Agenda Index City of Vancouver

POLICY REPORT
PUBLIC SAFETY

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services

SUBJECT:

Amendments to the Vancouver Fire By-law Regarding Fireworks and Explosives

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Council does not have a specific policy regarding this matter. However, in the past Council has been supportive of the notion that the Fire By-law be the minimum standards of life and fire safety. This set of By-law clauses are in the opinion of the General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services the minimum standards for the handling and use of fireworks and explosives.

BACKGROUND

In the Policy Report RTS No. 01135 that was presented to the Standing Committee on January 13, 2000, Deputy Fire Chief Ron Ritchie tabled recommendation K regarding truck routes transporting explosives because there was not enough time to thoroughly research thetopic with recent changes in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

This report will present a recommended route and the amount of explosives (as shown in Appendix A). Also, there is a need to revise the sections in the Fire By-law regarding the retailing of fireworks, particularly family fireworks at Halloween. This report will present recommendations to changes in definitions, methods and means of retailing fireworks, and when fireworks can be discharged. The Fire Chief is also recommending a small fee increase for fireworks permits.

DISCUSSION

A. Selling of Fireworks

City of Vancouver is one of the municipalities in the Lower Mainland that allows family fireworks to be discharged the week before Halloween. During this time there are always difficulties in enforcing the Fire Bylaw in the following areas:

a) retailers selling fireworks outside the week of October 25th to October 31st.
b) retailers not displaying the fireworks in a secured manner.
c) selling of fireworks to minors.
d) seizing the fireworks where they do not comply with the Fire By-law and in the opinion of the Fire Chief, can be an unsafe situation.

The changes as listed in Appendix A will be beneficial in the enforcement of the By-law. The minimum age has been raised from 18 to 19 years old for someone to buy or possess fireworks. There are also changes made to the definitions regarding the different types of fireworks and their reference documents to be in line with the Federal Acts. The requirement for approval of insurance by the Director of Finance is being deleted at the request of the Director of Risk Management.

The Fire Chief is also proposing a change in the permit fee from $20 to $30 for selling fireworks, and from $2 to $10 for firing of display fireworks by registered non-profit group.
B. Explosives

The Fire Chief sees the need to update the Fire By-law to reflect the construction of new road access to the Port. There are two routes that no longer exist in the current reference. There were some concerns raised by the Chief Communication Officer of the E-Comm Building that the proposed explosives truck route passes by the building on the east side. Discussions were held with Engineering and the Police Department to come up with an alternative route. However, any alternative route will take the dangerous goods load through residential neighbourhoods. The concluded routes are reflected in the changes proposed inAppendix A.

A review was done on what should be the maximum allowable explosives per trip that is referenced in the Fire By-law. The current allowable limit is 1,250 kg for routes A and B (existing), and 5,000 kg for route C (existing). At first review, this seems like a very high amount of explosives that are transporting through City streets. In consultation with Federal Authorities and the industry representatives, we conclude that the 1,250 kg net explosive quantity weight will be the optimal amount.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act allows up to 20,000 kg of some explosives per trip on highways, and 5,000 kg where the route includes crossing a bridge. The industry representatives see 1,250 kg net explosive quantity to the docks to be adequate. When they transport this amount, the drivers have a special license/ticket and the storage of the explosives are in special containers.

The Fire Chief feels that a more dangerous situation exists where unlicensed operators are transporting smaller amounts through City streets without due care. For this, the Fire Chief is introducing a new clause in the By-law that limits the amount to 50 kg to be transported.

The B.C. Fire Code deleted many clauses that regulate tank vehicles since they are covered under the Federal Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, and the Fire By-law concurs with these deletions.

CONCLUSION

The Fire Chief sees the changes as outlined in Appendix A as improvements on how the fireworks and explosives sections in the Fire Bylaw can be administered. Once approved, the changes can be incorporated in the new edition of the Fire Bylaw.

- - - - -

Appendix A

New or Revised Definitions in Part 1:

Display fireworks mean outdoor, high-hazard recreational fireworks formerly defined as Class 7.2.2. in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada).
Display fireworks means fireworks defined as Subdivision 2 of Division 2 of Class 7 in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada).

Explosive means any substance that is made, manufactured or used to produce an explosion or detonation or a pyrotechnic special effect pyrotechnic effect, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing includes gunpowder, propellant powders, blasting agents, dynamite, detonating cord, lead azide, detonators, ammunition of all descriptions, rockets, fireworks, fireworks compositions as defined in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada), safety flares and other signals.

Family fireworks means outdoor low hazard recreational fireworks formerly defined as Class 7.2.1. in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada), but does not include sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns.
Family fireworks means fireworks defined as Subdivision 1 of Division 2 of Class 7 in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada), but does not include sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns.

Firecracker means a family firework containing an explosive capable of or discharged for the purpose of producing an explosion and sound without any pyrotechnic display.

