How close is too close? - Standards Council of Canada announces new national standard related to storing and manufacturing explosives

OTTAWA, May 4, 2015 /CNW/ - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) today announced the publication of a new National Standard of Canada (NSC) that will help the explosives industry control risks to the general public, to workers, to infrastructure and to explosives storage and manufacturing operations. This new NSC CAN/BNQ 2910-510 Explosives – Quantity Distances will serve as a guide for all stakeholders who take part in planning the location of explosives storage or explosives manufacturing facilities. 

Explosives – Quantity Distances specifies minimum separation distances between potential explosion sites and exposed sites. It applies to all locations where the explosion of stored or manufactured explosives could create a blast that triggers additional explosions, results in the projection of fragments or debris, or causes a fire. The goal is to minimize the risk to life and property.

This NSC demonstrates SCC's leadership in protecting Canadians and ensuring the safe storage and manufacturing of explosives. It is one of two NSC that the BNQ has been developing since March 2013 for the explosives industry. The second, Explosives – Magazines for Industrial Explosives, is expected to be published this fall 2015. Both standards will support Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) ongoing initiative to modernize regulations regarding explosives.

The new standard is available at no charge.

Quick facts

• The development of this standard has been made possible with the financial support of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
  
  
• The standard CAN/BNQ 2910-510 captures all requirements for separation distances for explosives in one document and incorporates new knowledge to address technical requirements.
  
  
• The new NSC replaces NRCan's User's Manual for Quantity Distance Principle [referenced in Explosives Regulations (C.R.C., c. 599)], a reference document used for issuing licences and certificates under the Explosives Act.

• NRCan's Explosives Safety and Security Branch (ESSB) is responsible for administering the Explosives Act and regulations, and for pursuing the advancement of explosives safety and security technology. ESSB's main priority is the safety and security of the public and all workers involved in Canada's explosives industry.

Quotes

"This NSC demonstrates SCC's commitment to provide standardization solutions for Canadian government and industry and to lead the modernization of standards referenced in regulations," said SCC's CEO, John Walter. "By working together with the standardization network, we have ensured this standard reflects current practice and innovation in the explosives industry, while keeping Canadians safe."

"The BNQ is proud to have led, in close cooperation with the standards development technical committee, the development of this new standard," said Jean Rousseau, P. Eng., Senior Director, BNQ. "In setting minimum separation distances between the different sites, this standard is designed to improve safety within the industry."

Download the standard CAN/BNQ 2910-510 Explosives – Quantity Distances.

More information

• NRCan's ongoing initiative to modernize explosives regulations

About the BNQ
Reporting to the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ), the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) has been acting as a central standardization and certification organization and provider of information on standards for over 50 years. The BNQ develops reference documents, tools and services aimed at supporting business, manufacturing, social and regulatory areas of interest. For more information: www.bnq.qc.ca.

About the Standards Council of Canada
SCC is a Crown corporation and part of the Industry Canada portfolio that leads and facilitates the development and use of national and international standards and accreditation services, in order to enhance Canada's competitiveness and well-being. For additional information on SCC, visit www.scc.ca.

SOURCE Standards Council of Canada

Media contacts: Christine LaRocque, Manager, Communications, Standards Council of Canada, [phone] ext. 462, [email protected]; Carole Roch, Communications advisor, Bureau de normalisation du Québec, + 514 946 0226, [email protected]