Information Bulletin: Transitional requirements under Bill 13 – Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2016 for equipment located in pipelines and oil & gas facilities

Information Bulletin

Information Bulletin: Transitional requirements under Bill 13 – Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2016 for equipment located in pipelines and oil & gas facilities

November 7, 2016

Information Bulletin
Alternative Safety Approaches
Boiler, PV and Refrigeration
Electrical
Elevating Devices
Gas
Passenger Ropeways

Reference Number:

IB-A1-2016-02



Information Bulletin IB-A1-2016-01, issued on August 15, 2016, described what Bill 13 – Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2016 would mean in terms of changes to the Safety Standards Act.  Please see Information Bulletin IB-A1-2016-01 for details.

The changes described in Information Bulletin IB-A1-2016-01 will come into effect on November 7, 2016.  As such, and in accordance with the Safety Standards Amendment Act, 2016, the transitional rules that follow will be applied. 

Please note that the below applies only to equipment being used in the operation of, or in association with, “pipelines” and “facilities” defined in the Oil and Gas Activities Act. 

Refrigeration systems

Effective November 7, 2016, any active installation or operating permits for refrigeration systems (i.e., refrigeration plants) in affected settings will be cancelled. Any refrigeration system permit applications in place as of that date will also be cancelled.  Any other requirements that applied to affected refrigeration systems under the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation will no longer be applicable to those systems as of that date.  As below, however, certain components of those systems will continue to be subject to the Safety Standards Act and regulations.

Refrigeration systems that are not being used in the processing of oil or gas (e.g., air conditioning systems) will remain fully subject to the Safety Standards Act and Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation.

Boilers & pressure vessels

All boilers and pressure vessels used in oil and gas activities will continue to require appropriate permits and will remain fully subject to the Safety Standards Act and Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation.  This requirement also applies to any pressure vessels that form part of an otherwise exempt refrigeration system.

Electrical equipment

All electrical equipment deployed in oil and gas settings must continue to comply with all relevant requirements of the Safety Standards Act, Safety Standards General Regulation and the Electrical Safety Regulation.  This requirement also applies to any electrical wiring and equipment that forms part of an otherwise exempt refrigeration system.

Pressure piping other than pressure piping that forms part of a power plant

Pressure piping, other than pressure piping that forms part of a power plant, that is or will be used in the operation of, or in connection with, a pipeline or oil & gas facility will no longer be subject to the Safety Standards Act and Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation effective November 7, 2016.

Any affected design registrations that have been submitted to BCSA prior to the above date will continue to be processed until either the design is registered or the client cancels the registration.  

New designs for pressure piping, other than pressure piping that forms part of a power plant, will not require submission to BCSA effective November, 2016 as long as the piping that is the subject matter of the design submission is to be used exclusively in the operation of, or in connection with, a pipeline or an oil & gas facility that is located in BC.

BCSA may accept design submissions as required by the BC Oil & Gas Commission (OGC). Designers of pressure piping (i.e., other than power plant piping) are advised to contact OGC with respect to any applicable requirements.

Pressure piping that forms part of a power plant

Pressure piping that forms part of a power plant, as defined in the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation, will continue to require design registration and will continue to be subject to the Safety Standards Act and Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation.

Elevating devices and passenger ropeways

Owners of any existing elevating devices or passenger ropeways located at oil & gas facilities must, effective November 7, 2016, obtain an operating permit (i.e., if an operating permit is not already in place) for each unit. Please contact BCSA for further details.  All new installations of elevating devices or passenger ropeways following that date must fully comply with all relevant provisions of the Safety Standards Act, Safety Standards General Regulation and the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.

Gas systems and equipment

The current exemption from the Safety Standards Act for gas systems and equipment will continue. Gas systems and equipment used in the operation of, or in connection with, a pipeline or facility are also not subject to the Safety Standards General Regulation or the Gas Safety Regulation.

Gas systems and equipment in which gas is being used as a fuel (e.g., ambient heat, cooking appliances) and unrelated to oil and gas processing remain fully subject to the Safety Standards Act and Gas Safety Regulation.

BC oil & gas commission

Products and processes that will no longer be subject to the Safety Standards Act and regulations effective November 7, 2016 may be subject to requirements administered by the OGC.  As such, owners of affected refrigeration systems and manufacturers of pressure piping (i.e., other than power plant piping) are advised to contact OGC with respect to any applicable requirements.

 

 

Stephen Hinde
Provincial Safety Manager, Alternative Safety Approaches

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