Industry and operations safety

Canada’s natural gas delivery industry is committed to meeting the highest level of codes and standards. Canada’s natural gas infrastructure is consistently monitored, and pertinent activities are undertaken to continually improve operational systems and processes. We are committed to:

• Continue to lead in efficient design, construction, operation and maintenance of Canada’s natural gas delivery systems through a culture focused on public and worker safety, reliability, security, and resilience.
• Continuously improve through ongoing learning, innovation and sharing of knowledge while maintaining our ongoing commitment to open and transparent dialogue with our stakeholders
• Pursue the aspirational goal of a faultless safety, integrity and reliability record, together with exemplary environmental leadership and stewardship.

The industry utilizes several safeguards to detect a potential natural gas leak.

• All natural gas utility operators odourize natural gas with mercaptan, a chemical compound that smells like rotten eggs, in order to provide an added layer of safety for leak detection.
• All natural gas pipeline operators have safety awareness programs to help educate the public, including education programs for provincial and local emergency response personnel, public officials and excavators.
• Natural gas delivery organizations have comprehensive, data-driven leak survey programs based on their asset and integrity plans.

Cyber and physical security

Addressing cyber and physical security threats is a priority for CGA members and is part of the industry’s commitment to safety and resiliency. CGA’s members employ strong security programs to protect their systems and work closely with government partners to share information and best practices. Since 2015, CGA has been leading various cyber security initiatives including the development of Industrial Control System Security guidance, workshops, and regular committee meetings. In 2020, CGA began developing an operational information sharing initiative called the Blue Flame Program (BFP) to reduce cyber vulnerabilities through timely action and threat response.

The BFP is a sector-specific partnership between CGA and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) to provide access to enhanced security services, collaborative sharing of technical information, and the production of tailored threat analysis. BFP has grown into a recognized leader in cyber information sharing across key government departments and industry.

In late 2023, CGA launched the Energy Security Technical Advisory Committee (E-STAC) which operates as an energy industry information sharing hub for strategic collaboration and coordination with the Canadian federal government on energy sector-related security matters.

Mutual assistance

CGA members work collaboratively during large-scale incidents and utilize pre-existing legal agreements to enable rapid collaboration. For more information on CGA’s mutual assistance program, visit: cga.ca/safety-and-operations/mutual-assistance/

For more information on CGA’s overall security program, visit: cga.ca/E-STAC
For more information on CGA’s cyber security work, visit: cga.ca/cyber-security

Gas Delivery Systems comply with top Canadian standards to maintain safety excellence. These systems are designed, built, operated and maintained to meet and exceed the highest Canadian codes and standards.

Standards Council of Canada (SCC)

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization in Canada, accredits “Standards Development Organizations” (SDOs).

SCC offers a number of useful online tools and resources, including:

Notices of Intent – This page on the SCC website provides searchable information about new standards development including comment period dates.

SCC Monthly Newsletter – This newsletter provides subscribers with updates on the latest news, events and opportunities in standardization that impact government, industry and consumers.

For more information on SCC, visit: www.scc.ca

CGA SDOs

In Canada, there are a series of accredited Standards Development Organizations (SDOs). Listed on SCC’s website, two Canadian SDOs are CGA members:

Canadian Standards Association (operating as CSA Group)

Underwriters Laboratories of Canada Standards

Measurement Canada

Measurement Canada (MC) is a federal agency of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada that is responsible for ensuring fair and accurate measure in financial transactions involving goods and services. MC’s principal functions include:

• The development and administration of laws and requirements,
• The evaluation, approval and certification of measuring devices, and
• The investigation of complaints of suspected inaccurate measurement.

The two primary Acts that govern MC’s operations are:

• Weights and Measures Act
• Electricity and Gas Inspection Act

MC and industry work together under a formal structure called the Gas Process Advisory Committee (GPAC). GPAC provides a forum for collaboratively reviewing proposed regulatory requirements or amendments (i.e. new or revised specifications, bulletins, and procedures). GPAC members include representatives from MC, industry, and the CGA. For more information, please contact info@cga.ca.

