Alberta Municipal Affairs Issues Gas Safety Variance to Address Limited Space Issues

Alberta Municipal Affairs issued Gas Safety Variance VAR-GAS-01-16 in November 2016. Construction sites are often challenged by limited space on site for proper installation and servicing of propane storage tanks, vaporizers and fuel emergency shutdown systems. This limited space may result in unsafe conditions such as tripping hazards in varying conditions. The intent of the B149.2-15 Propane Storage and Handling Code change was to ensure the activation device was located at a reasonably safe place, in the event of an unplanned release of propane fuel or a fire at the vaporizer.

Clause 9.1.10 as referenced in the B149.2-15 code shall be varied to read:
An emergency shutdown system shall be installed in any tank system supplying propane to a direct-fired vaporizer. The emergency shutdown system may be of the electrical, pneumatic or mechanical type or a combination thereof, and the means to activate the emergency shutdown system shall be located at least 25 ft. (7.6m) from the direct-fired vaporizer(s). The emergency shutdown system, when activated, shall initiate the shut-off of the liquid line at the tank location that is connected to the vaporizer.

For more information, and to view the official Gas Safety Variance, please visit the Alberta Municipal Affairs website.