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5. CSA B620 Standard on Highway and Portable Tanks Mandatory in Canada

CSA B620 Standard on Highway and Portable Tanks Mandatory in Canada

Changes to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations in Amendment No. 6 require a person who uses a standardized means of containment required by CAN/CSA B621¹ or CAN/CSA B622² to offer dangerous goods for transport, to use a means of containment:

• manufactured in accordance with CSA B620³ if the means of containment was manufactured in Canada on or after 31 August 2008; and

• tested and inspected in accordance with CSA B620 when the most recent periodic re-test or re-inspection is performed in Canada on or after 31 August 2008.

This means that highway tanks manufactured in Canada after 31 August 2008 and used to offer dangerous goods for transport in Canada, must be manufactured to the Canadian standard. Department of Transportation (DOT) specification highway tanks made in the United States continue to be recognized for use in Canada as equivalents to the corresponding Transport Canada specifications.

Similarly, it means that highway tanks undergoing periodic testing in Canada must be inspected and tested to the Canadian standard if they are to be used in Canada to offer dangerous goods for transport. This applies to TC, MC and DOT tanks that are inspected and tested in Canada prior to being loaded in Canada. Periodic testing and inspection of highway tanks performed in the United States in accordance with the 49 CFR continues to be recognized in Canada as before. There is no change for tanks that are not loaded in Canada.

While it will remain permissible to manufacture highway tanks in Canada for export, to the 49 CFR⁴ or to any other foreign standard, such tanks would then not be acceptable for use in Canada unless they were also manufactured in compliance with CSA B620. Tanks that comply with both 49 CFR and CSA B620 would be dual marked.

As of the HM-215F amendments to 49 CFR in 2007, CSA B620 tanks are acceptable for use in the United States as equivalents to the corresponding US DOT specification tanks. Therefore, while it is permissible to dual mark tanks, it is not necessary because tanks that comply with CSA B620 can be used in Canada and in the United States. For further information concerning the use of TC tanks in United States, you may contact the United States Department of Transport, Federal Motor Carriers Safety Authority using the contact information at the following link: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/hq/hq.htm.

¹ CSA Standard B620-03, "Highway Tanks and Portable Tanks for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods", July 2003, as amended in February 2006, published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

² CAN/CSA B621-03, "Selection and Use of Highway Tanks, Portable Tanks, Cargo Compartments, and Containers for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8, and 9", July 2003, as amended in May 2004 and February 2006, published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

³ CAN/CSA B622-03, "Selection and Use of Highway Tanks, Multi-unit Tank Car Tanks, and Portable Tanks for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Class 2", July 2003, as amended in September 2004 and February 2006, published by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

⁴ Title 49 of the "Code of Federal Regulations" of the United States, 2006.

Date modified:

2010-10-19

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