The B149 code was initially published in the year 1958 as a standard for gas-fired appliances and equipment. Since January 1st, 2015, it became a part of the safety regulations in the Alberta Safety Codes Act.
All industries and plants that use gas-fired equipment and appliances must comply with this code to ensure the safe functioning and operation of glycol dehydrators, oil and gas line heaters, oilfield line heaters, and propane or gas-fired equipment.
In October 2014, the Government of Alberta accepted and declared that it was not possible to bring all equipment and accessories into compliance within the proposed time because of the large inventory of process heaters in the industry. Thus, the Legacy Equipment Management System (LEMS) became applicable.
Compliance of the Legacy Equipment Management System (LEMS)
The LEMS requires the industries to adhere to the following:
- The petrochemical industries, refineries, and oil and gas sites should maintain a record of gas-fired appliances and equipment for the time when there was no standard.
- Equipment and accessories must be certified and signed by a bureau approved by the Standards Council of Canada.
- All fired appliances must comply with the new codes as there is no grandfathering clause.
- Companies must have an internal plan and program to install and control all upgrades as well as to ensure compliance with the standards.
- Proper record of the inventory must be maintained and submitted annually to the Chief Plumbing and Gas Administrator at Alberta Municipal Affairs.
- The company’s annual report must include the compliance details and progress of non-compliant equipment. They have been given five years, till January 1st, 2020, to become compliant.
- The companies should conduct a risk evaluation of the inventory and prioritize it accordingly to ensure that it does not carry any risk.
Why Must You Comply with B149.3 Codes?
If you do not comply with B149.3 codes, you may be subjected to imprisonment and/or a fine of $100,000 or more.
In addition to this, employers must report any incident with an injury or loss of property worth more than $250 at the work site. As per Bill C-45, it is the responsibility of the employers to ensure the well-being of their workers. They may face criminal charges if an accident occurs and they are found to be neglectful of their duties.
By complying with such codes, we can ensure that the reliability and safety targets for all the appliances and accessories are correctly met and they continue to operate safely.
We Can Help Ensure Your Inventory Complies with CSA B149.3
At Aspire Energy Resources Inc., we strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the industry. We have experts that ensure that all safety equipment meets or exceeds the CSA Standards.
If you want to ensure you are complying with CSA B149.3 codes for your glycol reboiler, line heater or process heater, give us a call at 403-314-5422 or toll-free at 1-800-993-9958. You may also fill out our online form for more information.
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