Anhydrous Ammonia Bulk Storage Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1146)

43 Portable engines, motors, pumps and compressors are not recommended, but if used, shall be securely mounted on a rigid base and every precaution taken to ensure that the installation is stable and well protected against possible physical damage.

44 Unless the installation is enclosed by a wire mesh fence not less than five feet in height and provided with a locked gate, tank shut-off valves shall be shut tight and locked during the absence of the attendant.

• 45 (1) Piping shall be carried on permanent steel or concrete supports, and supports for pipelines more than four feet above ground shall rest on footings extending below frost line.

• (2) Provision shall be made in the piping for expansion, contraction and settling.

• (3) Pipeline shall be protected by metal guard rails against damage from trucks and other traffic.

• 46 (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), below-ground ammonia lines 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 which shall be flush with the ground. The trench shall be of sufficient strength to support all traffic which may pass over it and shall be provided with drainage.

• (2) Pipelines under roadways on railway property shall be enclosed in an encasing pipe of sufficient strength to support all traffic which may pass over it and shall be not less than three feet below the surface of the roadway.

• (3) Pipelines under railways shall be installed in accordance with Pipe Crossings Under Railways (E-10) Regulations.

• 47 (1) Except for pipelines between adjacent loading or unloading racks, pipelines on the railway right-of-way within 20 feet of the gauge side of the nearest rail of a track shall be laid not less than three feet below ground, or be enclosed in a reinforced concrete or steel trench as prescribed in subsection 46(1), or be carried on an overhead pipe bridge with a clearance above ground of not less than 13 feet, or be enclosed by a fence.

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

48 Provision shall be made in loading or unloading lines for relief of pressure before disconnection.

49 When loading or unloading racks are not employed for loading or unloading tank cars, the filling or discharge terminals shall be protected on all sides by a guard rail of metal or other material of equivalent strength and permanence. The guard rail shall be not less than three feet in height.

50 Tank car loading or unloading lines shall be equipped with shut-off valves located at the tank car end of the loading or unloading line. These valves shall not be used for throttling purposes, but shall be either fully open or fully closed in order not to interfere with the operation of excess flow valves on the tank car.

51 All piping inside buildings where anhydrous ammonia is stored or handled shall be grounded to prevent the build-up of static electricity. The resistance to ground shall be as low as possible and preferably not more than six ohms.

• 52 (1) All piping, valves and fittings shall be inspected and tested after assembly and prior to commencing operations for the first time and be proven gastight at a pressure not less than the working pressure of the tank, pump or device to which they are connected, or at 150 psig if this is a higher pressure.

• (2) The results of the piping inspection and test shall be reported to the Commission.

• 53 (1) If housed, pumps or compressors driven by internal combustion engines or non-explosion proof motors shall comply with subsections (3) to (6).

• (2) The pump or compressor should be separated from the engine or motor by a fireproof and vapour-proof wall.

• (3) Except for the frame, the building shall be constructed of noncombustible or fire-resistant materials.

• (4) Engine exhausts shall terminate outside the building.

• (5) The building shall be cross-ventilated near the ceiling level.

• (6) The entire system shall be maintained in good operating condition at all times.

PART VSafety Relief Devices

• 54 (1) Each unrefrigerated tank shall be equipped with one or more safety relief valves of the spring loaded type or an equivalent type which have been approved for the intended service by the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee of A.S.M.E., or the Compressed Gas Association, Inc., or Underwriters’ Laboratories.

• (2) The valves referred to in subsection (1) shall be of a size that will ensure a rate of discharge not less than that specified in the current edition of Agricultural Ammonia Institute pamphlet, Standards for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia.

• (3) The rate of discharge prescribed in subsection (2) shall be obtained before the pressure is in excess of 120 per cent of the maximum permitted start to discharge pressure setting of the device.

• (4) The rate of discharge for relief valves on refrigerated tanks shall be in accordance with the current edition of Agricultural Ammonia Institute pamphlet, Standards for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia.

• (5) Safety relief valves on unrefrigerated tanks shall be set to start to discharge at pressures as prescribed in the current edition of Agricultural Ammonia Institute pamphlet, Standards for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia.

• (6) Relief valves on refrigerated containers shall be set to discharge at a pressure not in excess of the design working pressure of the container.

• (7) Safety relief valves shall be installed in a manner that will ensure that the full relief requirements are always satisfied.

• 55 (1) All storage tank relief devices shall be located on the storage tank and shall have direct communication with the vapour space of the tank.

• (2) If the design of the relief system is such that liquid can collect on the discharge side of the disc, the valve shall be equipped with a suitable drain.

• (3) Tank safety relief valves shall be vented vertically to the outside atmosphere at a safe location and at least seven feet above the tank; except that for a tank of 2,000 Imperial gallons capacity or less and not provided with a ladder or other means of access to the top, the top of the vent shall not be less than seven feet above ground level.

