Pigs at risk
The Manitoba government had a real opportunity to ensure protection for this province’s pigs, but failed to do so. The codes will not require retrofits to the province’s existing hog barns, meaning those most at risk of fire will continue to be.
Even for newly built barns, the protection this code provides is minimal. Barns will be categorized as F2 or F3 (light or medium industrial). Pig barns, however, contain highly flammable and explosive gases (hydrogen sulfide and methane) and should be categorized as F1 (high hazard industrial). Under F2 or F3 categories, fire alarm requirements are based solely on human occupancy, no matter how many thousands of animals may be present. Seventy-five employees are required before a fire alarm is demanded. All industrial animal operations today are fully automated, meaning less that 10 employees are needed.
The final benefit of the codes touted by Karl Kynoch, chairman of the Manitoba Pork Council, of a minimum number of exits mean little to animals confined in concrete or steel pens.
With most industrial pig barns on land devoid of farm houses, there is no one to see a fire until it’s well involved. These barns must have smoke detectors and suppression systems built into them and they should be retrofitted into all existing intensive livestock operations. The cost to retrofit an average-sized industrial operation is a mere $20,000. Surely this isn’t too much to ask to ensure the protection of thousands of lives.
