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Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations (SOR/2008-197)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2020-10-26. Previous Versions

Leak Detection (continued)

 Any reference to a standard in this section is a reference to the version of that standard that is in effect at the time of the certification. Equipment used for automatic tank gauging referred to in subparagraphs 16(a)(i) and 17(1)(a)(ii) must have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen and must bear a certification mark certifying conformity with

  • (a) ULC/ORD-C58.12, Leak Detection Devices (Volumetric Type) for Underground Flammable Liquid Storage Tanks, or CAN/ULC-S675.1, Standard for Volumetric Leak Detection Devices for Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquid, whichever is in effect at the time the storage tank system is manufactured; or

  • (b) ULC/ORD-C58.14, Nonvolumetric Leak Detection Devices for Underground Flammable Liquid Storage Tanks, or CAN/ULC-S675.2, Standard for Nonvolumetric Precision Leak Detection Devices for Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks and Piping for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, whichever is in effect at the time the storage tank system is manufactured.

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a storage tank system installed before June 12, 2008 that has horizontal aboveground tanks without secondary containment must visually inspect the walls of those tanks within two years after June 12, 2008 to determine if the tank is leaking and after that inspection they must

    • (a) visually inspect the walls of those tanks at least once per month and perform an inventory reconciliation in accordance with subsection (2);

    • (b) immediately

      • (i) use continuous in-tank leak detection in accordance with section 20, or

      • (ii) use continuous external horizontal aboveground tank leak monitoring; or

    • (c) annually perform a tank precision leak detection test in accordance with section 21.

  • (2) The inventory reconciliation must include

    • (a) the measurement of the level of water and the combined level of water and petroleum product or allied petroleum product in every storage tank of the storage tank system at least every seven days unless the storage tank system is located at a fuel dispensing station, in which case the levels must be measured each day the station is in operation; and

    • (b) a comparison of the measurements with readings of any meters that measure the volume of liquid transferred and the calculation of any gain or loss of liquid each time the measurements are taken.

  • (3) The continuous external horizontal aboveground tank leak monitoring must

    • (a) be carried out using a sensor cable system designed for installation beneath the horizontal aboveground tank and surrounding its perimeter dripline in order that any leak will be detected before any liquid moves beyond the tank’s perimeter;

    • (b) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within 30 days after the onset of the leak at the lowest expected air temperature at the site where the sensor cable system is installed;

    • (c) be capable of locating the leak with an accuracy of ± 1 m;

    • (d) be capable of continuously monitoring sensor cable system integrity; and

    • (e) have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen.

  • SOR/2017-110, s. 37

 Continuous in-tank leak detection referred to in subparagraphs 16(a)(ii), 17(1)(a)(iii), 19(1)(b)(i) and 22(1)(a)(i) must conform to the requirements set out in Article 6.2.6 of the CCME Code of Practice and have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen.

 The tank precision leak detection test referred to in section 16 and paragraphs 19(1)(c), 26(a) and 43(b) must

  • (a) be capable of measuring the level of water in the tank to within 3 mm with a probability of 0.95 or greater;

  • (b) if a volumetric method is used, be capable of measuring the level of liquid in the tank to within 3 mm with a probability of 0.99 or greater;

  • (c) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within a 24 hour period with a probability of detection of 0.95 or greater and a probability of false alarm of 0.05 or less, accounting for variables such as vapour pockets, thermal expansion and contraction, evaporation and condensation, temperature stratification, groundwater level and tank deformation; and

  • (d) be performed, using a documented and validated method, by an individual trained in the maintenance and use of the test equipment.

  •  (1) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the owner or operator of a storage tank system installed before June 12, 2008 that has vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment must, within two years after June 12, 2008, inspect those tanks or the floor of those tanks, and after that inspection they must

    • (a) immediately

      • (i) use continuous in-tank leak detection in accordance with section 20, or

      • (ii) use continuous external vertical aboveground tank leak monitoring for each of those tanks; or

    • (b) once every ten years, inspect those tanks or the floor of those tanks.

  • (2) The inspection of the vertical aboveground tanks must be performed in accordance with the version of API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction that is in effect at the time of the inspection.

  • (3) The inspection of the floor of the vertical aboveground tank must be performed

    • (a) using one of the following testing methods, namely, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, videographic or vacuum; and

    • (b) using a documented and validated method by an individual trained in the maintenance and use of the test equipment.

  • (4) The continuous external vertical aboveground tank leak monitoring must

    • (a) be a sensor cable system designed for installation beneath the floor plate of the vertical aboveground tank in order to detect any leak into the soil beneath the tank floor and immediately surrounding the tank’s perimeter;

    • (b) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within 30 days after the onset of the leak at the lowest expected soil temperature at the site where the sensor cable system is installed;

    • (c) be capable of locating the leak with an accuracy of ± 1 m;

    • (d) be capable of continuously monitoring sensor cable system integrity; and

    • (e) have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen.

