Alberta has included a new interpretation, which affects Section 9.36 of the National Building Code (Alberta Edition).Edmonton, ALTA — Industrial occupancy process buildings used within the oil and gas industry and not normally occupied by people in Alberta will now be exempt from mandatory compliance with the National Building Code (Alberta Edition) Section 9.36 and National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2017.
These buildings are typically used to shelter equipment and have limited access to workers who occasionally enter to perform maintenance or service to equipment. This new interpretation is of interest for those that complete maintenance or service to compressors, pumps, heaters, boilers, turbines, air compressors, separators, treaters, dehydrators, chemical packages, refrigeration, deluge control systems, fire water pumps, electrical substations, power distribution, instrumentation packages, motor control centers, variable frequency drive units, and pumping equipment.
Additionally, tent, air-supported, cable-supported, and frame-supported membrane structures are exempt from NBC (AE) Section 9.36 and NECB 2017.
Both the NBC (AE) Section 9.36 and the NECB 2017 are the current enforced energy efficiency requirements for buildings developed by the National Research Council of Canada and Natural Resources Canada. Both codes cover a wide range of building components and systems, including building envelope, electrical, and mechanical systems.
Industrial occupancies are generally not exempt from complying with the energy efficiency requirements, reports the STANDATA.
This new interpretation of the codes applies to buildings used in the midstream and upstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, under F1, F2, or F3 occupancy classification process equipment and not intended to be normally occupied by person, according to the Alberta government. It is applicable throughout the province.