IWA 37-1:2022(en)

Safety, security and sustainability of cannabis facilities and operations — Part 1: Requirements for the safety of cannabis buildings, equipment and oil extraction operations

Foreword

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International Workshop Agreement IWA 37 was approved at a series of workshops hosted by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), in association with Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), held virtually between December 2020 and June 2021.

A list of all parts in the IWA 37 series can be found on the ISO website.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

While cannabis has been fully legalized in Canada and in many states in the US, it is a new and emerging industry that is moving at a very fast pace in many other parts of the world. While legalization is being deliberated by governments and legislative bodies, companies are creating their own infrastructure in anticipation of legal approval. Meanwhile, government regulators and the societies they serve are grappling with the lack of consistent rules and guidance to deliver safety, security and sustainability of cannabis facilities and operations, while growers and producers use their own judgment on how to establish and operate facilities.

It has become very clear that the global cannabis market is opening up very rapidly. The cannabis product and the industry will become more and more ubiquitous as the global barriers start to lower and come down. If the current trend continues, it is predicted that well over one third of the globe will accommodate cannabis by 2024.

What is unique about this new and emerging industry is that it is coming from an illicit status into decriminalization and evolving into a legitimate burgeoning business. Due to its pioneering status, very little exists in terms of research, studies, historical experience and best practices. Standardization is likewise very slow on the uptake and the cannabis industry remains severely underserved.

There are therefore distinct challenges for the safety, security and sustainability of cannabis facilities and operations, which the IWA 37 series seeks to address as follows:

• — Part 1 (this document): Requirements for the safety of cannabis buildings, equipment and oil extraction operations;

• — Part 2: Requirements for the secure handling of cannabis and cannabis products;

• — Part 3: Good production practices (GPP).

In addition to the requirements for sites, facilities, buildings, and equipment specified in this document, statutory and regulatory requirements and codes can apply.

NOTE Annex A provides information on international construction codes to consider when working with this document.

Supporting material to accompany the IWA 37 series is available at the following website: IWA 37 — Safety, security and sustainability of cannabis facilities and operations.

A list of workshop participants is available from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).

1   Scope

This document specifies a minimum level of protection and safety for buildings or parts thereof, which are used for the commercial cultivation, specific to processing of cannabis plants and cannabis products, and ancillary activities associated with cannabis plants and cannabis products.

This document specifies a minimum level of safety for the installation of devices, equipment, and systems used for cannabis cultivation, processing, and ancillary activities and addresses the risks of fire, electric shock, injury to persons, and explosion associated with these devices, equipment and systems.

This document includes minimum considerations for training of personnel and equipment maintenance.

This document specifies direction for the safe methods of extracting oil from cannabis plants, including but not limited to, initial extraction and post-processing refinement.

Where buildings or premises combine cultivation and processing of cannabis plants, including ancillary activities along with other operational activities, the requirements of this document are intended to apply to only that portion of the facility.

NOTE In many cases, a building or facility can be used for both the cultivation of cannabis plants and processing of cannabis products, along with a retail store front, call centre, or office administration space. Where such joint use activities are present in a common building, it is possible that local building or fire codes can require the installation or extension of certain life safety systems, such as fire alarm and fire sprinklers.

This document does not address the following:

• — general building construction features that are normally a function of applicable codes;

• — premises used exclusively for operational activities such as office space, call centres, and retail outlets, used for the distribution, marketing, or sale of cannabis;

• — any use of the cannabis plant or cannabis products;

• — the physiological or other attributes or effects that can result from the use of this equipment;

• — the transportation of cannabis or cannabis related products;

• — occupational health and safety requirements governing cannabis workers and personnel except as specifically identified in this document;

• — security of the supply chain monitoring system, including cybersecurity and notifications;

• — outdoor grow area (including cannabis and industrial hemp).

NOTE 1 Shipping and receiving of products from the production facility for further distribution are not considered as a retail outlet.

NOTE 2 This document is not intended to apply to facilities that are used exclusively for operational activities such as selling, marketing, or other business administrative purposes. This can include but not be limited to, retail rental space, call centres, or other facilities that are not combined with cultivation and ancillary activities associated with the growing, processing, and storage of cannabis plants and cannabis products.

All requirements in this document are generic and intended to be applicable to all organizations in the cannabis supply chain, regardless of size and/or complexity.

2   Normative references

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some, or all, of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

• ISO 834-1, Fire-resistance tests — Elements of building construction — Part 1: General requirements

• ISO/TS 5658-1, Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame — Part 1: Guidance on flame spread

• ISO 6183, Fire protection equipment — Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems for use on premises — Design and installation

• ISO 7240-14, Fire detection and alarm systems — Part 14: Design, installation, commissioning and service of fire detection and fire alarm systems in and around buildings

• ISO 11625, Gas cylinders — Safe handling

• ISO 13824, Bases for design of structures — General principles on risk assessment of systems involving structures

• ISO 14520-1, Gaseous fire-extinguishing systems — Physical properties and system design — Part 1: General requirements

• ISO 16069, Graphical symbols — Safety signs — Safety way guidance systems (SWGS)

• ISO 21542, Building construction — Accessibility and usability of the built environment

• ISO 23601, Safety identification — Escape and evacuation plan signs

• ISO 28802, Ergonomics of the physical environment — Assessment of environments by means of an environmental survey involving physical measurements of the environment and subjective responses of people

• ISO 30061, Emergency lighting

• IEC 60079-10-1, Explosive atmospheres — Part 10-1: Classifications of areas — Explosive gas atmospheres

• IEC 60079-10-2, Explosive atmospheres — Part 10-2: Classifications of areas — Explosive dust atmospheres

• IEC 60079-14, Explosives atmospheres — Part 14: Electrical installations design, selection and erection

• IEC 62990-2, Workplace atmospheres — Part 2: Gas detectors — Selection, installation, use and maintenance of detectors for toxic gases and vapours

• ANSI/CAN/UL/ULC 1389, Standard for Safety, Plant Oil Extraction Equipment for Installation and Use in Ordinary (Unclassified) Locations and Hazardous (Classified) Locations

• NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems

• NFPA 15, Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection

• NFPA 17, Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems

• NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning

• UL 867A, Outline for Commercial/Industrial Indoor Air Quality Systems, Ozone Generating Type