Yukon Oil Inspection Survey Results and Recommendations

Transcription

1 Yukon Oil Inspection Survey Results and Recommendations CSA B Installation Code for Oil-Burning Equipment 1

2 Agenda 1. Inspection Survey Results 2. Solutions to the problems identified Your participation both now and in the future is needed to improve the safety of Yukon oil installations and the prosperity of the industry

3 Speaker s Credentials Ontario certified OBT-1 for 30 years (also Gas & Petroleum) Installed and inspected 1000 s of installations Owned a heating contracting company Fuels Safety Inspector with TSSA for 12 yrs Co-wrote the OBT training manuals used in most of Canada (as well as numerous other training manuals) Built and organized 3 Oil Training Facilities Has trained 1000`s of technicians

4 Overview of Five Surveys NRG Resources conducted 236 inspections of residential oil installations in Yukon and reviewed 69 inspection reports from Yukon Housing Corporation. The 303 sites consisted of 319 appliances and 312 tanks. Combustion analysis tests were conducted on 292 of the 319 appliances. 4

5 Site Selection Process The selection process for the first 203 sites was essentially on a first-come, first-serve. No attempt was made to select installations with problems or complaints. However, the selection process was not random. The 102 sites inspected in March 2010 were selected to follow up on 42 sites previously inspected and 60 new installations. 68 sites had new equipment installed within the last two years 5

6 Inspection Criteria The installations were inspected for compliance with the B139 Fuel Oil Code that was in effect at the time of the installation Four excepts to this criteria: 1/ Slope of the tank toward the outlet 2/ Height of the tank fill pipe (3 above grade) 3/ Piping, valves and filters shall not extend below the tank foundation 4/ Piping/tubing shall not be buried in cement 6

7 Inspection Criteria Code infractions categorized into 3 groups: 1. Inconsequential infractions not reported 2. Minor infractions that should have been corrected during installation / maintenance but should not pose a problem under normal conditions. 3. Significant infractions that posed an imminent hazard or could reasonably be expected to develop into a problem a) Imminent hazard sub-group 7

8 Overall Survey Results Only four of the 305 sites completely complied with the B139 Code (1.3%) infractions identified Average 5.5 per site Present survey found 5.0 per site Survey of new installations found 4.7 per site 8

9 Overall Survey Results 984 significant infractions were found Average of 3.2 per site overall Present survey found Average of 3.8 per site New installations averaged 4.0 9

10 Overall Survey Results 23 imminent hazards were found 7.5% of sites 9.5% before the present survey 10

11 New Installation Survey Results Two of the 68 new installation sites complied with the B139 Code. 319 infractions identified Average 4.7 per site 270 significant infractions Average 4.0 per site 4 imminent hazards found 5.8% of sites 11

12 Combustion Survey Results 85 of the 292 appliances tested for proper combustion (29%) were found to be inefficient (<78%) and/or in noncompliance with the code requirements related to combustion set up. 12 of the 23 imminent hazards found related to improper and dangerous combustion setup 12

13 Installation Example #1 Severe vent leakage and improper clearance to combustibles 13

14 Vent leakage Installation Example #2 14

15 Vent leakage Installation Example #3 15

16 Installation Example #4 Copper fill pipes; signs of leakage at tank 16

17 Installation Example #4B Tubing buried in cement 17

18 Installation Example #4C Clearance to combustibles; number of bends 18

19 Installation Example #5 UST probably still in place; old lines re-used; filter outside 19

20 Installation Example #5B Tubing in cement (new installation using old underground piping); Monitor with filter outside and too close to combustibles. 20

21 Installation Example #6 No base tee after new installation in 2008 and after corrective action as a result of the survey. 21