Fireworks Firework mean devices means a device containing an explosive capable of or discharged for the purpose of producing a pyrotechnic special effect pyrotechnic effect, a pyrotechnic signal or a sound signal and includes family fireworks and display fireworks.

Fireworks supervisor means a person who is certified by Natural Resources Canada to conduct a display fireworks.
Fireworks Supervisor means a person who has completed a course on the handling and firing of Pyrotechnic Devices provided by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada).

Pyrotecnical special effect means a fireworks special effect using pyrotechnics, propellant and explosives materials and devices for indoor and outdoor performances, formerly defined as Class 7.2.5. in the Explosives Regulations of the Explosives Act (Canada).

Pyrotechnic special effects technician means a person who is certified by Natural Resources Canada to create and discharge a pyrotechnic special effect.

Roman candle means a family firework that is capable of projecting or discharging a charge or pyrotechnical effect of more than 3 m and which has a an outer diameter tube size of 3/4" or less.

New or Revised Clauses:

5.1.1.2. Explosives and Fireworks
2) The handling and discharge of pyrotechnic special effects shall conform to "Pyrotechnic Special Effects Manual" published by Natural Resources Canada.

5.1.1.3. Display Fireworks
1) The handling and discharge of display fireworks shall conform to the "Display Fireworks Manual" published by Natural Resources Canada.

5.8.1.1. General (Explosives)
3) The Fire Chief may by permit
a) specify the methods of storage of explosives,
b) specify the time and location of the discharge of explosives, and
c) limit the volumetric space within which a pyrotechnical special effect is contained.

5.8.2.2. General (Fireworks)
2) No person shall offer for sale, sell, give or furnish fireworks to a person under the age of 19 18 years.

5.8.2.3. Family Fireworks

1) Except as provided for in Sentence (2), no person shall possess or discharge family fireworks except as authorized by a permit issued by the Fire Chief or member of the Fire Department authorized by the Fire Chief..

4) No person shall offer for sale or sell family fireworks before October 25th and after October 31st

5.8.2.4. Display Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Special Effects

1) No person shall possess or discharge display fireworks or a pyrotechnic special effect except as authorized by a permit issued by the Fire Chief or member of the Fire Department authorized by the Fire Chief.

2) Applications must be made in person to the Fire Chief or member of the Fire Department authorized by the Fire Chief
a) by the fireworks supervisor responsible for the discharging of the display fireworks, or
b) by the pyrotechnic special effects technician responsible for the discharging of the pyrotechnic special effect.

Applications for the discharging of display fireworks must be made in person to the Fire Chief by the Fireworks Supervisor responsible for the display.

3) Proof of liability insurance acceptable to the City of Vancouver's Director of Risk Management Finance must accompany all applications for display fireworks permits.

Table 5.9.1.A
Explosives Goods Route

Route "A"

A-1. Entering the City of Vancouver on Freeway #1, Westbound:

 

take Hastings Street (ex 26) off ramp

 

go through the intersection of Cassiar and Hastings

 

left on McGill/PNE/Bridgeway St exit

v

go along Triumph Street and go under the underpass, left on McGill

 

right on Commissioner Street which is connected to Stewart St to Ballantyne Pier

 

A-2. Entering the City of Vancouver Eastbound on Freeway #1 towards the Ports:

 

a) after crossing the bridge, right on McGill exit and follow the same route as Route A-1 towards the piers.

 

A-3. Leaving the Piers to get onto Freeway #1 Westbound:

 

a) take route A-2 in reverse.

   
 

A-4. Leaving the Pier to get onto Freeway #1 Eastbound:

 

a) take route A-1 in reverse.

Route "B"

ENTERING THE CITY OF VANCOUVER ON FREEWAY #1, WESTBOUND:

 

a) use 1st Avenue exit from Freeway;

 

b) right (east) on 1st Avenue;

v

c) right (south) on Boundary Road;

 

d) right (west) on Marine Way;

 

e) left (south) on Argyle Street; and right (west) on North Kent to Coast Ferries Dock

 

Transporting explosives from Coast Ferries Dock to the City limits, Route "B" shall be used in reverse.

5.9.1.3. 5.19.1.3. Quantity of Explosives

1) Except as permitted in sentence (2), the quantity of explosives permitted on any combination of vehicles transporting individual shipments in the City shall be no more than 50 kg per single trip.

2) Where the method of transportation is acceptable to the Fire Chief by permit, the quantity of explosives permitted on any combination of vehicles transporting individual shipments on routes "A" and "B" in Table 5.9.1.A. shall be no more than 1,250 kg net explosive quantity per single trip. (see Appendix A)

Schedule A-1

3. For selling fireworks, for each annual permit $20 $30
4. For possessing fireworks, for each annual permit $20 $30
6. For firing of display fireworks by acceptable registered

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ag000418.htm

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