Evacuating Propane From Consumer Storage Tanks (SO03)

This training course (#SO03) has been designed to instruct your employees on the proper procedures for safely evacuating propane from consumer storage tanks.  As we know, propane (both liquid and vapour) must be removed from the ASME consumer storage tank in order to permit the replacement of components, such as pressure relief valves (PRVs), service valves, and fill valves.

Recent regulatory changes now require the pressure relief valve (PRV) on ASME propane storage tanks up to 2,500 USWG in capacity to be changed every 25 years.  On tanks greater than 2,500 USWG, the PRV must be replaced every 10 years.  Under normal circumstances, ASME storage tanks must have the volume of propane in the tank reduced to 5% of its maximum capacity prior to transporting the tank, although Transport Canada recently issued an equivalency permit to allow movement with more than 5%.

Evacuating Propane Storage Tank Using Pump on Bulk TruckLiquid Withdrawal Transfer Assembly

Regardless of whether you will be evacuating the tank at the customer site or back at the propane bulk plant, this training course provides all the information your staff needs to safely evacuate and prepare the tank for PRV replacement.

Course Learning Objectives

After completing the five lessons within this course, your employees will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics, protective clothing, safety considerations and TDG requirements
    • What they need to know about propane.
    • What protective clothing they must be wearing.
    • What they need to know about key safety considerations including first aid, ignition control and emergency planning.
    • What they need to know about TDG regulations affecting the tasks covered in this training.
  • Consumer propane storage tanks and fittings
    • The standards by which these tanks are built.
    • The key components and fittings found on typical storage tanks including liquid withdrawal excess flow valves and unloading adapters.
  • How to safely use the various pieces of equipment used to evacuate, move and transport propane storage tanks.
    • Powered and manual tank moving equipment.
    • Tank rollers.
    • Lift slings.
    • Transfer hoses.
    • Compressors and pumps.
  • Pre-evacuation checks, procedures, and transfer safety guidelines.
  • Evacuation of propane storage tanks using a variety of methods.
    • Using a compressor.
    • Using a portable pump.
    • Using the pump on a propane bulk truck.
    • How to deal with defective for no liquid withdrawal excess flow valve.
  • How to flare the remaining liquid and vapour propane from the tank following evacuation.
  • Troubleshooting and Emergency Response
    • How to troubleshoot common pump and compressor problems.
    • Emergency response strategies.
    • Procedures to deal with propane leaks.
    • Accidental release and spill reporting requirements.

Who Should Take This Training

While certified gas technicians are responsible for disconnecting customer tanks from the system, reconnecting the replacement tank, and reactivating attached appliances, other personnel are usually involved.  In addition to gas technicians, we recommend this course for any personnel who are involved in any aspect of the tank evacuation process including plant employees and bulk truck drivers.

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Loading and Unloading Propane Tank Trucks (TO02)

New Version - Low Res - shutterstock_367083527This course has been designed for propane tank truck drivers who load propane from bulk storage and deliver it to end users and other storage locations.  The new version of this course is fully TDG enabled, so your employees will be eligible to receive a TDG training certificate issued by you, the employer.  After completing the nine lessons within this course, your propane tank truck operator will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics, TDG requirements.
  • Propane tank truck components.
  • Propane bulk plant equipment.
  • Tank truck inspections, maintenance & testing.
  • Loading tank trucks from bulk storage.
  • Unloading metered tank trucks at customer sites.
  • Regulatory restrictions related to truck-to-truck transfers.
  • Re-lighting appliances following out-of-gas situation and the regulatory restrictions related to which jurisdictions allow this activity.
  • Safety & Emergency Response planning.
  • Additional regulatory requirements specific to the jurisdiction where the driver works.

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Torches and Propane Cylinders at Construction Sites (AV03)

This course has been designed to train construction site workers to safely use propane fuelled hand-held torches.  In addition, students will learn how propane cylinders are to be stored at the construction site. This course covers all the updated requirements of the 2015 edition B149. 2 Propane Storage & Handling Code. After completing the three lessons within this course, students will have an understanding of:

  • Propane and cylinder basics, primary torch components.
  • Installation, storage and use of propane cylinders and tank systems.
  • Installation and use of propane torches.

