The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) inspects and audits pressurized equipment and quality programs in North America. Inspectors examine pressurized equipment and facilities prior to start-up and then periodically while in operation to ensure compliance with existing safety standards. TSSA also surveys quality programs for equipment manufacturers to ensure they meet a variety of codes or standards and authorize manufacturers to perform activities in accordance with these programs.
It should be noted that with BPV inspections, TSSA uses a risk model, visiting plants and personnel more frequently, depending on the level of risk. This allows us to prioritize those safety issues requiring the most attention.
Removal from Service
A Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) boiler and pressure vessel (BPV) inspector may require the removal of any pressure equipment from service that is in an unsafe operating condition or is being operated in a dangerous manner.
If a boiler, pressure vessel, piping or fitting is considered by a TSSA BPV inspector to be unsafe or operated in a dangerous manner, the inspector will take necessary steps to remove the danger. This may include affixing a seal or disconnecting the power. The Director of Boilers and Pressure Vessels and Operating Engineers may also cancel the certificate of registration or certificate of inspection, depending on the severity of the case.
Types of Inspections
From time to time, a variety of different inspections for boilers, pressure vessels, piping and fittings may be required. Please contact your local BPV Inspector before any inspection. Some exemptions may apply. You may also view the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) safety bulletin SB00-7 for piping exemption.
Special inspections may apply in lieu of, or as part of, any TSSA inspection. They may also include consultation services. If you need a special inspection or consultation, please contact your local BPV Inspector.
As a not-for-profit, regulatory authority, TSSA charges a cost-recovery fee for all services. For fees associated with boiler inspections, please view our BPV fee schedule.
Below is a directory of the various inspections TSSA conducts and information around them.
Periodic inspections
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The owner of a boiler or pressure vessel must ensure periodic inspections are performed according to the requirements included in BPV's Code Adoption Document (CAD). Owners must also have a current Certificate of Inspection in place to permit operation of the device.
Cases where periodic (in-service) inspections are needed include:
- When the BPV is insured with a boiler and machinery insurance policy, the insurance company is responsible for inspecting the device and issuing the certificate of inspection required by the Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
- When the boiler or pressure vessel is not insured, TSSA inspects the device and issues the Certificate of Inspection required by the Ontario Regulation 220/01.
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Repair inspections
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Repairs include any work necessary 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 design, you will need to apply for design registration.
Quality Program
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You need a Certificate of Authorization from the TSSA to perform repairs. A National Board Certificate of Authorization ("R" stamp) is also acceptable, provided all National Board requirements are included.
Learn more about:
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Repair guidelines
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The National Board Inspection Code (ANSI/NB-23) provides guidelines to ensure that satisfactory repairs are performed.
Requirements include, but are not limited to:
- Proper identification on the material is required for all repairs (e.g. Manufacturer, name, specification, grade, etc.)
- Mill test reports are required for all plate materials used for repairs
- TSSA-registered welding or brazing procedures are required for all welded or brazed repairs
- Non-destructive examination of repairs may be required
- Post-weld heat treatment of repairs may be required
- Pressure testing to TSSA's satisfaction is required on completion of work
- Signing of a repair report by the contractor is required on repair completion
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Alteration inspections
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Alteration inspections may also apply to boilers and pressure vessels. Alterations include:
- Any change in the item described on the original Manufacturers Data Report that requires a change of design calculations or otherwise affects the pressure containing capability of a BPV
- Non-physical changes such as an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external) or design temperature of a pressure-retaining item
- A reduction in minimum design temperature such that additional mechanical tests are required
Design registration
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| All alterations require design registration with TSSA prior to starting the work. |
Quality Program
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| You need a Certificate of Authorization from the TSSA to perform repairs. A National Board Certificate of Authorization ("R" stamp) is also acceptable, provided all National Board requirements are included. |
Alteration guidelines
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The National Board Inspection Code (ANSI/NB-23) provides guidelines that can be used to ensure satisfactory alterations are performed.
Alternation requirements include:
- Proper identification on the material is required for all alterations (e.g. Manufacturer, name, specification, grade, etc.)
