The CPA has recently been made aware of a potential risk of misinterpretation of the new version of CSA B620.20. The new language in the B620.20 covers the CPA’s former equivalency certificate for the allowance of TC 331 or MC 331 highway tanks to maintain a 10-year B620 inspection interval, providing specific requirements were met. The equivalency allowed the industry a 10-year requirement for tanks “less than or equal to 13,250 L” (3500 US gallons). The new version now includes this clause, but does not include the verbiage, “Or equal to”, effectively leaving out the allowance for tanks that are marked as 3500USWG.

CPA  members had expressed difficulties with maintaining the planned pressure relief valve replacement schedule for 10-year and 25-year expiry of propane containers. Transport Canada has provided an extension of cylinders that fall under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act through the CPA’s temporary equivalency certificate TU 0807.  For 25-year PRV replacement schedules, the requirement and enforcement fall under provincial jurisdiction. Read on to see the breakdown of provincial allowances.

As per O. Reg. 219/01: Operating Engineers, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority’s (TSSA) inspectors will no longer schedule inspections of non-emergency boiler and pressure vessels (BVP) or the work completed by operating engineers.

In the proposed Hazardous and Special Products regulation designed to transition the Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste program to full producer responsibility, the ministry is proposing to exempt propane that is marketed in refillable pressurized propane containers from collection, management or promotion and education requirements. Most critical to propane stewards at this time is the ministry’s request for more information and data on the current management and recovery of refillable propane cylinders in order to exempt them from the proposed regulatory requirements. The CPA is requesting members provide a brief description of their current operating practices by March 19, 2021 for the association to present a solid business case to ministry representatives.

The Ontario government says it has hired over 100 new occupational health and safety inspectors to support business inspection campaigns, and help ensure employees, businesses and the public are protected. The new inspectors have begun a condensed training program, and will begin making field visits, with a mentor, within five weeks of their start date. They are scheduled to be fully trained and deployed by July 1, 2021.

The Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques and the California Air Ressources Board held the joint carbon market auction on February 17, 2021.

Transport Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate has issued guidance to its inspectorate on conducting remote oversight activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A facility is typically restricted to requalifying expired cylinders at their address, except if they apply for a condition to be placed on their Certificate of Registration. These conditions now include mobile requalification, recently allowed by Transport Canada.

PTI and some provincial governments have extended training certifications post expiry date. 

Provinces continue to adjust to the pandemic by reducing or increasing the size of groups for indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings, depending on rising case numbers. Check out Destination Canada's up-to-date information on regulations for safely meeting across Canada.

Please refer to the CPA's Best practices recommended during COVID-19 - Measures for Reopening your Retail Operations, produced to assist you in hosting a training session during COVID-19.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) safety standards published by CSA Group referenced in federal TDG regulations can be accessed for free here.

• BC Committee - October 20 Meeting
• Saskatchewan Committee - January 13 Meeting
• Auto Propane Committee - September 17 Meeting
• Manitoba Committee - February 12 Meeting
• Alberta Committee - October 15 Meeting
• Ontario Committee - September 29 Meeting
• Transportation Committee - December 8 Meeting
• Regulatory Affairs Committee - December 15 Meeting
• Atlantic Committee - September 24 Meeting

Meeting summaries can be found in the Document Centre in your online member profile. Click here to log in to your member profile.

Date: March 9, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Date: March 16, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
To attend the Committee, please contact Robert Loenhart.

Date: March 18, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am ADT
To attend the Committee, please contact Jean-François Duguay.

Date: March 23, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Robert Loenhart.

Date: March 26, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am MDT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Date: April 21, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST
To attend the Committee, please contact Marcelline Riddell.

Date: May 12, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm CT
To attend the Committee, please contact Tanis Fiss.

Due to the pandemic, the Canadian Propane Association has cancelled all seminar in-person events for the time being. Please monitor our Events web page for up-to-date information.