Legislated Requirements Flashcards
Environmental Concerns
• Positive
• Water conservation – 55l/min as opposed to 550l/min
• Fire Sprinkler Initative Video
• Negative
• Water usage – testing and maintenance
• Some of the chemicals used in sprinkler systems are toxic
• Hazardous materials are classified under the Hazardous Products
Act (HPA) ; written law.
• The purpose of the act is to ensure the protection of Canadian
workers from the adverse effects of hazardous materials.
Regulators
• Environment Canada is responsible for the management of
hazardous waste from federal facilities and lands under the
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
• Hazardous material becomes hazardous waste when it is no longer
used for its original purpose and is intended for recycling,
treatment, disposal or storage.
• Hazardous wastes and hazardous recyclable materials are defined
as those with properties such as flammability, corrosiveness, or
inherent toxicity.
• These wastes and materials can pose a variety of risks, from skin
damage on contact to the contamination of ground water, surface
water, and soil as a result of leaching into the environment
Restricted Products
- Hazardous substances that are packaged for consumer use
- Sold in stores and already have labelling.
- Supplied in quantities used by consuming public
Controlled Products
• any product, material or substance that is deemed to be hazardous to the health of workers. • must be included in any of the six Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) classes • One of the classes of WHMIS
Responsibilities
• is not acceptable for hazardous waste to be abandoned, poured
down sewers, dumped on land, discarded at a landfill or burned in
the open.
• The generator is responsible for the cost of disposal
• The CEPA requires that any release of a substance into the
environment that could cause an adverse effect be reported to
Alberta Environment
• an adverse effect (harmful or undesirable) may be difficult to
determine, if you are uncertain about the potential for adverse
effects it is recommended that you report the release
When to Report a Release
• The release of hazardous substances is reportable when:
• The release has caused, is causing or may cause an adverse effect.
• The amount exceeds the quantities or emission levels set out for
the substance.
• The release is into a watercourse or into the groundwater or
surface water in any quantity.
• The release falls under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Regulation Table 1 under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Act, 1992 (Canada).
Exceptions
• To be reportable, the release (having an adverse affect)
must be into the environment
• If the release is contained it does not need to be reported
• SDS One Step Solvent Cement
Who has to report it
• You must report a release if you are:
• The person, who releases, causes or permits the release of
the substance.
• The person having control of the substance that is released
(unless they have reasonable grounds to believe that the
release has already been reported).
• Releases must be reported immediately to Alberta
Environment
When reporting, please provide:
• The location and time of the release.
• A description of the circumstances leading to the
release.
• The type and quantity of substance released.
• The details of any action proposed or taken at the
release site.
• A description of the immediate surrounding area
Additional reporting requirements
• Report to the owner or person in control of the
substance
• Your employer or representative
• Anyone who could be affected by the release
Water, good clean water?
• Positive – sprinklers use less water in a fire event • Negative – sprinklers use water • Testing • Flow testing hydrants and systems • Fire pump testing • Fire pump packing glands • Chlorinated/contaminated water
Codes
• A code is a model, a set of rules that knowledgeable
people recommend for others to follow. It is not a law but
can be adopted into law.
• Looking at the history, the codes are all about safety
• First codes – eye for an eye
• Shall - a mandatory requirement in the body
• Should – a recommendation in the annex
• Standard – putting the shalls and shoulds together
Regulatory Bodies
• AIT sets the regulations within our trade in Alberta • NFPA Requirements for Sprinklers • NBC – National building code - sets the standard can be adopted and altered • ABC – Alberta Building code • AFC – Alberta Fire Code • Approval and listing agencies • Insurance underwriters
NFPA was founded in 1896 (insurance based)
- Currently more than 300 standards
- It’s an international non-profit organization
- Not only fire prevention, but life safety
- NFPA 13 is the sprinkler fitter’s ‘bible’
- Contains information from over 40 other standards
- Updated approximately every 3 years
- Minimum requirements
National Building Code
• a model code that helps promote consistency among provincial and
territorial fire & building codes.
• It can be adopted without change, or modified to suit local needs
• It includes the requirements for professional involvement
• Administered under Safety Codes Act – lays out the law
