RFABCSafety Leadership:
Responsibilities & Plant MaintenanceNovember 7, 2019
1. Regulatory Requirements
2. Refrigeration Maintenance Guideline
3. Engagement Session
AGENDA
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Who is Technical Safety BC?
Technical Safety BC is the
regulatory body that administers:The Railway Safety Act
(RSA)
The Safety Standards Act
(SSA)
If you are installing, operating,
manufacturing, altering, maintaining
or selling equipment in any of the
technologies we regulate, you are
likely within our jurisdiction.
Products and Services Technical Safety BC offers
• Installation permits
• Operating permits
• Licensing for contractors
• Certification of individuals
• Education (tech talks, events)
• Review & approval of product designs
• Incident investigation
• Inspection based on risk
• Audit & enforcement
AMMONIA
REFRIGERATION &
PLANT
REQUIREMENTS
Plant Supervision
Scope
Terminology and references provided in this presentation on
plant supervision are applicable to refrigeration plants in
public occupancies such as ice rinks and curling rinks.
Plant in Operation
For the purposes of plant supervision, a plant is deemed to be in
operation if any part of the refrigeration system contains refrigerant
(e.g. ammonia, Freon, etc.) at a pressure greater than 15 psig,
unless:
• the refrigerant charge is pumped down and contained in a liquid
receiver, or parts of a system designed for that purpose,
• provided with over-pressure protection, and
• isolated to prevent the circulation of refrigerant.
Plant Supervision / Common Requirements
The regulation sets out the requirements for the supervision of
refrigeration plants:• that exceed 50 kW total capacity (Group A3, B2 and B3 refrigerants).
Ammonia plants fall under this category.
• that exceed 200 kW total capacity (Group A1, A2, and B1 refrigerants).
Freon plants fall under this category.
Plants can be operated as Continuous Supervision or Risk Assessed
Status.
Classification of Refrigerants
REFRIGERANT CLASSIFICATIONS
LOWER TO TOXICITY HIGHER TOXICITY
HIGHER FLAMMABILITY A3 B3
LOWER FLAMMABILITY A2 B2
NO FLAME PROPAGATION A1 B1
Ethane
Propane
Isobutane
Carbon
Dioxide
Ammonia
Freon
Plant Supervision / Common Requirements
Person in charge of a refrigeration plant
The owner of a refrigeration plant must designate a person to be in
charge of the plant that is responsible for the plant at all times that it
is in operation.
The owner must report incidents and hazards to Technical Safety
BC. Information Bulletin IB-BP 2017: https://www.technicalsafetybc.ca/alerts/information-bulletin-incident-and-hazard-reporting-boilers-pressure-vessels-piping-and
Plant Supervision / Common Requirements
The person in charge of a plant that is Continuous Supervision or
Risk Assessed Status refrigeration plant is required to hold a:
• 4th Class Power Engineer (PE) (or higher), or
• Refrigeration Operator (RO) certificate
Note – a PE or RO are also qualified to be in charge of a shift
Plant Supervision / Common Requirements
Ice Facility Operator (IFO)
• can be the person in charge of a shift in a Continuous
Supervision or Risk Assessed Status refrigeration plant that does
not exceed 1000 kW total capacity
Note – an IFO is not qualified to be the person in charge of a plant
Plant Supervision / All Plants
• the person in charge of a shift shall be in the immediate
vicinity of the plant premises at all times that the plant is in
operation
• the person in charge of a shift is not intended to be within
the refrigeration machinery room at all times, but must be
on-site, within the plant premises
CONTINUOUS
SUPERVISION
STATUS PLANTS
Plant Supervision / Continuous
Means that the plant is required to be under continuous
supervision at all times that the plant is in operation
Supervision is not required when:
• the plant is not in operation
• the plant does not exceed 50 kW total capacity (Group A3, B2
and B3 refrigerants e.g. ammonia)
• the plant does not exceed 200 kW total capacity (Group A1, A2,
and B1 refrigerants e.g. Freon)
Plant Supervision / Continuous
Person in charge of a shift
A person in charge of a shift in a
Continuous Supervision Status
plant is required to hold a:
• 4th Class Power Engineer (or
higher),
• Refrigeration Operator, or
• Ice Facility Operator certificate
SUPERVISION / RISK
ASSESSED:
RISK ASSESSED
STATUS PLANTS
Supervision / Risk Assessed
Section 56 of the regulation provides the requirements for a
Risk Assessed Status Plant
• limited to refrigeration plants up to and including 1000
kW capacity
• Plant must meet additional technical specifications
including remote monitoring and alarms
• Provides for reduced supervision when the plant is in
operation and the premises are not occupied
Supervision / Risk Assessed
Supervision of a risk assessed plant is
required at all times when:
• The plant is in operation, and
• The premises are occupied (by any person)
Supervision of a risk assessed plant is not
required when:
• The plant is not in operation, or
• The plant is in operation and the premises are
unoccupied
Supervision / Risk Assessed
The person in charge of a shift for a minimum of 7 hours in any 24
hour period is required to hold a:
• 4th Class Power Engineering (or higher), or
• a Refrigeration Operator certificate
The person in charge of the remaining shifts in any 24 hour period
is required to hold a:
• PE (4th class or higher), RO, IFO, or
• a Refrigeration Safety Awareness certificate
Supervision / Risk Assessed
Refrigeration Safety Awareness Certificate
The regulation was recently amended to remove the requirement
for a RSA certificate to name the plant on the certificate.