  • (5) If, within eight years before June 12, 2008, the owner or operator has inspected the vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment in accordance with the version of API Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction that existed at the time of the inspection, they must perform a new inspection in accordance with subsection (2) at least every ten years after the day on which that inspection was performed.

  • (6) If, within eight years before June 12, 2008, the owner or operator has inspected the floor of the vertical aboveground tanks without secondary containment as set out in subsection (3), they must perform a new inspection in accordance with that subsection at least every ten years after the day on which that inspection was performed.

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a storage tank system installed before June 12, 2008 that has aboveground piping without secondary containment must visually inspect the walls of that piping within two years after June 12, 2008 to determine if the piping is leaking and after that inspection they must

    • (a) immediately

      • (i) use continuous external aboveground pipe leak monitoring for that piping, or

      • (ii) implement a corrosion analysis program for that piping, developed and conducted by a corrosion expert, that includes at least an annual inspection;

    • (b) once each month, visually inspect that piping; or

    • (c) annually perform a piping precision leak detection test of that piping in accordance with section 24.

  • (2) The continuous external aboveground pipe leak monitoring must

    • (a) be carried out using a sensor cable system designed either for installation on the bottom of the piping or for placement on the ground underneath the piping;

    • (b) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within 96 hours after the onset of the leak at the lowest expected soil temperature at the site where the sensor cable system is installed;

    • (c) be capable of locating the leak with an accuracy of ± 1 m;

    • (d) be capable of continuously monitoring sensor cable system integrity; and

    • (e) have an alarm located at a place of work where it can be readily heard and seen.

  • SOR/2017-110, s. 37

 The piping precision leak detection test referred to in section 17 and paragraphs 23(1)(c) and 26(d) must

  • (a) be capable of detecting a leak rate of at least 0.38 L/h within a 24 hour period at a line pressure of 310 kPa with a probability of detection of 0.95 or greater and a probability of false alarm of 0.05 or less, accounting for variables such as vapour pockets, thermal expansion and contraction, static head pressure, temperature differential and piping compressibility; and

  • (b) be performed, using a documented and validated method, by an individual trained in the maintenance and use of the test equipment.

  •  (1) The owner or operator of a storage tank system that has turbine, transition, dispenser or pump sumps must, by June 12, 2010, visually inspect those sumps to determine if they are leaking and after that inspection they must either

    • (a) immediately use continuous sump leak monitoring for those sumps; or

    • (b) visually inspect those sumps annually.

  • (2) The continuous sump leak monitoring must

    • (a) use a petroleum product probe capable of detecting 1 mm of petroleum product or allied petroleum product on a concrete surface or 1 mm of petroleum product or allied petroleum product floating on the water within the sump; and

    • (b) have a probe that is capable of reporting the presence of petroleum product or allied petroleum product at the probe location within two hours of contact with that product at the lowest expected air temperature at the site where the probe is installed.

  • SOR/2017-110, s. 30

 In the case of a storage tank system that is not equipped with continuous leak monitoring, if the owner or operator of the storage tank system has reasonable grounds to believe that any of the following components of the system is leaking, they must test or inspect the component as follows:

  • (a) in the case of an underground tank, they must test that tank using the tank precision leak detection test in accordance with section 21;

  • (b) in the case of an aboveground vertical tank, they must inspect the tank in accordance with subsection 22(2) or the floor of that tank in accordance with subsection 22(3);

  • (c) in the case of an aboveground horizontal tank, they must visually inspect the walls of that tank to determine if the tank is leaking;

  • (d) in the case of underground piping, they must test that piping using the piping precision leak detection test in accordance with section 24;

  • (e) in the case of aboveground piping, they must visually inspect the walls of that piping to determine if the piping is leaking; or

  • (f) in the case of a turbine, transition, dispenser or pump sump, they must perform a static liquid media leak detection test that respects the following conditions:

    • (i) the test has a duration of at least one hour,

    • (ii) the level of the test liquid exceeds the elevation of the sump’s piping and of other points of entry into the sump, and

    • (iii) there is no measurable loss of liquid in the sump.

  • SOR/2012-99, s. 23(F)

 The owner or operator of a storage tank system that has tested or inspected any component of the system for leaks under sections 16 to 26 must keep a record that includes the following information:

  • (a) the test or inspection date;

  • (b) the storage tank system identification number;

  • (c) the allied petroleum product or the type of petroleum product stored in the system;

  • (d) the test or inspection results;

  • (e) the testing method;

  • (f) the name and address of the individual and, if applicable, the company that performed the test or inspection; and

  • (g) the components of the corrosion analysis program referred to in subparagraph 23(1)(a)(ii).

  • SOR/2012-99, s. 24
 

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