• (4) The end of the vent pipe shall be fitted with a loose rain cap that will not freeze in place.

• (5) Safety relief devices shall be so arranged that the possibility of tampering will be minimized.

• (6) Return bends and restrictive piping are not permitted in relief valve piping.

• (7) External pressure settings or adjustments shall be sealed.

56 Safety relief valves and devices shall be inspected and tested prior to being put into service and shall be retested periodically as prescribed in the Compressed Gas Association pamphlet, Safety Relief Device Standards for Compressed Gas Storage Containers.

• 57 (1) A safety relief valve venting to the outside atmosphere at a height not less than seven feet above ground level shall be installed between each pair of shut-off valves in an ammonia line where liquid may be trapped. The start to discharge pressure shall not be less than the setting of the container relief valve and not in excess of 400 psig.

• (2) Sections of pipelines between shut-off valves and compressors, or shut-off valves and positive displacement pumps, shall be equipped with safety relief valves or bypasses set to discharge at a pressure not less than 240 psig and not over 400 psig.

58 Each safety relief device shall be permanently marked or labelled by the manufacturer with the following information:

• (a) start to discharge pressure in psig;

• (b) full-open rate of discharge in c.f.m. of air at 60°F and 14.7 psia;

• (c) letters “NH₃” or “A.A.” to indicate its suitability for use in anhydrous ammonia service;

• (d) manufacturer’s name or symbol;

• (e) year of manufacture; and

• (f) A.S.M.E. or Compressed Gas Association, or Underwriters’ Laboratories symbol.

PART VILoading and Unloading

• 59 (1) The tank car, during loading or unloading operations, 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 and the letters shall be white on a blue background.

• (2) The “STOP” sign shall be placed on the tank car or on the loading or unloading track in a manner that will ensure it is always visible to the crew of an engine on the same track.

• 60 (1) At least one experienced operator supplied by the consignor or the consignee, as the case may be, shall supervise the loading or unloading operations, and during the absence of this operator from the installation site, loading or unloading shall be discontinued.

• (2) During loading or unloading operations, tank car hand brakes shall be kept applied and the wheels at both ends of the tank car shall be blocked.

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

• (4) Loading or unloading operations shall be carried out only during the hours of daylight unless fixed permanent electric lighting is provided in accordance with section 66.

61 Except as provided in the schedule, the direct transfer of anhydrous ammonia between tank cars and tank trucks or drums on carrier’s right-of-way is prohibited.

62 The loading or unloading of tank cars located on a carrier’s track are subject to the following conditions:

• (a) except as provided in paragraph (d), tank car liquid discharge connections shall be equipped with excess flow valves;

• (b) except as provided in section 61, lading shall be piped directly to permanent storage tanks of sufficient capacity to receive the entire contents of the tank car. The tanks and all of the facilities associated with them shall be in accordance with all applicable provisions of these Regulations;

• (c) when the carrier’s track is a team track, it is recommended that where practicable, the tank car be protected during loading or unloading by a locked derail located at least one car length from the tank car on the connected end or ends of the team track; and

• (d) tank cars of the I.C.C. 106A type may be loaded or unloaded on carrier’s track if written permission is obtained from the carrier concerned, and equipment is provided for the safe unloading or loading of the unit tanks, but such tanks shall not be stored on carrier’s property except as provided in these Regulations.

63 Loading or unloading tracks which cross street railway tracks or show evidence of stray electric currents shall be insulated from the rest of the track at the loading or unloading site in accordance with the Electric Sparks Prevention Regulations. Loading or unloading tracks equipped for electrical operation shall comply with those Regulations.

PART VIIGeneral

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

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

• 66 (1) All electrical equipment, fixtures, switches, and wiring inside buildings where anhydrous ammonia is stored or handled shall conform to the requirements of the latest edition of the Canadian Electrical Code for Class I, Division II hazardous locations and any local or provincial requirements of a higher standard.

• (2) Electrical installations in other locations within 25 feet of any anhydrous ammonia storage tank, equipment, or loading or unloading point shall conform to the requirements of the latest edition of the Canadian Electrical Code for corrosive atmospheres (Category 2).

• 67 (1) All uninsulated storage containers with a water capacity exceeding 100 Imperial gallons which are installed out-of-doors shall be painted with a white heat reflective coating, preferably an enamel or self-cleaning paint.

• (2) The words “CAUTION — AMMONIA” in letters not less than six inches high shall be painted on each outdoor tank with a water capacity exceeding 2,000 Imperial gallons.

• 68 (1) Except for the frame, pumphouses, compressor houses, or buildings in which anhydrous ammonia is handled shall be constructed of noncombustible or fire-resistant materials.

• (2) All enclosures where anhydrous ammonia is handled shall be cross-ventilated with permanently open louvers at the ceiling level.

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

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