However, it is now the responsibility of the owner of the plant to
ensure that the RSA certificate holder is trained in the safety
procedures for that specific plant prior to being assigned to the
shift schedule
MAINTENANCE
GUIDELINES
Ammonia Refrigeration Incidents
• Upward incident trend
• 39 injuries
• 3 fatalities
• Two area evacuations
• One state of emergency
• 75% of incidents caused by:
• Equipment Failure
• Inadequate procedure
Fernie Memorial Arena – Multiple Areas of Failure
Employee Turnover
FERNIEOCTOBER 17, 2017
3 Fatalities
95 Residents
Knowledge & Expertise
Unclear Roles
Competing Priorities
Maintenance programs
Hazards and Risk
WHY SHOULD YOU
CARE?
Why should you care?
Cost of an incidentWell being of your
people
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• Financial loss
• Productivity loss
• Legal costs
• High internal turnover
• Incidents can cause
injuries, or even death
• Complying and
following safety
procedures leads to:
•Employee confidence
•Less downtime
•Healthier workplace
2
Why should you care?
Your legal
responsibility
It’s good for your
business
3
• Installation permit
• Licensed contractors
& certified individuals
• Asset Owners
• Qualified individuals
• New designs, newly
built equipment
• Reporting
• Positive reputation
• Hiring
• Longevity and
reliability of equipment
• Reduces risks of
shutdowns
• Reduces
legal/regulatory issues
and costs
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Summary of responsibilities
Maintenance Requirements:
• Act and Regulation
• CSA B51
o in-service inspection must be performed to determine the condition and fitness to continue to operate safely of pressure vessels, piping and fittings in a refrigeration system
• CSA B52
o owner must maintain the refrigeration system to preserve the operating efficiencies, equipment integrity, personal protection and protection of the building and natural environments
• NBIC, Part 2
Maintenance Strategies and Practice
Strategy DescriptionCorrective Inspections, repairs, replacements
carried out following detection of anomalies.
Preventative Inspections, repairs and replacements are scheduled at pre-determined intervals.
Predictive Regularly assess condition and repair or replace prior to estimated failure.
Reliability Centered
Analyze failure modes and customize inspections, repairs and replacements based upon desired reliability.
PURPOSE OF
MAINTENANCE
GUIDELINE
Provide guidance and basic information for the development of a maintenance and inspection program and operational procedures
Guideline Objectives
• Provide support to industry in response to the report’s recommendations
• Provide direction and guidance to owners, contractors, training providers & operators
• Improve the management and oversight of:o maintenance programs
o inspection
o operational emergency procedures
Industry Standards and Guidelines
Limited resources (specific to ammonia refrigeration systems)• standards
• guidance
• information
Refining and Petrochemical API:
• RP 571 (Damage Mechanisms Affecting Fixed Equipment in the Refining Industry)
• RP 574 (Inspection Practices for Piping System Components)
Goal of proposed guidelines is to fill this gap
Ammonia Refrigeration Maintenance Guideline
1. Main Body and general information: Equipment Integrity Management Program
2. Appendix A: Sample of an integrity management manual
3. Appendix B: Damage mechanisms and inspection approaches
Plant Equipment Integrity Planning in 3 parts:
Ammonia Refrigeration Maintenance Guideline
• Scope
• Definitions
• Owners responsibilities
• Equipment integrity management program requirements
• Mandatory codes and regulations
Main Body and General Information:
Ammonia Refrigeration Maintenance Guideline
• Statement of authority and responsibility
• Manual control
• Training and competency
• Document and records admin
• Procedures
• Installation, repair and alteration methods
• Materials
Equipment Integrity Management Program Requirements:
Ammonia Refrigeration Maintenance Guideline
• Corrosion
• Erosion
• Cavitation
• Damages specific to certain refrigeration equipment: Piping, Compressors, Condensers, Heat exchangers, …
Appendix A: Sample of an integrity management manualAppendix B: Damage mechanisms and inspection approaches
ENGAGEMENT
SESSION
Technical Safety BC would like your input:
1. What steps has your organization taken in the last 2 years to improve
maintenance practices and ongoing operations?
2. What were some of the challenges faced during the implementation of those
improvements? What’s your top tip to share with others?
3. What do you need from Technical Safety BC?
Every table reports back with a 3 - 5 minute summary
PROVIDING FEEDBACK
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Group Discussions
• The maintenance guideline consultation is closed but you can
provide input by email
• A feedback summary will be posted by the end of the year
• Next steps will be posted on Technical Safety BC’s website
Questions?
Please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for inviting us today
NEXT STEPS
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QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU