Code of practice for storage tank systems containing petroleum and allied products: chapter 7


A guide to the use of this code

Purpose

This code presents a model set of technical requirements to protect the environment from existing, new, or proposed storage tank systems that contain petroleum and allied petroleum products. Its primary purpose is the promotion of environmentally sound management of petroleum and allied petroleum product storage tank systems through the application of uniform performance standards throughout Canada.

Relation to federal, provincial, and territorial regulations

This code is a model set of technical requirements and only comes into effect if adopted, in whole or in part, by an authority having jurisdiction. Where this code has been adopted, in whole or in part, by an authority having jurisdiction, it shall be subject to any restrictions or conditions added by the regulatory authority. Readers of this code are therefore advised to check with the federal, provincial, or territorial authority having jurisdiction to see whether this code applies in their area of interest. (See appendix A for contact information for federal, provincial, and territorial authorities having jurisdiction.)

Relation to other codes

This code is written as a complementary document to the National Fire Code of Canada (NFCC) and to Canada/Canadian Standards Association (CAN/CSA) B139, "Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment".

National Fire Code of Canada

This code has been developed in conjunction with the National Research Council, publisher of the National Fire Code of Canada (NFCC), to minimize the possibility of conflict between the respective contents of the two codes.

While this code provides minimum requirements for the prevention of petroleum and allied petroleum product losses from storage tank systems that may lead to environmental problems (primarily groundwater contamination), the NFCC sets technical requirements for the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids from the point of view of preventing fires or explosions.

In order to ensure effective application, fire officials, environmental officials, or other authorities having the jurisdiction to regulate petroleum and allied petroleum product storage tanks should be fully conversant with the technical requirements in both codes. This is the only way to ensure that storage tanks are built, installed, operated, and removed in a manner that is acceptable from both a fire safety and environmental point of view.

CSA Standard B139, Installation Code for Oil-Burning Equipment

This code was developed in cooperation with the Canadian Standards Association, publishers of CAN/CSA-B139. Storage tank systems that fall within the scope of CAN/CSA-B139 are predominantly furnace oil tanks and storage tanks containing diesel fuel and connected to standby emergency power generators.

The CAN/CSA-B139 code was revised and published in 2000. This code provides additional requirements that address concerns, such as environmental sensitivity or upgrading of existing storage tank systems, which are beyond the scope of CAN/CSA-B139-00.

Regulatory authorities, owners, and installers of storage tanks should be fully conversant with the technical requirements of CAN/CSA-B139-00, this code (where it is in force), and all federal/provincial/territorial regulations that apply.

Structure and content

This code is drafted in such a way that it may be adopted or enacted for legal use by any jurisdictional authority in Canada .

A decimal numbering system is used throughout this code. The first number indicates the part of the code, the second the section within the part, the third the article within the section. An article may be broken down further into sentences, clauses, and subclauses, each of which is in brackets, as shown here:

4

Part

4.5

Section

4.5.1

Article

4.5.1 (1)

Sentence

4.5.1 (1)(a)

Clause

4.5.1 (1)(a)(i)

Subclause

Sentence 3.2.8(1) is an example of a requirement in which all three clauses must be met to be in conformance with the code.

3.2.8(1) No person shall install an aboveground storage tank system unless:

  1. required permits or approvals have been obtained from the authority having jurisdiction;
  2. plans, drawings and specifications of the system or equipment have been examined by the authority having jurisdiction ; and
  3. the plans, drawings and specifications referred to in clause (b) bear the stamp and signature of a professional engineer licensed to practice in the province/territory.

Sentence 5.4.2(1) is an example of a requirement in which only one of the clauses must be met to be in conformance with the code.

5.4.2(1) Underground piping larger than 75 mm in diameter shall be designed, installed and maintained to meet the requirements of:

  1. secondary containment in conformance with sentence 5.4.4(1);
  2. leak detection in conformance with part 6; or
  3. American Petroleum Institute (API) RP 1632-96, "Cathodic Protection of Underground Storage Tank and Piping Systems" and API Std 2610-94, "Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Inspection of Terminal and Tank Facilities".

The following is a summary of the contents of this code.

Part 1: application and definitions

Part 1 defines terms and stipulates to what the code applies. It includes the necessary administrative details to ensure that the technical requirements can be applied with a minimum of difficulty.

Part 2: registration and approval of storage tank systems

Part 2 contains the requirements for the registration and approval of storage tank systems. It includes the scope of the tank systems that are required to be registered as well as provisions regarding storage tank system identification.

Part 3: design and installation of new aboveground storage tank systems

The design and installation of new aboveground storage tank systems is covered in part 3. The recommendations are intended to ensure that equipment is designed and installed properly in order to minimize the possibility of leaks and spills.

Part 4: design and installation of new underground storage tank systems

The design and installation of new underground storage tank systems are covered in part 4. The recommendations are intended to ensure that equipment is designed and installed properly in order to minimize the possibility of leaks and spills.

Part 5: design and installation of new piping systems

Part 5 outlines the requirements for new piping systems for storage tank systems. It includes recommendations for product transfer, design standards, and installation.

Part 6: monitoring and leak detection of storage tank systems

The frequency and method of monitoring and leak detection for all new and existing storage tank systems are specified in part 6. The recommendations are intended to prevent or minimize the environmental impact of spills or leaks.

Part 7: upgrading of existing storage tank systems

Part 7 specifies how and when existing storage tank systems must be upgraded to be in conformance with this code. It also defines those storage tank systems that are exempt from the upgrading requirement.

Part 8: operation and maintenance

Part 8 addresses the ongoing operation and maintenance of storage tank systems. The intention is to prevent product releases. When they do occur, however, the recommendations in this part are designed to help operators of storage tank systems detect, terminate, and mitigate releases as quickly as possible.

Part 9: withdrawal from service of underground storage tank systems

Part 9 contains the requirements for the closure and withdrawal from service of storage tank systems, either temporarily or permanently. Provisions for tank removal and disposal are provided to ensure that abandoned storage tanks do not cause environmental problems.

Appendix A: authorities having jurisdiction

This appendix lists the contact information for the various federal, provincial, and territorial authorities having jurisdiction.

Appendix B: explanatory material

Appendix B contains explanations to assist the user in understanding these code requirements. The numbering system used in the appendix corresponds with the appropriate article in this code.

Appendix C: minimum information required for registration of storage tank systems

This appendix outlines the minimum information required by authorities having jurisdiction for the registration of storage tank systems.

Appendix D: spill reporting

This appendix lists the federal, provincial, and territorial environmental emergency reporting telephone numbers.

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