22 Installation Example #6B Corrective action for no combustion air supply actually further contravened the Code. 22

23 Installation Example #7 Dirt pockets on tank outlets. 23

24 Installation Example #8 Improperly supported and unprotected tanks. 24

25 Installation Example #9 Tank sloping wrong way 25

26 Installation Example #10 Vent improperly sized and installed 26

27 Installation Example #11 Illegal wood/oil co-venting and improperly constructed chimney 27

28 Installation Example #12 Illegal wood/oil common venting: 28

29 Installation Example #13 Compression fittings; meltable filter 29

30 Installation Example #14 No draft regulator; unsealed; not insulated 30

31 Installation Example #15 Clearance for servicing; no screws in vent; clearance to combustibles 31

32 Installation Example #16 Oversized chimney and then oversized liner 32

33 Installation Example #17 Unsupported tubing; lack of maintenance, spillage; return air opening too close 33

34 Installation Example #18 UST fill and vent too low; no record of cathodic protection 34

35 Installation Example #19 No rating plate; vent connector improperly located 35

36 Installation Example #20 One year old installation incomplete and leaking joints. 36

37 Installation Example #21 Leaking joints. 37

38 Installation Example #22 Vent too close to ground 38

39 Installation Example #23 Air supply problems; opening in return air 39

40 Installation Example #24 Tank support problems; vent improper 40

41 Installation Example #25 Leaking tank 41

42 Installation Example #25B Installation problems with Monitor in Daycare 42

43 Installation Example #26 Clearance to combustibles; wood blocks under tank 43

44 Installation Example #26B Incorrect corrections to identified problems 44

45 Installation Example #26C Incorrect corrections to identified problems 45

46 Installation Example #27 Improper vent connector and draft regulator 46

47 Installation Example #28 Improperly sized vent; vent too close to window; appliance to close to combustibles 47

48 Installation Example #29 Appliance never tested; no vent cap 48

49 Installation Example #30 Return air opening too close to furnace 49

50 Installation Example #31 Extremely poor combustion setup largely due to improper venting 50

51 Installation Example #31B Correction to improper venting??? 51

52 Installation Example #32 Improper vent sizing and installation 52

53 Installation Example #33 Improper vent sizing and installation 53

54 Installation Example #34 Improper vent terminations 54

55 Installation Example #35 Improperly piped new installation 55

56 Installation Example #36 Horrendous tank installations 56

57 11 Issues Identified Eleven safety and efficiency issues identified: 1. Lack of Maintenance 2. Low percentage of certified technicians 3. Spillage of flue gases due to improperly installed &/or maintained sidewall vents 4. Improper combustion setup 5. Oversized, improperly installed/maintained convention vent systems 57

58 11 Issues Identified Eleven safety and efficiency issues identified: 6. Clearance to combustibles not maintained 7. Air supply requirements not met 8. ASTs not installed or maintained properly to limit corrosion 9. USTs not adequately monitored 10. ASTs not properly supported or secured 11. Equipment not approved 58

59 Four Recommendations A. Conduct education program for owners B. Inform industry stakeholders about surveys C. Develop/implement OBM training requirement and system D. Develop/implement Oil Burning Devices Act, Regulation & enforcement agency

60 Survey Results There is a common need and desire for change to improve the safety and quality of oil installations in the Yukon. Indicators are: The large number and significant nature of the infractions found during the surveys Complaints from consumers that it is difficult to get qualified people to service their appliances Complaints from contractors and technicians that they are overloaded with work The extremely low number of certified OBMs 60

61 The Need for Structure 61

62 Yukon Laws for the Fuel Industry For Fuel Oil Apprentice Training Act Apprentice T & TQ Regulation 214 Building Standards Act and Regulations Fuel Oil Code B Natural Gas & Propane: Gas Burning Devices Act Apprentice Training Act Gas Regulations 213 Apprentice T & TQ Regulation 214 Gas Codes B149.1, B149.2, B149.3/

63 The Need for Inspections Inspections: Level the playing field Assure home owners that standards are being met Encourage companies and technicians to take responsibility for their actions Ensure minimum standards are met Provide a means of identifying and resolving problems 63

64 The Requirement for Inspections Voluntary inspections have limited effect on identifying and resolving problems Mandated and structured inspections ensure that everyone is held responsible Prevents or limits effects of problems Provides incentive for industry to comply Provides confidence that industry is orderly 64

65 The Powers of Inspectors Identification of problems without a procedure to resolve the problem only leaves the inspection agency open to litigation A procedure without powers to enforce only encourages the willing to comply If the consequences are not significant, compliance becomes a business decision 65

66 The Qualifications of Inspectors Inspectors and the agency they work for must be seen by all parties as: Knowledgeable / Practical Consistent / Fair Available / Affordable Valuable Respected 66

67 Summary Self-regulation has failed to provide minimum safety standards There are insufficient legal incentives to comply with certification requirements and the Fuel Oil Code As a result, inconsistent and unsafe installation and servicing work is being conducted Inspection without a legal structure or consistent procedure is ineffective. 67