The introduction of a new Manitoba Farm Building Code is expected to enhance safety on the farm and help reduce losses due to fire.
Last week the Manitoba government announced a new provincial Farm Building Code will take effect November 1’st.
The code will apply to new construction over 600 square metres or to buildings undergoing extensive renovation.
Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard says under the new code agricultural buildings will be treated like industrial buildings.
The Farm Building Code mirrors very much what is in place for industrial buildings of that size so we’re taking about things like having fire stops in place, having exits in place.
We’re also talking about things like having good working fire alarms and having plans for those buildings signed off by structural engineers.
But we’re also very aware that farm buildings are unlike other buildings and so we’ve been working with different producer groups, Keystone Agricultural Producers, the Pork Council about the specific needs of those buildings.
We’re going to, as we go forward and we put this code into effect, we’re going to be looking for ways to make sure that it makes practical sense on the farm but also protects safety.
One of the things that is in place industrial buildings that we’re not going to put in place for farm buildings is sprinkler systems for example.
We heard pretty clearly from producers that a sprinkler system in a place where you might not have a steady water supply or in a place where the sprinklers might be set off accidentally and damage the livestock that they’re meant to protect doesn’t make a lot of sense.
We’ve tried to be aware of and sensitive to the fact that there are some unique challenges on the farm to create a safer environment but also that we do need some standards and some codes that haven’t been in place before.
Howard notes in the last 10 years there has been almost 100 million dollars in farm losses due to fire.
She says the new code is designed to protect property, livestock, the people who work in those buildings and firefighters who come to put out fires.
Source: Farmscape.Ca
