Boilers and Pressure Vessel Equipment for Agricultural Use

The Technical Safety and Standards Authority (TSSA) regulates most agricultural boiler and pressure vessel (BPV) equipment.

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Stay Safe. Stay Compliant. What Ontario Farmers Need to Know about BPV Regulations

Boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs) are commonly used on farms and in agricultural operations for heating, cooling and processing. For example, steam boilers are used to clean milking systems and air compressors (classified as pressure vessels) are widely used on farms to power other equipment.

On July 1, 2021, the provincial government lifted the regulatory exemption for agricultural boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs). The exemption was revoked due to growing safety concerns in the agricultural industry; similar concerns were also highlighted by the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario in her 2018 report.

Previously, Ontario was the only province that exempted agricultural BPVs from safety laws. This regulation change marked an important safety milestone in Ontario and aligns Ontario with other Canadian jurisdictions. The Technical Safety and Standards Authority (TSSA) is responsible for bringing regulated BPVs used for agricultural purposes into compliance.

Effective July 1, 2021, owners or operators of eligible agricultural BPVs, fittings and piping used for agricultural purposes must comply with:power other equipment. 

Owners and operators of agricultural operations that use eligible boilers or pressure equipment, including the following equipment, must comply with regulations.  
•    Steam boilers
•    Water boilers
•    Refrigeration equipment using ammonia, carbon dioxide, Group A1 refrigerants, and all other refrigerants
•    Pressure vessels
•    Pressure piping
*For more information about the types of pressure equipment under regulation, see the BPV infographic 

BPV Exemptions

Some pressure equipment is exempt from regulation because of the equipment size, the lower pressure or lower temperatures at which it operates, or its use of non-hazardous liquid. Some examples of BPVs that are exempted from regulation include: 
•    A boiler having a heating surface of 10 square feet (0.93 square metres) or less;
•    A pressure vessel, fitting or piping that contains a gas, vapour or liquid at a maximum allowable working pressure of 15 psi (103 kPal) or less;
•    Pressure piping that forms part of the heating system in a building that is,
1.    Heated by steam at a pressure not exceeding 15 psi (103kPal), or
2.    Heated by water at a pressure not exceeding 160 psi (1,100 kPal) and at a temperature that does not exceed 250°F (121 °C);
•    A pressure vessel, fitting or piping that contains liquids not more hazardous than water and that operates at a temperature of 150 °F (65 °C) or less and a maximum allowable working pressure of 250 psi (1,717 kPal) or less.

*See Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels for a full list of exclusions, and Amendments to the 2001 Boilers and Pressure Vessels Code Adoption Document (pdf).’

Your Responsibilities to Meet Compliance

Every owner and operator is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating their pressure equipment safely and reporting to TSSA immediately any incidents that cause injury, death or property damage. Owners and operators of BPVs are required to comply with the regulations, which include:

Properly installing, maintaining and having your pressure equipment inspected can reduce the risk of injury or equipment failure and protect your workers, property and operations on your farm.

TSSA Inspection and Licensing Fees - Act Now

TSSA is committed to working with agricultural partners to implement regulatory requirements and ensure that owners, operators, insurers of agricultural pressure equipment and provincial associations understand the requirements under safety regulations.

To support agricultural owners and operators' transition to BPV regulatory requirements, TSSA introduced an initial “One Inspection” approach in 2021. Under this approach, all regulated BPV devices at the same site are inspected and billed together as a single site assessment. This initial, cost-effective approach will expire on January 31, 2027.

Effective February 1, 2027, TSSA will move to its standard “First Inspection” approach, aligning them with those applied to all BPVs across the province. As a not-for-profit organization, the fee is based on cost recovery. As a result, sites with multiple BPVs will see a significantly higher total cost.  

What You Need to Do

Step 1. Create a TSSA Client Portal Account 

If you do not already have a TSSA Client Portal account, please create one at: https://clientportal.tssa.org.  The Client Portal allows you to manage your BPV equipment information, request an inspection, review your inspection reports, and access your Certificate of Inspection.

2. Request an Agricultural Inspection 

Once logged into the Client Portal:

  • Select “Other” as the inspection type 
  • In the Notes field, enter: “Agriculture.” 

This ensures that your request is correctly identified and processed under the agricultural inspection approach. 

3. TSSA Review Next Steps 

After your request has been submitted, a TSSA representative will contact you (with at least 30 days’ advance notice) to coordinate a site assessment and discuss any site-specific preparations (e.g., biohazard protocols). 

To learn more about the Agricultural BPV requirements and access useful tools to prepare for your site assessment, visit www.tssa.org. If you have questions, email agriculture.bpv@tssa.org, or read frequently asked questions about the Minister’s revocation of the agricultural exemption.

Resources

News articles

Bulletins

Educational resources

To help owners and operators of agricultural BPV equipment meet their compliance obligations, TSSA has provided the following educational modules.  These resources provide a contextual understanding of the revocation of agricultural exemption. They also help clarify the responsibilities and compliance requirements of owners and operators of regulated BPVs used for agricultural purposes.   

Module 1: An Overview - Guidance for Agricultural BPV Owners and Operators (pptx)

  • Introduction to TSSA

  • Background on the Minister’s Order Revocation

  • What Compliance Means to Agricultural Organizations

  • Regulatory Hierarchy   
     

Module 2: BPV Equipment Installed Before July 1, 2021 (pptx)

  • Rules for Equipment in Operation before July 1, 2021

  • Performing Work on Piping Systems

  • Maintenance Requirements for Regulated Devices

  • Relief Valve Servicing and Lift Testing   
     

Module 3: Installing New BPV Devices (pptx)

  • List of Various Applicable Codes for Different Devices

  • Rules and Information about Canadian Registration Numbers (CRNs)

  • What is a Data Report and Why It Is Important

  • Information about Certificate of Authorization Holders

  • Requirements for Installing Rental Equipment