Secondary Safety Devices - CSA B66 Standard Update
Recent changes made to the CSA B66 Standard have an impact on tank infrastructure (septic tanks, holding tanks, water cisterns) that you may install. Please find attached the CSA Certification Notice: Plumbing Products No. 361 that outlines a number of clause changes that were made to the CSA B66 Standard 2021, which came into force on January 1, 2023.
Download the official CSA Notice by clicking the link below:
/files/262498/CSA_Certification_Notice_B66(2021)-_Plumbing_Products_No._361.pdf
You can then open it on your computer directly.
Here is some more information (sent via email if you are on our mailing list!):
COWTI is sending out this correspondence in response to changes made to the CSA B66 Standard that have an impact on tank infrastructure (septic tanks, holding tanks, water cisterns) that you may install. Please find attached the CSA Certification Notice: Plumbing Products No. 361 that outlines a number of clause changes that were made to the CSA B66 Standard 2021, which came into force on January 1, 2023. The change that most likely impacts many of you is the new requirement for secondary safety devices (Clause 4.2.6.3.), which is found on the second page of the Notice and states:
"all access openings (which are meant to be removed) over chambers with an opening greater than 200 mm in diameter, where there is a risk of accidental entry, shall have a secondary safety device that can withstand 91 kg of dead load"
Some of you may have had this information brought to your attention if you took your Update Training with COWTI after January 1, 2023, as we tried to highlight this change once we became aware of it. Although CSA B66 certification typically impacts suppliers and manufacturers solely in their certification of their tanks, satisfying the requirement of Clause 4.2.6.3. likely will require that secondary safety devices be installed in the field. This means that certified individuals installing systems will have their responsibility in ensuring that the secondary safety devices be installed as per manufacturer's instructions. As many manufacturer's have taken different approaches on how they will satisfy the new secondary safety device requirement, you should speak with your supplier to determine how they will be addressing the requirement with their certified B66 tank as of January 1, 2023.
COWTI has heard industry concerns regarding the new secondary safety devices requirement, as depending on the manufacturers approach to addressing the requirement, this may lead to additional work during tank installation. As pumps, piping, etc. have to be installed as per the system design, if the manufacturer has provided the tank with the secondary safety device installed then it will have to be removed to undertake such installation activities. Therefore the onus to ensure that the secondary safety device is installed as per manufacturer's instructions will also be shared by the certified installer. COWTI wanted to ensure that the industry was aware of the potential shared liability that the new secondary safety device requirement may carry so that impacted individuals can ensure they have addressed such liability. Also there may be additional paperwork, such as an engineer's conformance assessment to Clause 4.2.6.3. that may need to be provided with the permit application to verify that the secondary safety device has been met. So again speak with your supplier to determine what paperwork will be provided to ensure compliance to the new CSA B66:21 secondary safety device requirement.
To better assist industry, CSA has provided the following Q&A to help in clarifying a number of areas:
Q – What options does CSA have to ensure compliance with Clause 4.2.6.3 of the B66 Standard when they certify sewage tanks?
A – There are two options:
Option 1: Septic tank manufacturers can outsource the secondary safety device from the marketplace, that supplier would supply the device to the tank manufacturer along with a test report and/or a P. Eng. stamped letter.
Option 2: CSA developed a certification test to evaluate/test the secondary devices for tank manufacturers who choose this option. CSA witnesses the test at the manufacturer’s facility and include the device as part of the tank certification.
Q – Do the secondary safety devices need to be supplied with the tank by the tank manufacturer?
A – Yes, CSA is evaluating the tank manufacturers to CSA Notice No. 361, once the manufacturer has been evaluated to, and complies with the Notice, their tank certification will include the secondary safety devices.
Q – Who can manufacturer the secondary safety devices?
A – The tank manufacturer or an independent manufacturer can produce the devices.
Q – Do the secondary safety devices need to be certified by CSA through the tank certification program?
A – Yes, the devices whether outsourced from the market or manufactured by the tank manufacturer is included as part of the CSA certification.
Q – Can the secondary safety devices be certified by certification bodies other than CSA?
A – Yes.
Q – Do the secondary safety devices need to carry a CSA mark?
A – No, the CSA mark will only be applied to the tank. Once all tank manufacturers have been evaluated through the CSA Certification notice No. 361, every tank will include the secondary safety device as part of the CSA certification of the tank.
Q – What documentation can be used to verify certification of the secondary safety devices?
A – The CSA mark on the tank, and the CSA certification report and test results.
Municipal Affairs has indicated that they will be issuing their own Standata in response to a number of inquiries that have been made regarding the secondary safety device requirement. So if you have any feedback, comments or concerns that would assist in bringing further clarity to this matter, please feel free to reach out to them.
COWTI hopes that this information has been useful. We try to share what we can to ensure that the sewage industry is informed and up to date with changes that may impact our industry. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance with any of your technical matters and watch for upcoming training opportunities that COWTI will be offering in the near future.