- Mill test reports are required for all plate materials used for alterations
- TSSA-registered welding or brazing procedures are required for all welded or brazed alterations
- Non-destructive examination of alterations by qualified personnel according to CAN/CGSB-48.9712 or ASNT SNT-TC-1A may be required
- Post-weld heat treatment of alterations may be required
- Pressure testing to TSSA's satisfaction is required on completion of work
- Signing of an alteration report by the contractor is required on alteration completion
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Installation inspections
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A certificate of inspection is required to operate any boiler or pressure vessel for a specified period. The TSSA issues this certificate following an installation inspection.
Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure all controls and safety devices operate as required.
Design registration
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| You must register designs with the TSSA before installing and boiler or pressure vessel. |
Used boilers and pressure vessels
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When moving used boilers and pressure vessels that have been previously registered in Ontario to a new location, you do not need any addition design registration unless the equipment needs alteration.
Used boilers and pressure vessels, which have not been previously registered in Ontario, must register with TSSA before completion of the installation inspection.
All boilers and pressure vessels require an inspection at the new location before operation can begin.
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Installation guidelines
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The National Board Inspection Code (ANSI/NB-23) provides guidelines that can be used to ensure satisfactory installations are performed.
Boiler installations
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Boiler installation requirements include:
- A passageway at least 24 inches wide, clear of all obstructions shall be provided on both sides and at the rear of each boiler (where necessary, this clearance shall be increased to facilitate removal or opening of closures, casings or covers)
- A minimum of 12 inches is recommended between the floor and lowest insulated surface of a boiler to facilitate inspection or repair
- Boilers not exempted by the Regulation require registration of the design with TSSA
- All approved boilers require installation in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, TSSA registered designs and applicable codes and standards
- Where a boiler blow-off discharges to a sewer, a registered blow-off vessel shall be installed to reduce the temperature to a maximum of 65 degrees Celsius (149 degrees Fahrenheit) in accordance with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) - B5-14: Boiler, pressure vessel, and pressure piping code
- All boilers require overpressure protection (safety valves) with adequate relieving and venting capacity
- All boilers require pressure gauges for operation.
- All steam boilers require siphons or traps to protect the pressure gauge.
- All steam boilers require gauge glasses to operate, except those not having a fixed water level, such as forced flow steam generators (Ontario Regulation 219/01: Operating Engineers also requires gauge glass shields)
- All unattended steam boilers require pressure-operated controls to operate, installed in accordance with the boiler manufacturer and pressure control manufacturer's instructions
- All unattended steam boilers require high and low-level controls to operate, installed in accordance with the boiler manufacturer and high/low level control manufacturer's instructions
- All unattended boilers (except solid fuel-fired boilers) require low water cut off controls, installed in accordance with the boiler manufacturer and low water cut-off manufacturer's instructions
- A solid fuel-fire tube boiler requires a fusible plug as specified in the ASME Code
- A low-pressure hot water boiler requires temperature-operated, installed in accordance with the boiler manufacturer and temperature control manufacturer's instructions, to operate.
- A high temperature hot water boiler of over 160 pound-force per square inch (psi) and 250 degrees Fahrenheit requires a temperature gauge at or near the boiler outlet connection to operate
- A low-pressure hot water boiler (maximum 160 psi and 250 degrees Fahrenheit) requires a thermometer indicating the temperature of the water at or near the boiler outlet connection to operate
- Regular maintenance is necessary for all controls and safety devices to ensure they operate as required
- All boilers under Ontario Regulation 220/01require regular inspection and a valid certificate of inspection to operate before being pressurized
- Registration and attended operation of boilers may be required under Ontario Regulation 219/01 (additional guarded controls may also be necessary under this regulation)
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Pressure vessel installations
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- A passageway at least 24 inches wide, clear of all obstructions shall be provided on both sides and at the rear of each boiler (where necessary, this clearance shall be increased to facilitate removal or opening of closures, casings or covers)
- A minimum of 12 inches is recommended between the floor and lowest insulated surface of a pressure vessel to facilitate inspection or repair
- Pressure vessels not exempted by Ontario Regulation 220/01 require registration of the design with TSSA
- All approved pressure vessels require installation in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, TSSA registered designs and applicable codes and standards
- All pressure vessels require overpressure protection (safety valves, safety relief valves, rupture disks) with adequate relieving capacity
- All pressure vessels require pressure gauges for operation
- All pressure vessels containing steam require siphons or traps to protect the pressure gauge.
