Canadian Biomass Magazine

New requirements for safe handling and storage of solid fuels approved for Canada

August 10, 2021
By Fahimeh Yazdan Panah

New requirements for safe handling and storage of solid fuels have been approved for Canada. Photo courtesy WPAC.

The Canadian Mirror Committee (JB127) to ISO Technical Committee 238 has approved the ISO 20024 standard as a Canadian standard and it is now available to everyone.

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) had an active role in the creation of ISO 20024, which provides principles and requirements for safe handling and storage of solid biofuels in commercial and industrial applications. This applies to storage facilities larger than 100t and smaller than 1000 t in the following ways:

  • at a pellet production plant from the outlet of the cooler unit until loaded for transportation;
  • at a commercial distributor from the receiving station until loaded for transportation; and
  • at an industrial end-user from the receiving station until fed into the fuel preparation

The ISO Standard takes a risk-based approach providing important guidance to facility owners, logistics providers, equipment suppliers and manufacturers, consultants, authorities and insurance providers to assess and mitigate risk and determine the safety measures that should be considered when handling and storing solid biofuel pellets. The document also includes guidelines on detection and suppression systems and preparatory measures to enable safe and efficient firefighting operations.

Canada is an active member of all working groups within the ISO Technical Committee 238 on Solid Biofuels and is leading some of the work being done on physical and mechanical properties of solid biofuels as well as the safety in production, storage and handling of solid biofuels. I’ve been honoured to represent Canada in this ISO Technical Committee and serve as the project lead within different Working Groups of the ISO TC.

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The next international meeting of ISO TC 238 will take place in Vancouver, May 16-20, 2022. The Canadian Mirror Committee to ISO/TC238 is managed by the Canadian Standards Association and welcomes participation from individuals to support the development of standards ensuring they are well-thought-out, and reflective of Canadian interests in the global solid biofuels industry. Please contact Anahita Jahromi (anahita.jami@csagroup.org) at the Canadian Standards Association if you are interested in joining the committee or to participate in the international meeting.

Fahimeh Yazdan Panah is the director of research and technical development at WPAC.


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