Principal Standards Governing CGA Delivery Companies

1. CSA Z662 – 19 Oil and gas pipeline systems – Created to provide guidance on the safe design, construction and maintenance of pipeline systems. This standard applies to system components upstream of the meter for the delivery of:

• • Liquid hydrocarbons, including crude oil, multiphase fluids, condensate, liquid petroleum products, natural gas liquids, and liquefied petroleum gas;
  • Oilfield water/steam;
  • liquid or dense phase carbon dioxide; or
  • gas.

2. CSA B149.1:20 Natural gas and propane installation code –B149.1 and B149.2 provide guidance for the installation of appliances and equipment that burn natural gas and propane. B149.1 deals specifically with natural gas and B149.2 with propane. B149.1 applies to the installation of:

• • Appliances, equipment, components, and accessories where gas is to be used for fuel purposes;
  • Piping and tubing systems extending from the termination of the utility installation or from the distributor’s propane tank;
  • Vehicle-refuelling appliances and associated equipment meeting the requirements of a general-purpose appliance to fill a natural-gas-fuelled vehicle; and
  • Stationary gas engines and turbines.

Request for Interpretation

As a user of a standard, if ever clarifications are required on a particular standard, SDOs have mechanisms to resolve questions and provide formal interpretations. The following are some details which may help in requesting formal interpretations of certain standards:

Underwriters Laboratories of Canada Standards contact information:

Brian Murphy, Manager Standards
ULC Standards
171 Nepean Street, Suite 400, Ottawa, ON, K2P 0B4
Brian.P.Murphy@ul.com
Phone: 613-755-2729 (61421)
Fax: 613-231-5977

CSA Group – contact information and process:

To submit a request for interpretation of a Standard, please send the following information to inquiries@csagroup.org and include “Request for interpretation” in the subject line:

1. Define the problem, making reference to the specific clause, and, where appropriate, include an illustrative sketch;
2. Provide an explanation of circumstances surrounding the actual field condition; and
3. Where possible, phrase the request in such a way that a specific “yes” or “no” answer will address the issue. Committee interpretations are processed in accordance with the CSA Directives and guidelines governing standardization and are available on the Current Standards Activities page at csa.ca.

Canadian Registration Numbers (CRN)

A Canadian Registration Number (CRN) is an alpha-numeric identifier used in Canada to certify the satisfactory design of a particular boiler or pressure vessel. The CRN system in Canada has become a complex and costly system for applicants to navigate.

As uses of natural gas become more prevalent, including various forms of new applications such as those in CNG and LNG installations, the complexity and lack of clarity around the application of codes and standards including CRN requirements can present significant challenges to doing business.

The CGA has partnered with various stakeholders to develop a consortium to help increase the harmonization of CRNs across Canadian jurisdictions. The CRN Cross Industry Consortium presents a unified voice of industry sectors affected by the CRN process, specifically, sectors that are involved in the manufacture, distribution and application of pressurized vessels. Through a collaborative approach, the Consortium seeks outcomes that will lead to simplification of the CRN process and as a result will encourage innovation, increase economic activity and ultimately serve Canadian consumers with safer and more efficient products.

CRN Consortium partners include those manufacturers (boilers, pressure vessels and fittings, components), and end-users (refrigeration and air conditioning, propane, hydrogen and natural gas sectors). Government participants in the consortium include Natural Resources Canada and the Standards Council of Canada.

The Consortium has been working with a broad range of regulatory authorities, under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement’s regulatory reconciliation process. A reconciliation agreement was reached in late 2019 and is being implemented in 2020. More information is available here.

The CRN reconciliation agreement is available here. Additionally, the Alberta Safety Authority has created a portal through which CRN design reviews may be submitted enabling multiple jurisdictions to validate them simultaneously. The portal is available here.

Control of External Corrosion on Buried or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems

The Recommended Practice OCC-1-2013 has been produced by the Canadian Gas Association OCC-1 Task Force. It presents the essential requirements and minimum practices to control external corrosion found on buried or submerged metallic piping systems. These systems consist of pipe and associated components. However, it does not include the requirements and practices to control external corrosion found on above ground piping systems and structures. It does not address the control of internal corrosion.