- Some pressure vessels require gauge glasses to operate
- Some pressure vessels require level controls to operate
- Pressure vessels in ammonia service must not have parts of copper, zinc, silver or alloys of these materials installed on the vessel
- Anhydrous ammonia storage tanks having a water capacity of 3000 gallons or more require a manhole
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Pressure vessels with quick opening doors, such as autoclaves, require:
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- Large clear dials on pressure gauges used for operation, easily read from the control station
- Auxiliary pressure gauges reading inches of water where necessary for low pressures
- Safety devices which prevent the opening mechanism from operating unless all pressure is released
- Warning devices installed and operational to indicate the vessel is not properly locked prior to pressurization of the vessel or before pressure is released during operation
- Regular inspection and maintenance of the locking mechanism to check for wear and adjustment, and to ensure full smooth engagement without binding
- Full operating instructions clearly displayed at the operating station
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New manufacturing inspections
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The TSSA provides third-party authorized inspection services for all new boilers or pressure vessels (nuclear or non-nuclear) manufactured in Ontario.
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Piping inspections
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Pressure piping is required to be designed and installed in accordance with a number of codes and standards. Refer to CSA-B51 and CSA-B52 for the applicable references and requirements. Contact your local BPV Inspector before starting the manufacturing or installation of pressure piping.
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Welding and brazing inspections
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Welding and brazing on pressure equipment must be performed in accordance with the Ontario Regulation 220/01 and various codes and standards of construction referenced in CSA-B51.
Procedure registration
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| Complete your procedure registration with the TSSA for all welding and brazing procedures on pressure equipment in Ontario. This requires the preparation of a welding or brazing procedure specification and procedure qualification record and the completion of a number of physical tests. |
Inspection requirements
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CSA-B51 references for welding and brazing include ASME Section IX, and the code related to pressure-retaining items are manufactured or installed.
Welding and brazing requirements include:
- Welding and brazing procedures used on the manufacture, installation, repair and alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, pressure piping and fittings require qualification and registration with TSSA
- Welding and brazing procedures require qualification in accordance with applicable codes and standards
- Welders and brazers require qualification by their employer in accordance with a TSSA-registered procedure
- Welders and brazers working on boilers, pressure vessels, pressure piping and fittings require a certificate appropriate for the type of work being performed
- Welders and brazers can only perform work for the employer shown on the certificate
- Welders and brazers must have their certificate available at all times for review by a BPV inspector
- Upon changing employers, a welder or brazer requires qualification by the new employer, to the new employer's procedure, before performing work on boilers, pressure vessels or pressure piping
- Welders or brazers must not perform work in a welding or brazing process or position for which they are not qualified
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Forms
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The following forms related to welding and brazing may also be required:
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Other Inspection Resources
Inspection directory
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Looking for a Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPV) inspector in your area? Please contact TSSA toll-free at 1-877-682-8772 or email BPV Customer Service for assistance.
View our complete BPV Inspecto Directory.
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Inspection agencies
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TSSA accepts or authorizes other inspection agencies to perform activities on our behalf. View Accredited Inspection Agencies for more information about acceptable inspection agencies to TSSA .
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Become a qualified boiler inspector
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In order to qualify as an inspector, you need to:
- Meet the education and experience requirements in the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Regulation.
- Pass the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors Exam.
- Pass the TSSA Certificate of Competency Exam.
Please note that applications to write TSSA's Certificate of Competency exam must come from your employer - an insurer or organization authorized to perform inspections on behalf of an insurer. They must certify that you meet all the requirements of the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Regulation.
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