Boiler & Pressure Vessel Insurers

Navigate this section

Per Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels, the insurance company providing boiler and machinery insurance for boiler and pressure vessel (BPV) devices is responsible for inspecting and uploading a Record of Inspection (ROI) to TSSA for the devices it insures. 

For boilers or pressure vessels that are not insured, TSSA inspects the device and issues the Certificate of Inspection (COI) as required by Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels. 

Insurers to Report 20 Violations Found During Inspections

Insurance companies and third-party inspectors are required to report 20 violations found during periodic inspections of boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs) to TSSA through the Client Portal.

Previously, compliance data from insurance inspectors was not systematically tracked or analyzed. This reporting process will enable TSSA to collect and analyze high quality and consistent data on high-risk non-compliances relating to BPVs that could pose an elevated risk to public safety. The information gathered will help TSSA to:

• Improve safety performance tracking
• Identify and understand risk trends and emerging issues
• Strengthen public safety outcomes

Please see the flowchart on the responsibilities of BPV owners, insurance companies or third-party inspectors for BPVs requiring periodic inspections. 

Other resources:

•    Director’s Order: Insurers to Report 20 Listed Violations Through a Single Records of Inspection Submission

•    Instructions on how insurance companies and inspection agencies can upload ROIs and notify TSSA of violations
 

High-Risk Violations

If any of the following high-risk violations are found on BPVs during a periodic inspection, insurance companies and third-party inspectors must take the following actions:

•    Issue an inspection report specifying the high-risk violations

•    Ask the BPV owner to shut down the device

•    Report high-risk violations on the Client Portal:

TSSA will notify the owner via email that high-risk violations were found and issue a shutdown order. No Certificate of Inspection (COI) will be issued. The reporting insurer will also receive the shutdown order.

BPV owners are responsible for shutting down a BPV with high-risk violations, addressing all high-risk violations and notifying the insurance company or third-party inspector when all high-risk violations have been resolved. After high-risk violations have been resolved, insurance companies and third-party inspectors will:

•    Issue a Record of Inspection (ROI)

•    Indicate that high-risk violations have been resolved on the Client Portal
 

Click to see the list of High-Risk Violations

• The safety relief device is inoperable.
• The safety relief device is missing. 
• The safety relief device’s pressure setting is incorrect. 
• The low water cutoff/flow sensing device is inoperable. 
• The low water cutoff/flow sensing device is missing. 
• The low water cutoff/flow sensing device is improperly installed. 
• Level Indicators (Gage Glasses, Bulls Eyes and Fiber Opticals) are inoperable. 
• Level Indicators (Gage Glasses, Bulls Eyes and Fiber Opticals) are missing. 
• Pressure-retaining items (e.g. Boiler, Expansion Tanks) have been improperly repaired or altered. 
• Pressure-retaining items (e.g. Boiler, Expansion Tanks) have material flaws impairing their safe operation (e.g. corrosion, cracks) 
• A pressure-retaining item is inoperable or being used in an unsafe manner.


Other Reportable or Code Violations

If other reportable or code violations are found during a BPV periodic inspection, the insurance company or third-party inspector will:

•    Issue an inspection report specifying the violations and compliance timeframe to the BPV owner

•    Submit the ROI on the Client Portal and indicate the other reportable violations found

The BPV owner can proceed to approve and pay for the ROI, but they must resolve violations within the insurer’s specified timeframe and recommendations.
 


Click to see Other Reportable or Code Violations

• The safety relief device is improperly installed. 
• The safety relief device is not set to the correct capacity. 
• The safety relief device is missing its nameplate or is illegible. 
• The pressure control is inoperable. 
• The pressure control is missing. 
• The temperature control/high-limit device is inoperable. 
• The temperature control/high-limit device is missing. 
• The pressure/temperature indicator is inoperable. 
• The pressure/temperature indicator is missing.


No Violations

If no violations are found, the insurance company or third-party inspector will submit the ROI on the Client Portal for the owner to approve, pay for and download the COI.

If a BPV owner changes an insurance company

The BPV owner must update the insurer information on the Client Portal. Once updated, the new insurer will have visibility to that inventory and its violations.

Decommissioned BPVs with Violations

The BPV owner needs to submit the Permanent Removal of BPV from Operation or Use form.
 

The BPV ROI/COI Portal  

The BPV ROI/COI Portal for Insurers is an automated platform for insurers and their authorized inspection agencies (AIA) who perform periodic inspections of regulated, insured devices. 

Using this portal, insurers can:

  • Submit a Record of Inspection (ROI) using a unique identification number (UID) for the device, which owners will review and approve 

  • Review and download information about the device 

  • Update status of insurance coverage (when an insurer cancels the coverage of a device, the device owner will receive an email that their device is no longer insured)

  • Update inspection agency representation

To obtain a unique identification number (UID) for inspected devices, or update the technical information of an existing device, complete the appropriate Request for UID form and email it to bpvidrequest@tssa.org:

Upon receipt, TSSA will review and determine if an installation inspection is required in order to issue the UID. 

Periodic inspections are required for the life of the device and at intervals outlined in TSSA’s Amendments to the 2001 Boilers and Pressure Vessels Code Adoption Document. A BPV device must pass a periodic inspection before its COI can be renewed. 

After a BPV device has passed a periodic inspection, the insurer will submit an ROI to the BPV COI Portal for Insurers. Insurers must upload the ROI to the portal within 30 days after a periodic inspection.  

TSSA will notify owners or operators that the ROI has been uploaded so they can log into the BPV COI Portal for Owners to approve the ROI and pay for the COI.

Reporting Unacceptable Conditions or Failed Inspection   

As per Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels, s.11, any unacceptable condition found upon inspection shall be reported to the Statutory Director by email to bpvcustomerservice@tssa.org. 

Resources on BPV COI Portal for Insurers

Questions about the BPV COI Portal for Insurers can be directed to the following: