Editor’s note: For the most up to date information on CAAR’s Equivalency and Temporary Certificates regarding the B620/622 changes please refer to Member Alert: Update on CAAR’s Equivalency Certificate and Temporary Certificate.

This is a reminder to members of the fertilizer industry that as of January 12, 2018, all ammonia nurse, applicator, portable and highway tanks must be in compliance with the new Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B620-14 and B622-14 Standards.

Please note that this notice contains updated information since the member alert sent by CAAR on Friday, January 12, 2018. Answers to specific questions on this matter are provided by Transport Canada at the following links, including how to obtain a copy of these standards:

B620-14 Specification: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/moc-highway-csab620-472.html
B622-14 Specification: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/moc-highway-csab622-309.html

CAAR has received an Equivalency Certificate (#11960) from Transport Canada to allow nurse and applicator tanks that meet all of the following criteria to continue with a 5 year Pressure (P) test frequency:

a) If the tank meets the allowances under Special Requirement (SR) 55 (see note 1 below) of the B622-14 Standard, which historically was the stated design requirements for nurse and applicator tanks, and was manufacturer prior to the enforcement date of this standard; and
b) If proven the tank is post-weld heat treated (see example in Figure 1); and
c) Have a Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) of:

a. 265 psi; or,
b. 250 psi, and can be demonstrated that the tank was purposefully built for ammonia use; and

d) Appropriate training on the certificate requirements is provided to those using its allowance.

CAAR members can download a copy of the certificate here.

As of January 12, 2018, the CSA B620 and B622 2014 Standards are being enforced. CAAR members affected by these changes must ensure full compliance with the new standard requirements before filling any anhydrous ammonia tank used for transport purposes. Information on a tank data plate or Manufacturer’s Statement (U1A) certificate can be used to determining if a tank was post weld heat treated.

New compliance requirements include:

a) An Annual Visual Inspection (V) is now required for nurse and applicator tanks that do not meet the TC 51 specification and are allowed under SR 55 of the CSA B622-14 Standard (i.e. nurse and applicator tanks built to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specification);
b) The Pressure (P) test frequency for anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks and applicator tanks has been reduced to once every 3 years for all tanks that:

i. Do not meet the TC 51 or TC 331 specification and are allowed under Special Requirement 55 of the CSA B622-14 Standard (i.e. nurse and applicator tanks built to the ASME specification); OR
ii. Do not meet the Equivalency Certificate requirements under the Transport Canada issued certificate number 11960;

c) The Pressure (P) test frequency for Highway tanks (commonly referred to as Field Delivery Units) has been reduced to once every 3 years for all tanks that are constructed and used before July 1, 1996 that do not meet the TC 331 specification and are allowed under SR 54 (see note 1 below) of the CSA B622-14 standard;
d) The specified design standard for all new nurse and applicator tanks appears to be a TC 331 specification, based on the definition of a Highway Tank in the new CSA Standards.

CAAR recognizes the increased number of highway tanks, nurse tanks and applicator tanks that will require incremental pressure testing and visual inspections in the first year of compliance, and the immediate potential impact to the membership, and Canadian agriculture industry, for the spring 2018 fertilizer season.

In collaboration with Fertilizer Canada, CAAR continues to communicate how the newly enforced standards impact you directly. CAAR and Fertilizer Canada, in consultation with Transport Canada, are focused on finding a solution for:

a) extending the implementation phase-in timeframe for tanks still affected by these changes;
b) obtaining the same allowance, as CAAR received for nurse and applicator tanks, for highway tanks using the SR 54 allowance of the CSA B622-14 standard; and,
c) establishing reasonable and practical tank design specification requirements for new nurse and applicator tanks.

CAAR will continue to communicate on this important issue to all members to ensure that you have the proper information to stay in compliance. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the coordinates below.

Frequently Asked Questions

CAAR, in partnership with its ammonia committee, has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document to help you better understand the changes and to support you in your efforts to remain compliant under the 2014 version of the Standards. All CAAR members are encouraged to review this document in detail. It will be updated on an ongoing basis as new information is available.

Click here to review B620/622-14 Frequently Asked Questions

Inquiries:

Mitch Rezansoff
Executive Director
P: 204-989-9303
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note 1:

The following are Special Requirement excerpts from the CSA B622-14 standard:

Special Requirement 54.

“As long as the Specific Requirements 10, 33, 46, and 56 (a) (ii) and (b) are fulfilled, a tank that meets the requirements of the edition of the ASME Code under which it was built, and is marked accordingly, may be used if
(a) it has a MAWP greater than or equal to 1725 kPa, gauge (250 psi);
(b) it is painted white or aluminum;
(c) it is periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements for TC 331 tanks in Clause 7 of CSA B620-14;
(d) it was manufactured and used to transport anhydrous ammonia prior to 1 July 1996;
(e) it complies with the requirements in Clause 5.2.6 for TC 331 tanks;
(f) any repairs made after the enforcement date of this Standard have been made in compliance with the requirements for TC 331 tanks in Clause 7.5 of CSA B620-14; and
(g) it complies with the requirements of the following clauses of CSA B620-09:
(i) Clause 5.1.3 for securement;

(ii) Clauses 5.1.5.2 to 5.1.5.4 for rear-end protection;
(iii) Clause 5.2.2.1 for discharge control devices; and
(iv) Clause 5.2.2.10.1 for excess flow protection.”

Special Requirement 55.

“A tank commonly known as a nurse tank or applicator tank, operated exclusively for agricultural purposes, shall not have to meet the specification requirements for a TC 51 tank or the rear-end protection requirements of Clause 5.2.5(a) if it was manufactured prior to the enforcement date of this standard and
(a) it is periodically inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements for TC 51 tanks in Clause 7 of CSA B620-14, except that the external visual inspection shall be conducted annually and the pressure test shall be conducted every 3 years;
(b) it has a MAWP greater than or equal to 1725 kPa, gauge (250 psi), and meets the requirements of the ASME Code under which it was built and is marked accordingly;
(c) it is equipped with safety relief valves meeting the requirements of CGA S-1.2;
(d) it is painted white or aluminum;
(e) it has a volumetric capacity of 11 365 L (3000 US gal; 2500 Imp. gal) or less;
(f) it is loaded to a filling ratio no greater than 56;
(g) it is securely mounted on a farm wagon or a farm implement; and
(h) any repairs made after the enforcement date of this Standard have been made in compliance with the requirements for TC 51 tanks in Clause 7.5 of CSA B620-14.”