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Liquefied Petroleum Gases Bulk Storage Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1152)

Regulations are current to 2024-11-11 and last amended on 2015-06-18. Previous Versions

PART VIIVapourizers (continued)

 The use of a direct gas-fired tank heater or the mounting of any vapourizer on a liquefied petroleum gas storage tank is prohibited on the railway right-of-way.

PART VIIIGeneral

 The area within 25 feet of a tank with a water capacity exceeding 200 Imperial gallons, a loading or unloading rack, a pump, building, etc. shall be free of debris, and grass and weeds shall be kept cut to a height not exceeding 6 inches.  The general housekeeping and maintenance of buildings, tanks, etc. shall be of the highest standard.

 Defective piping, valves or fittings shall be repaired immediately.

  •  (1) Installations with a total water capacity not exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons that provide fuel directly to heating, cooking or welding appliances on the installation site are exempt from the requirements of this section.

  • (2) All electric motors, switches, motor controllers, circuit breakers, wiring and any other electrical facility inside a building housing a liquefied petroleum gas pump or other similar equipment, or within 25 feet of an outdoor liquefied petroleum gas storage tank, loading or unloading point, pump or other similar equipment, shall conform to the regulations set forth in the latest edition of the Canadian Electrical Code for Class 1, Group D, Division I hazardous locations.

 Smoking and the use of portable open flame lights or equipment shall be prohibited except in certain isolated and clearly designated safe areas, and signs to this effect shall be posted at the plant entrances and at the loading and unloading sites.  (See Section 75 for restrictions applying to welding)

  •  (1) Water, dry powder, carbon dioxide, or other fire extinguishers suitable for liquefied petroleum gas fires shall be available on installations with storage capacities exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons.  At least one fire extinguisher shall be kept on the outside premises.

  • (2) Each storage area with a capacity exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons should 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 cooling a tank in case of adjacent fires.  Consultation with the local fire authority on these matters is recommended.

  •  (1) Uninsulated liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks with water capacities exceeding 100 Imperial gallons, which are installed out-of-doors, shall be painted with a heat reflective paint.  Paint should be white enamel or slow chalking, white paint rather than aluminium paint.

  • (2) The words “CAUTION-PROPANE” (or other liquefied petroleum gas name) not less than 6 inches high shall be painted on each outdoor storage tank with a water capacity exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons.

  • (3) On application, the Railway Transport Committee may approve means of identification other than those prescribed by subsections (1) and (2).

  • SOR/81-144, s. 1

 Each liquefied petroleum gas installation with a storage capacity exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons of water shall be completely enclosed within a steel mesh fence not less than 5 feet high.  The mesh shall be made from steel wire of not less than 0.10 inch diameter.  The opening in the mesh shall not be greater than 6 inches.  The fence gates shall be locked when the installation is unattended and at least two means of access through the fencing shall be provided.

  •  (1) Except for the frame, all buildings, compartments, bottling rooms, lean-tos or platforms shall be constructed of non-combustible or fire resistant materials.

  • (2) All enclosures where liquefied petroleum gas is handled shall be provided with cross ventilation by means of permanently open louvers near floor level.

  • (3) Containers of flammable liquids or gases shall not be stored in a room occupied by liquefied petroleum gas equipment.

  • (4) Buildings shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition.

 Welding shall not be permitted within 150 feet of a loading or unloading site while loading or unloading operations are in progress.  At other times, welding may only be allowed when carried out under close supervision and in accordance with the provisions of Canadian Standards Association Pamphlet W-117.

  •  (1) All liquefied petroleum gases shall be effectively odourized by an approved agent of such character as positively indicates, by distinct odour, the presence of gas down to concentrations in air of not over one-fifth the lower limit of flammability.  For propane the lower limit of flammability is 2.37 per cent.

  • (2) Exemption from the requirements of this section may be granted if it is established to the satisfaction of the Commission that the odourant will be harmful in subsequent processing or use of the gas.

  • (3) The requirements of subsection (1) shall be deemed to be complied with if 1 pound of Ethyl Mercaptan, 1 pound of Thiophane, or 1.4 pounds of Amyl Mercaptan per 10,000 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas is used.  The listing of odourants in this section is not intended to exclude the use of other odourants which meet the requirements of subsection (1).

 Under ordinary circumstances, the diking of liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks is not required, except that the Commission may require erection of a dike under those circumstances where a dike would provide protection for adjoining property.

 All liquefied petroleum gas installations are subject to inspection at any time by any duly 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, Ontario, every fire resulting in damage to the installation, every explosion or major pipe line or tank failure occurring on the installation, and shall submit a detailed report by mail of such accident.

 For further details, the following publications are suggested:

  • (a) liquefied petroleum gas Pamphlets Nos. 58 and 59 published by the National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch Street, Boston 10, Massachusetts;

  • (b) Handbook of Butane and Propane Gases published by Jenkins Publications, Inc., 198 South Alvarado Street, Los Angeles 4, California;

  • (c) Compressed Gas Association pamphlet Safety Relief Device Standards for Compressed Gas Storage Containers published by the Compressed Gas Association, Inc., 500 Fifth Ave., New York 36, New York; and

  • (d) Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., pamphlet Hose for Conducting LP Gas published by Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada, P.O. Box 38, O’Connor Postal Station, Toronto 16, Ontario, or Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., 161 Sixth Avenue, New York 13, New York.

PART IXSwitch Heater Facilities

 This Part applies to switch heater facilities with a storage capacity of 2000 imp. gal. or less.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2

 Switch heater facilities shall be designed, located, constructed, operated and maintained in full compliance with these Regulations.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2

 Foundations shall be built in accordance with sound engineering practice and in such a way as to prevent damage to the tank and piping system.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2

 Copper tubes up to 3/4 inch nominal diameter may be used.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2
  •  (1) The area within 25 feet of a tank and above ground piping shall be kept free of debris and combustible materials, other than ties that are in place on the track.

  • (2) The area within 10 feet of a tank and above ground piping shall be kept free of vegetation.

  • (3) The maintenance of the facilities shall be of the highest standard.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2

 At the end of every year, the railway company shall, by mail, inform the Secretary of the Railway Transport Committee of the mileage point and the name of the subdivision at which switch heater facilities were constructed during the year.

  • SOR/79-201, s. 2
 

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