tops of which shall not extend above ground level and shall be located not less than six feet from the gauge side of the nearest rail of the loading or unloading track. Valve boxes shall be suitably covered and locked when not in use.

• (2) Above ground loading or unloading terminals or stubs that are located within 10 feet of the nearest rail of a track and extend less than three feet above ground level shall be protected on all sides by a substantial guard rail of metal or other material of equivalent strength and permanence. The top rail of such guard rails shall be not less than three feet and not more than four feet above ground level.

• 37 (1) Pipelines running parallel to a track, except those between adjacent loading or unloading racks, shall not be closer than 10 feet to the gauge side of the nearest rail of that track and shall comply with subsection (2).

• (2) Except as provided in section 38, pipelines on the railway right-of-way and within 20 feet of a track, except pipelines between adjacent loading or unloading racks, shall be laid not less than three feet below ground, or be enclosed in a reinforced concrete or steel trench with a recessed removable cover flush with the ground, or be carried on an overhead pipe bridge with a clearance above ground of not less than 13 feet, or be enclosed by a suitable chain link or similar fence.

• 38 (1) Notwithstanding subsection 37(2), pipelines under railway tracks shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of Pipe Crossing Under Railways (No. E-10) Regulations.

• (2) Notwithstanding subsection 37(2), pipelines under roadways on railway right-of-way shall be enclosed in an encasing pipe or be embedded in solid reinforced concrete with a minimum thickness not less than one-half the nominal pipe diameter. The top of the encasing pipe or enclosure shall be at least three feet below the surface of the roadway and shall be capable of supporting all overhead traffic.

• 39 (1) If the ground resistance of a Class I flammable liquid piping system exceeds 15 ohms, ground rods or other grounding devices shall be used.

• (2) All grounded pipelines for Class I flammable liquids shall be bonded at the joints with one No. 4 or two No. 6 A.W.G. electrical connections if flow to ground is interrupted by a gasket, joint compound or other non-conductive barrier.

• 40 (1) Hose and hose connections shall be fabricated of materials suitable for the flammable liquids being handled. Hose connections shall be constructed of spark resistant materials.

• (2) Hose and hose connections shall be designed to have a minimum bursting pressure of not less than five times the maximum working pressure to which they may be subjected and shall provide electrical continuity.

• (3) The hose, as assembled for use, shall be tested for leaks at twice the maximum working pressure before being put in service and should be tested annually thereafter at 1 1/2 times the working pressure and visually inspected once a month.

• 41 (1) Stationary internal combustion engines or non-explosion proof motors should not be used for the operation of Class I flammable liquid pumps. However, when the use of such engines or motors is necessary, they shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this section.

• (2) Internal combustion engines or non-explosion proof motors, if housed, shall be isolated from the pump by a non-combustible and vapour-proof wall. Where shafts pierce the dividing wall, vapour-proof packing glands shall be installed.

• (3) The spark plugs and ignition system of an internal combustion engine shall be shielded and the engine shall be equipped with a spark arrestor muffler.

• (4) The engine exhaust shall terminate outside the building.

• (5) The fuel storage tank for an internal combustion engine shall be located outside the building.

• (6) The air intake to the carburetor of an internal combustion engine shall be located at least 18 inches above the pumphouse floor.

• (7) The entire system of an internal combustion engine or of a non-explosion proof motor shall be maintained in good operating condition at all times.

• (8) The main control switch for a non-explosion proof electric motor or the fuel shut-off valve or spark grounding device for an internal combustion engine shall be so located that the motor or engine may be stopped quickly in an emergency.

PART VBuildings

• 42 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a warehouse, pumphouse, or other similar building used for storing or handling flammable liquids and structures attached thereto shall be constructed of non-combustible materials and unless otherwise authorized by the Commission shall not be more than one storey in height.

• (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), buildings with a floor area not exceeding 2,000 square feet may have a wooden frame. The roof structure may be constructed of any material, provided it has a fire resistance rating of at least two hours.

• (3) The exposed wall of a building used for storing or handling flammable liquids, if located less than 10 feet from any property line which has been or may be built upon, shall be of blank masonry construction with a fire resistance rating of at least four hours.

• (4) Below ground rooms, basements or pits are prohibited under any building that contains flammable liquids or is located within 50 feet of a Class I flammable liquid storage tank exceeding 1,500 Imperial gallons capacity.

• (5) Warehouses, pumphouses and all other enclosures where flammable liquids are stored or handled shall be adequately ventilated with permanently open louvers located near floor level. It is recommended that the louvered ventilation area be at least one square foot per 50 square feet of floor space and be equally divided between opposite walls. If natural ventilation is not effective, then mechanical ventilation should be provided.

• (6) Containers or drums used for the storage or measuring of flammable liquids, whether filled, partly filled or empty, shall not be stored in the pumphouse.

• (7) If it is necessary to heat warehouses or any other building or enclosure where flammable liquids are stored or handled, the heat shall be supplied by low pressure steam, hot water, or other enclosed heat transfer media, and the heating source shall be located as prescribed in subsections (8) and (9).

• (8) Except as provided in subsection (9), a building housing any heat source shall be constructed as prescribed in this section and shall be located not less than 10 feet and as much more as is practicable, from any storage tank, loading or unloading rack or terminal or any building or enclosure containing flammable liquids.

• (9) An office attached to a warehouse or other building where flammable liquids are stored or handled may be heated by Class I, Division I, Group D electric heaters if the office is separated from the warehouse or other building by a blank wall with a fire resistance rating of at least two hours.