Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
New codes for farm buildings
Attempt to increase safety standards
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image
A fire at the Netley Hutterite colony in 2008 killed thousands of hogs. Such tragedies have led to new building codes for agricultural buildings.
AGRICULTURAL buildings, including hog barns, will now be covered under their own building code in a push to increase safety standards for an industry mired by convoluted building requirements that may have contributed to several hog barn fires in the province.
Large agricultural buildings of more than 600 square metres will now be covered under a new Farm Building Code, which mandates several fire-safety precautions, Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard announced Friday.
Death and destruction
Recent hog barn fires in Manitoba.
April 2, 2008: A Netley Hutterite colony barn burned and killed at least 8,700 hogs.
June 25, 2008: 6,500 hogs died in a barn fire in the RM of La Broquerie.
June 29, 2008: A hog barn fire in the RM of Pembina killed 2,700 animals.
May 7, 2010: A fire in the RM of La Broquerie killed an estimated 5,000 to 7,500 animals.
June 23, 2010: A Notre Dame de Lourdes barn burned to the ground. No animals were in the barn at the time -- less than a week earlier, officials discovered 400 severely neglected hogs in the barn either dead or dying. Another 160 had to be destroyed.
June 29, 2010: 150 hogs were killed when their barn burned in Hanover.
"Previously, farm buildings have been exempt from building codes," she said.
Insurance companies do have building standards farmers must follow, but add in separate requirements for Hydro and it gets complicated, said Karl Kynoch, chairman of the Manitoba Pork Council.
"When you build barns, you want a standard set of codes to follow," he said. The new code calls for fire-safety precautions, such as mandatory firewalls and a minimum number of exits.
It will come into effect Nov. 1.
The changes come after consultations between Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, the Office of the Fire Commissioner, producers and several interest groups.
The enhanced standards will mean a one to three per cent increase in building costs, said Howard, but when considering the cost of a destroyed hog barn, that price is well worth it. She hopes extensive consulting on the codes means this increase is reasonable for farmers.
"I think what we've come up with is a code that's going to work that is practical for farmers, but it's also a code that looks at building safer buildings," Howard said.
There will also be flexibility within the code to accommodate the wide variety of agricultural buildings being constructed, something Kynoch said is indicative of the successful consultation process between officials and industry.
"We're quite comfortable with the codes that came out. I think they've done an excellent job."
The building-code changes will only apply to new buildings and those being extensively renovated. With a ban on new hog barn construction in the eastern half of the province and tight economic times, Kynoch said there aren't many new ones being built. However, the ban does not prohibit farmers from replacing old barns as long as they don't exceed the original barn's size.
The announcement follows several devastating hog barn fires in rural Manitoba in recent years. Kynoch said concerns around hog barn fires have been overblown in the media due to their involvement with animals. He said fires are a hazard of any industry.
"It's something that happens," he said.
But Howard said the fires were a factor in bringing in the new regulations.
"We were concerned about those fires," and ensuring the safety of the workers, firefighters and animals involved, she said.
Howard said the province will continue to work with farm groups to ensure smooth implementation of the new codes and provide education on fire safety.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 28, 2010 A3
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Flood reviews launched
- Our 'true champion'
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
- Popular cake can be kept on the go for days
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.