News
Manitoba streamlines grain dryer inspection process
The Manitoba government is streamlining the process for inspection and approval of grain dryers, announced Minister Blaine Pedersen, the minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner.
January 22, 2019 By Manitoba Agriculture
“When producers find they need to dry the grain in their bins, it is important to be able to move quickly and accommodate a large number of requests that may come in at the same time,” Pedersen said.
Grain dryers must be inspected and certified to ensure they are set up safely before they can be used. The province recognizes producers need that process to happen as quickly as possible, Pedersen said and as a result, the OFC has established a central booking process co-ordinated with Manitoba Hydro to streamline the scheduling of inspections. In addition, the availability of inspectors has been expanded to include evenings and weekends throughout the harvest season, and a 24-hour inspection hotline will be available from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31, 2019.
“We have heard loud and clear from producers that we must do better when it comes to reducing red tape on grain dryers,” Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler said.
Producers must still ensure the installation is completed in compliance with the manufacturers installation instructions and Canadian Standards Association code requirements, and that all checks are completed prior to the inspection to avoid unnecessary delays.
Harmonizing installation requirements with Saskatchewan will also reduce confusion as equipment suppliers and installers often serve clients in both provinces. The OFC and SaskEnergy are working closely to align the approval process and installation requirements such as venting, dryer and fuel tank protection and general installation code requirements, Pedersen added.
