Requirements for existing agricultural boilers and pressure vessels that need repair, alteration, upgrading and/or replacement starting July 1

Following TSSA’s April 29, 2021 communication outlining the regulatory requirements for newly installed boilers and pressure equipment used for agricultural purposes that fall within the O. Reg. 220/01, this news bulletin explains what owners and operators of the following equipment need to do to comply with safety laws:  

a) Existing, unregistered boilers and pressure vessels (BPV) that need repair, alteration, upgrading and/or replacement; and

b) their associated piping systems.

Effective July 1, 2021, all repairs and alterations of BPVs, fittings and piping used for agricultural purposes must comply with Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels, under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 

BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS

Repairs to BPVs 

Repairs include any work that is required to restore a boiler or pressure vessel to a safe operating condition that does not deviate from the original design. If there is a deviation from the design, please refer to the “Alterations to BPVs” section below. 

Companies performing repairs are required to have a Certificate of Authorization from TSSA or another Canadian jurisdiction. These companies are listed in TSSA’s business directory. Companies with a National Board Certificate of Authorization (“R” stamp)?are also acceptable, provided all National Board requirements are included.  

Repair inspection of BPVs with Mechanical Breakdown insurance 

If your BPVs are covered by Mechanical Breakdown insurance, contact your insurer to perform the repair inspection.  

Repair inspection of BPVs without Mechanical Breakdown insurance 

Before starting any repair work, contact your local TSSA BPV inspector to ensure that all technical and regulatory requirements are met. View our BPV Inspector list to find an inspector in your area.  

Alterations to BPVs 

Alterations are any changes to a boiler or pressure vessel that deviate from the original design and require design calculations that could affect pressure-containing capability. Examples include an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external) or increasing the design temperature of pressure-retaining equipment.  

All alterations require design registration with the TSSA before starting the work.?For more details, read Guidelines for Design Approval of Used and/or Altered BPVs. 

Review the application forms and instructions for submitting an application to register a design electronically.  

Companies performing alterations are required to have a Certificate of Authorization from TSSA or another Canadian jurisdiction. Companies with a National Board Certificate of Authorization (“R” stamp)?are also acceptable, provided all National Board requirements are included. 

Before starting any alteration work, contact your local TSSA BPV inspector to determine inspection requirements. View our BPV Inspector list to locate an inspector in your area. All alteration inspections must be done by TSSA.  

PIPING 

Some piping systems are exempt from TSSA registration and inspection. Please contact BPV customer service to determine whether your piping system is exempt.

Repairs to Piping 

Before repairing or fabricating any piping, contact your local TSSA BPV inspector to determine inspection requirements. View our BPV Inspector list to locate an inspector in your area.  

Companies repairing piping are required to have a Certificate of Authorization from TSSA or another Canadian jurisdiction. 

Alterations to Piping 

New piping or additions to existing piping systems require design registration and inspection. Please see the design guidelines for details and review the application forms and the instructions for submitting an application electronically.  

Companies installing piping are required to have a Certificate of Authorization from TSSA or another Canadian jurisdiction. 

Before fabricating any piping, contact your local TSSA BPV inspector to ensure that all technical and regulatory requirements are met. View our BPV Inspector list to locate an inspector in your area.  

INCIDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Incident reporting is a key part of making Ontario a safe place to work, live and play. Reporting an incident protects the public and helps industries prevent future issues. For regulated industries, reporting an incident is the law. TSSA staff conduct investigations at the site of any boiler, pressure vessel, pressure piping or fitting incidents. We also provide support to other regulatory agencies when needed.  

In case of an incident, report to the Spills Action Centre that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 

Toll-free, province-wide: 1-800-268-6060  

Toronto-area: 416-325-3000  

TTY: 1-855-889-5775 

FURTHER UPDATES

TSSA is currently developing a plan, which will be phased in over five years, to bring into compliance all existing BPVs used for agricultural purposes that fall under the regulation as of July 1, 2021. The plan includes registering existing equipment through a form that will be released shortly. The information collected through the form will be used by TSSA to do a risk-based assessment and establish a priority list for scheduling inspections based on the type of device, its location and whether it is covered by insurance. More details will be available in the coming weeks when the form is released.

TSSA will continue to work collaboratively with agricultural partners to implement the new regulatory requirements, making sure that owners, operators and insurers of pressure equipment used for agricultural purposes understand the safety regulations and what they need to do to comply.

To find more information on TSSA BPV regulatory requirements and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit www.tssa.org. Interested parties may subscribe for updates at Agricultural Operations – Boilers and Pressure Equipment. Questions may be directed to: agriculture.bpv@tssa.org.

About TSSA

Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement and prosecution activities.