The Canadian Gas Association membership addresses the operational considerations of our business through the Standing Committee on Operations and Safety (SCOS). The SCOS supports members’ achieving operational excellence and enhanced public and worker safety by continuing to share, develop, and implement continuous improvement practices via education, information/data exchange, and experience.

Damage Prevention

Every year key services such as natural gas, electricity, cable, water and telecommunications are damaged by excavators who have not determined the location of these services before beginning their work. The Damage Prevention Committee works to:

• Advance industry damage prevention goals to increase worker and public safety;
• Support the advocacy of Damage Prevention legislation;
• Promote and share best practices and resources; and
• Participate actively in the Canadian Common Ground Alliance.

The following are some useful damage prevention resources:

• For pre-excavation utility locates visit: clickbeforeyoudig.com/
• Ontario’s Damage prevention legislation can be found here: Ontario Underground Notification System Act
• For Dig Safe resources visit: digsafe.ca

For national information visit: www.canadiancga.com

Asset and Integrity Management

By the sharing of information and establishment of common guidelines and tools, the Asset & Integrity Management (AIM) Committee seeks to facilitate continuous improvement and learning at both an industry level and within individual member companies. The AIM Committee works to:

• Raise the profile of asset and integrity management in the natural gas industry and demonstrate leadership in related areas;
• Continuously improve, analyze, and report useful metrics;
• Develop, maintain, and support guidelines and tools related to industry practices in Asset and Integrity Management;
• Make data-driven recommendations to guide the work of the SCOS; and
• Promote and share best practices and resources.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety (H&S) Community of Practice exists to enhance and strengthen the safety culture and H&S outcomes for CGA members. The community of practice provides an opportunity for health and safety professionals to learn from one another to advance initiatives that reduce risk to workers, first responders, and the public. The H&S community of practice works to:

• Continuously improve, analyze, and report useful metrics;
• Promote and share best practices and resources;
• Administer the CGA Safety Awards for Excellence program; and
• Develop useful information products to support first responders.

Security

The Energy Security Technical Advisory Committee (E-STAC) is an industry-based all-hazards information sharing group, which operates as the key hub for energy industry collaboration and strategic coordination with the Canadian federal government on energy sector-related security matters. Four pillars form the foundation which guide all E-STAC’s activities:

• Community: familiar and trusted colleagues across industry and government
• Policy: advocating for strategic policy that supports both security and compliance
• Technical: augmenting cyber posture across small, medium and large organizations
• Resourcing: connecting academia, job seekers, and industry

Learn more about E-STAC

Measurement & Pressure Regulation

Measurement of natural gas meters and approval of related measurement equipment is governed by the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act. This is one of the principal pieces of legislation enforced by Measurement Canada. The CGA Measurement & Regulation Committee provides an important mechanism to coordinate industry on various measurement issues, including on regulatory issues. The Measurement & Regulation Committee works to:

• Provide a coordinating role for operators and manufacturers in respect to various measurement issues;
• Administer the Round Robin Program which facilitates the standardization of both test-stands and procedures used in the correlation to and maintenance of Local Volumetric Standards (LVS) across Canada;
• Actively participate in Measurement Canada’s Gas Process Advisory Committee (GPAC), a policy issues resolution mechanism;
• Promote and share best practices and resources among industry members; and
• Explore joint training initiatives with interested parties including Measurement Canada in an effort to provide supplementary training opportunities and foster ongoing government-industry partnerships.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement (CI) has always been paramount to the Canadian Gas Association’s operations initiatives. In collaboration with its members, CGA fosters excellence in safety, reliability, environmental protection, and efficiency by:

• Providing a forum for determining operational best practices among member companies on selected areas of interest;
• Identifying and compiling a series of performance metrics;
• Organizing Canadian workshops to identify and document leading industry practices; and
• Administering an industry survey process for quick collection and dissemination of information.

Operations Suppliers Executive Committee

CGA’s Operations Suppliers Executive Committee (OSEC), representing providers of goods and services to the gas energy delivery industry, has developed Site Safety Guidance for workers entering job sites including those under the authority of others.  This guidance is intended to help continue and grow the safety culture of our industry but will always defer to any more stringent safety codes or standards in the jurisdiction they are working in and/or the safety standards of the organization that has authority for the job site.  For further information please contact CGA at info@cga.ca.