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Construction Heaters and Propane Cylinders at Construction Sites (AV02)

This course has been designed to train construction site workers to safely use propane fuelled construction heaters. In addition, students will learn how propane cylinders are to be stored at the construction site. This course covers all the updated requirements of the 2015 edition B149. 2 Propane Storage & Handling Code. After completing the three lessons within this course, students will have an understanding of:

  • Propane and cylinder basics, primary construction heater components.
  • Installation, storage and use of propane cylinders and tank systems*.
  • Installation and use of propane construction heaters.

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Construction Heaters, Torches and Propane Cylinders at Construction Sites (AV01)

This course has been designed to train construction site workers to safely use propane fuelled construction heaters and torches. In addition, students will learn how propane cylinders are to be stored at the construction site. This course covers all the updated requirements of the 2015 edition B149. 2 Propane Storage & Handling Code. After completing the four lessons within this course, students will have an understanding of:

  • Propane and cylinder basics, primary construction heater components.
  • Installation, storage and use of propane cylinders and tank systems*.
  • Installation and use of propane construction heaters.
  • Connecting and using hand-held propane torches.

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Field Testing for Ethyl Mercaptan in Propane (SO05)

This course has been designed to train your employees on how to field test propane to determine whether or not the propane contains the required levels of ethyl mercaptan, which is added to propane to aid in the detection of leaks.  Specifically, this course provides instruction on using the baggie method defined within CAN/CGSB 3.0 No. 18.5 – Test for Ethyl Mercaptan Odorant in Propane, Field Method standard.  After completing the three lessons within this course, your employees will have an understanding of:

  • Who is authorized to extract the sample and conduct the testing.
  • Propane basics.
  • Personal protective clothing and procedures to be followed in case of an emergency.
  • The methods used to test for the presence of ethyl mercaptan in propane.
  • How to conduct the test using the baggie method with a Gastec Precision Gas Sampling Pump.

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Visual Tank & PRV Inspection (SO02)

This course has been designed to train your employees on the procedures used to conduct visual inspections of propane storage tanks and their valves and fittings.  Specifically, this course is designed for conducting visual tank and pressure relief valve inspections on consumer ASME tanks within the 500 to 2,000 USWG size range which are installed to supply propane to end users for heating and appliance use.  After completing the three lessons within this course, your employees will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics.
  • Personal protective clothing and procedures to be followed in case of an emergency.
  • Conducting visual inspections of propane tanks and their valves and fittings.
  • Conducting visual inspections of the pressure relief valves (PRV) installed in propane storage tanks.
  • Additional regulatory requirements specific to the jurisdiction where the employee works.

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Visual Inspection & Requalification of Propane Cylinders (SO01)

This course has been designed to train your employees on the procedures used to requalify propane cylinders using the Visual External Inspection process at authorized requalification facilities.  This course addresses the regulatory requirements specified by Transport Canada within the Transportation of Dangerous Goods regulations and supporting national codes and standards.  After completing the three lessons within this course, your employees will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics, cylinder basics, markings on propane cylinders.
  • Regulatory requirements for requalifying propane cylinders.
  • Conducting Visual External Inspections of both steel and aluminum cylinders.
  • Replacing pressure relieve valve/service valves on propane cylinders.
  • Properly marking cylinders following inspection.
  • Reporting requirements.

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Loading and Unloading Propane Tank Trucks Including Visual Tank & PRV Inspection (TO04)

This course has been designed for propane tank truck drivers who deliver propane to end users and other storage locations and also conduct visual tank and PRV inspections of their customer’s ASME propane storage tanks.  After completing the eight lessons within this course, your propane tank truck operator will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics, TDG requirements.
  • Propane tank truck components.
  • Propane bulk plant equipment.
  • Tank truck inspections, maintenance & testing.
  • Loading tank trucks from bulk storage.
  • Unloading metered tank trucks at customer sites.
  • Regulatory restrictions related to truck-to-truck transfers.
  • Conducting visual inspections of the tank and its components located at customer sites.
  • Safety & Emergency Response planning.
  • Additional regulatory requirements specific to the jurisdiction where the driver works

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Transportation & Delivery of Propane Cylinders (TO03)

This course has been designed to train cylinder delivery truck operators who load, secure, transport and deliver propane cylinders. After completing the five lessons within this course, your propane cylinder delivery truck operator will have an understanding of:

  • Propane basics, TDG requirements.
  • Lifting and moving propane cylinders, load securement principles, and loading the cylinder delivery truck.
  • Propane cylinder basics.
  • Protection and storage of propane cylinders at customer sites.
  • Safety & Emergency Response planning.

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