As part of its commitment to improving safety outcomes, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority has introduced the Biogas Facility Audit Program, aiming to strengthen the safe operation of Ontario’s biogas facilities, commonly referred to as digester, landfill and biogas (DLB) facilities.
Through regular audits, this program helps identify compliance gaps, assess operational practices, and support TSSA’s goal of improving safety for all Ontarians. This initiative will enable TSSA to gather safety data to inform decision making and promote biogas facility compliance.
Audit Parameters
TSSA will continue to conduct initial engineering review and registration of Biogas entities to ensure code compliance at the design and construction stage. The Biogas Facility Audit Program establishes a regular review cycle for code and regulatory compliance from an operational and maintenance perspective, ensuring that audited facilities continue to meet safety and compliance standards and address any emerging risks. Through the audit, facility owners can take greater ownership of compliance by demonstrating that their processes and records meet regulatory requirements.
The program will assess the following five key responsibilities outlined in the Gaseous Fuels Regulation, O. Reg. 212/01:
- Site compliance with applicable regulations and codes
- Employee certification and compliance
- Incident reporting
- Identification, action, and reporting of non-compliances (unacceptable conditions)
- Compliance to Operating and Maintenance Procedures as submitted during the initial registration
During the audit, facility owners are required to demonstrate their compliance through documented processes and records.
TSSA will issue a report outlining any compliance gaps and mitigation measures. Owners are required to address non-compliance issues identified during the audit, and TSSA will conduct a follow-up inspection to ensure any outstanding high-risk safety issues are resolved.
Audit Frequency
Under this program, each biogas facility in Ontario will be audited every three years. The audit will eventually transition to a risk-based model, with more frequent audits for higher-risk facilities.
Audit Checklist
The following serves as a general reference for the items TSSA will review during the Biogas Facility Audit.
- Are the appliances, equipment and or components approved as required?
- Is there a procedure in place for incident reporting?
- Is there a procedure in place for identification and reporting of unacceptable conditions?
- Are all external maintenance and installing contractors registered for the purpose?
- Have all installations and/or modifications post Dec 31, 2007 been submitted to and approved by TSSA?
- Have all digester clean outs been reported to and approved by TSSA?
- Is work on in-service appliances or equipment carried out by qualified personnel? (IMT or appropriate certificate)
- Are installations and required maintenance work being performed by qualified personnel as approved by the authority having jurisdiction? (Appropriate certificate)
- Are personnel performing operational work properly trained and training records maintained?
- Do the pressure vessels comply with CSA B51?
- Are pressure relief valves (PRV) set according to PRV rating name plate?
- Is equipment installed so it is accessible for servicing/inspection?
- Are there written instructions covering operating and maintenance procedures in accordance with the B149.6 Code?
- Are there written instructions available for safe shutdown procedures?
- Are records of periodic inspection for corrosion protection available?
- Are records available for tests and inspections for all compressors, blowers, relief devices, and pressure-limiting equipment?
- Is the ventilation and air supply sized and in accordance with the B149.1 Code?
- Are there boilers on site?
- Are all linear stack terminations at least 15 m (50 ft) measured linearly outward from the perimeter of any digester or other potential source of combustible gas? (Wastewater digester gas system)
- Are all horizontal stack terminations at least 5 m (16.5 ft) horizontally beyond the perimeter of any digester or other potential source of combustible gas?
- Are all boiler stack terminations at least 7.5 m (25 ft) from any flare stack termination?
- Are all linear stack terminations at least 15 m (50 ft) measured linearly outward from the perimeter of any fill area or other potential source of combustible gas? (Landfill gas system)
- Are all horizontal stack terminations at least 5 m (16.5 ft) horizontally beyond the perimeter of any fill area or other potential source of combustible gas? (Landfill gas system)
- Are all linear stack terminations at least 3 m (10 ft) measured linearly outward from the perimeter of any digester or other potential source of combustible gas? (Organic digester gas system)
- Have all installations and/or modifications post-Dec 31st, 2007 been submitted to and approved by TSSA?