Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Storage and Loading of Volatile Petroleum Liquids) Regulations (SOR/2025-88)

Control Conditions

• 1 The control conditions to be used when measuring the VOC vapour concentration in the space between the fixed roof and the internal floating roof of a tank equipped with an internal floating roof are as follows:

  • (a) the volume of liquid in the tank must not be reduced by more than 25% of the tank’s total liquid capacity during the eight-hour period before the measurement is taken unless the tank has a continual flow of liquid while the tank is operating under normal conditions, in which case the measurement must be taken during a period of normal operating conditions;

  • (b) the wind speed must not exceed the greater of

    • (i) 10 km/h, and

    • (ii) the historical average wind speed specific to the month in which the measurement is taken, as determined at the nearest meteorological observation station to the facility, based on the most recent Canadian Climate Normals data published by the Meteorological Service of Canada, plus 5 km/h;

  • (c) the measurement must be taken at a vertical distance of not less than 2 m and not more than 4 m below the fixed roof, or, if the vertical distance between the fixed roof and the floating roof is less than 3 m, at half of the vertical distance between the fixed roof and the floating roof; and

  • (d) the measurement must be taken at least 2 m away from any open hatches, covers or other emissions control devices through which vapours could be exchanged with the outside environment.

Procedure

• 2 The procedure to be followed to measure the VOC vapour concentration in the space between the fixed roof and the internal floating roof of a tank equipped with an internal floating roof consists of the following steps taken in the following order:

  • (a) use an instrument referred to in subsection 26(2) of these Regulations;

  • (b) record

    • (i) the type of instrument that is used,

    • (ii) the estimated wind speed at the time that the measurement is taken,

    • (iii) the volume of liquid in the tank at the time that the measurement is taken and eight hours before that time, and

    • (iv) the result of the measurement; and

  • (c) if the instrument reading is in units other than LEL%, convert the value of the reading to LEL% and record the original instrument reading, the converted value and the conversion calculation.