Lapsed Authorization Policy

Valid Operational Licences & Registration are Essential for Effective Public Safety Oversight

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) protects the health and well-being of Ontarians by providing oversight of individuals, organizations and devices in several technical sectors to ensure their regulatory safety obligations are being met.

Authorizations (e.g., licences and registrations) are the only effective method of monitoring the activities of the businesses, facilities and devices operating in the province. An active authorization is necessary for TSSA to have oversight of the technical operations it regulates. By collecting the data required to validate knowledge, competency and qualifications through periodic inspections and audits and regulatory prerequisites, TSSA ensures authorization holders are operating safely.

Those offering technical services and operating technical devices and businesses within TSSA’s purview should inform TSSA of the status of their operations and devices. Devices, facilities, contractors and businesses operating without a valid TSSA licence or registration do so illegally and pose a risk to public safety.

Having a licence or registration informs the public that businesses, facilities, contractors and devices are legally authorized to operate.

TSSA Lapsed Authorization Resolution Procedure

In an effort to help regulated parties keep their authorizations in good standing and remain compliant with safety laws, TSSA provides regulated parties with notice of renewal on a number of occasions using various outreach methods. TSSA’s process to renew an authorization begins 60 days before the renewal date and ends 90 days after the authorization expires.

Timing	Action
60 Days Before Expiry	Renewal Invoice
60 Days After Expiry	Authorization Expiry Reminder Letter
67 Days After Expiry	Authorization Expiry Reminder Phone Call from TSSA
76 Days After Expiry	Authorization Expiry Reminder Phone Call from TSSA Inspector
83 Days After Expiry	Arrangement for Shut Down of Operation by TSSA Inspector

*Please note this procedure only applies to holders of TSSA licences and registrations for businesses, contractors, facilities and devices and does not apply to TSSA certificate holders.

TSSA Historical Lapsed Authorization Resolution Procedure

Using a similar method of outreach to the procedure indicated for lapsed authorizations, TSSA is addressing historical lapsed authorizations that expired between April 30, 2016, and April 30, 2021, by communicating reinstatement information to former authorization holders and escalating to inspections in situations in which authorizations cannot be resolved.

Former authorization holders who are no longer operating must provide TSSA with confirmation that the operational status of their business, facility or device is ‘not operating’ or ‘voluntary shut-down’. Former authorization holders who are still operating their business, facility or device must reinstate their authorizations.

If former authorization holders fail to reinstate their authorizations or TSSA is unable to confirm that the operational status is ‘not operating’ or ‘voluntary shut-down’, TSSA will begin further regulatory action, such as shutting down a device, facility or business and/or prosecution for regulatory offenses under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.

TSSA is contacting former authorization holders using a staggered timeline for each safety program area.

Elevating Devices – Commencing May 1, 2022
Boilers and Pressure Vessels – Commencing Fall 2022
Fuels – Commencing November 1, 2022

Please note that these dates are subject to change, to maintain effective workflow management and customer service levels.

Notifying TSSA of Changes in Operational Status

TSSA-regulated parties with the following account and profile changes must notify TSSA immediately, as outlined below.

Device Owner & Facility Account/Profile Changes	Action
Change of Address	If you have changed your address, please contact TSSA Customer Service at 1-877-682-8772 or customermanagement@tssa.org. Subject Line: Change of Address Request
Change of Ownership	If you are not the responsible party of a site and/or equipment due to a new lease, change of ownership or sale, please notify customermanagement@tssa.org immediately. Subject Line: Change of Ownership Request
No Longer Operating	If you are no longer operating your site or equipment and would like to request the cancellation of your operating licence, permit or registration, please contact licencingandregistration@tssa.org. Subject Line: Authorization Cancellation Request
Other Outstanding Fees Owed	If you have outstanding fees, please submit the payment immediately through TSSA's Online Payment Portal or by mail to the address below, referencing the invoice number. ATTENTION: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND SAFETY AUTHORITY PO BOX 4577 STN A TORONTO ON M5W 4V8

Lapsed Authorizations Resolution Frequently Asked Questions

Which authorizations does TSSA’s lapsed authorization reinstatement process apply to?

TSSA’s lapsed authorization policy applies to the following TSSA authorizations:

Boiler and pressure vessel (BPV) certificates of inspection (COIs)
Pipelines: natural gas, petroleum, propane
Fuels Safety (FS) contractors: heating fuels, compressed gas, petroleum
FS Facilities: CNG, NG, propane, liquid fuels, bulk plants, hydrogen, and conversion centres
Elevating Device (ED) contractors
ED devices

TSSA’s lapsed authorization policy does not apply to the following TSSA authorizations:

Amusement Device permits
Operating Engineer plants
Tanker Trucks: fuel oil, liquid fuels, and propane
FS facilities: digester and fuel oil distribution
All certificate holders

Are there additional fees associated with the reinstatement of a lapsed authorization?

Back fees will be applied and will include the entire annual fee multiplied by the number of previous renewal periods since the authorization was last active.

How do I prevent and/or minimize lapsed authorization reinstatement back fees?

In order to minimize back fees, authorization holders are strongly advised to contact and notify TSSA of the voluntary shutdown of a device or facility and have TSSA assist with a safe shutdown.

Is there a requalification process involved in reinstating a lapsed authorization?

In general, in addition to paying any back fees for facility and device authorizations that lapse for more than one year, former authorization holders will be required to undergo an inspection to ensure:

they meet the code as of the date of installation;
they meet all retroactive Director’s Orders and Safety Orders; and
that their maintenance is current.

TSSA will inform former authorization holders of all reinstatement requirements, as part of the lapsed authorization reinstatement process.

Please note that certificate holders whose certificates have been expired for more than one year will follow the certificate reinstatement policy published on TSSA.org in Training and Certification section of the associated safety program area.

Is there any consideration given for authorizations that lapse due to parental, retirement or military service leaves?

For TSSA certificate holders taking parental or military service leaves or retiring from a TSSA-certificated field, TSSA will waive the certificate fee for one annual subsequent cycle and change the certificate status to reflect that they are no longer working.

In order to be eligible for a fee waiver, these certificate holders must inform TSSA in writing of their plans to take parental or military service leave or retire, before their active certificate expires and before their leave begins.
For retirees who wish to maintain their certification status in the event of a return to work, their subsequent certificate renewal fee(s) will be reduced by 50 per cent while they are not working.
Certificate holders on these leaves may not work during the approved period. When/if they return to work, they must pay the full fee and complete any pre-requisites, such as continuing education.

Please note that this fee waiving/reduction applies to certificate holders only.

What are the consequences of failing to renew or reinstate an authorization or failing to notify TSSA of the operational status of a business, facility or device in Ontario?

If TSSA-regulated parties fail to renew or reinstate their authorizations and/or do not appropriately notify TSSA of their operational status, TSSA will begin further regulatory action, which may include shutting down a device or court action for offences under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.

Failure to respond to TSSA authorization inquiries may result in an inspection at a cost to the regulated party.

Further, if a regulated party chooses not to renew or reinstate an authorization and continues operation, a TSSA inspector will be authorized to shut down the illegally-operating device, facility or business until the regulated party is back in compliance with safety regulations.

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