The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is extending the deadline for accredited training providers (ATPs) of the Fuels Safety curriculum to submit variance applications and provide these supplementary information for non-compliant laboratories. The new deadline is September 30, 2025, which has been extended from July 1, 2025. 

The extension provides ATPs of the Fuels Safety curriculum more time to assess their laboratories for non-compliances with the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, or its associated regulations and Codes, develop mitigation plans, and submit a variance application.

As a safety regulator administering technical safety regulations and providing safety oversight of training institutions that train and certify tradespeople, TSSA requires that non-compliant laboratories or laboratory equipment must receive a variance, even if they have passed their most recent inspection and audit.

To facilitate compliance, TSSA is waiving the fee for variance applications submitted by September 30, 2025. Variance applications must include a list of non-compliances identified in the laboratory or training area, the relevant Code for which the lab does not meet the compliance requirements, and the safety mitigations to achieve compliance with the Code. For instructions on how to submit a variance application, please refer to the December 16, 2024, communication.

Why Non-Compliant Labs Are Not Exempt from Variance Applications

Accredited training laboratories operate under different circumstances from commercial and industrial equipment installations. Due to these differences in risk profiles, TSSA has historically allowed ATPs of the Fuels Safety curriculum to operate non-compliant laboratories. 

Under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, and its associated regulations and Codes, laboratories are not exempt from compliance and are required to apply for a variance. In recognition of the historical practice, TSSA is extending the deadline for variance applications and waiving the fees for variance applications submitted by September 30, 2025.

ATPs are responsible for understanding the regulatory requirements outlined in the Regulation, Code and Code Adoption Document and must achieve regulatory compliance by the end of their next audit cycle. 

TSSA will enforce the new requirement starting January 1, 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, Gas Technician 3 (G3) certificate holders who earned their certification through the challenge process must provide proof of 450 hours of G3 work experience before enrolling in a G2 program.

This new requirement seeks to ensure that candidates who obtained certification through a challenge process — specifically those who take an exam for a certificate without attending formal training — possess the necessary practical experience before pursuing higher G2 certification. 

Accredited training providers of the Gas Technician and Oil Burner Technician Certification Program are responsible for obtaining proof of work experience totalling 450 hours from holders of G3 certificates. An acceptable form of proof includes a letter from the employer on company letterhead, confirming the candidate’s G3 work experience.

Background

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers the Gas Technician and Oil Burner Technician Certification Program. Following consultation with accredited training providers, TSSA revised the Gas & Oil Burner Technician Policies & Procedures (section 6.5) in March 2025 to reflect this new requirement. 

TSSA deferred the enforcement of this requirement to January 1, 2026, to give accredited training providers of this certification program time to implement this new requirement in screening processes for candidates of the G2 program. 

TSSA is identifying ways to help accredited training providers determine whether a G3 certificate holder obtained their certificate through the challenge process.

To communicate this new requirement to potential candidates, TSSA will: 

• Post information on its website
• Indicate the new requirement on the G3 challenge application form on the TSSA Client Portal
• Remind G3 candidates of the new requirement during practical assessments
• Notify employers of G3 certificate holders through the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada

For details, please read the Gas & Oil Burner Technician Policies & Procedures.

Since the launch of the Heating Contractor Audit Program in 2023, TSSA has received inquiries about the requirement for heating contractors with more than three technicians to perform Field Validation (QA) to ensure that their work on heating fuel installations complies with regulations.  

To assist contractors in performing QAs for heating-fuel installation work, TSSA has developed a generic template that can be applied to most fuel types and appliances. This template represents the minimum standard for contractor field validations acceptable to TSSA Fuel Safety inspections. The template can be adapted to include more details or used in addition to a contractor’s own QA checklists.

The Field Validation (QA) template is not meant to replace any current documentation, such as appliance start-up or commissioning sheets.

Deadline Thursday, September 25, 2025

Notice: Parties having an interest and expertise in the Propane industry

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) actively solicits the advice and input of key stakeholders from the respective industries that it regulates through several industry specific advisory councils. The advisory councils are invited to work with TSSA in support of safety initiatives and general enhancements in service delivery within their respective industries.

The Propane Advisory Council was established to provide a forum through which TSSA can consult with industry relative to its safety strategies and receive valuable input and advice to help guide TSSA’s decision making and operations. This structure provides:
•a communication channel through which their safety concerns can be voiced.
•a means to support and advise TSSA with respect to continuous improvement of itsservices.
•a valuable resource through which to solicit industry input and advice; and
•a mechanism to facilitate communication back to industry at large.

The Propane Advisory Council is seeking the following nominations to represent this stakeholder group:
• Maintenance Contractor
• An owner/operator/distributor as a Bulk Cylinder Exchange Operator
• Transporter/Carrier

Visit the TSSA website to access information about the Propane Advisory Council, including the minutes of past meetings: If you are interested in nominating an individual as a Council Member, please submit his/her letter of interest or nomination together with the individual’s resume by 2025-09-25 to: 

Iuliana Afanase 
Stakeholder Outreach Advisor 
Technical Standards and Safety Authority 
345 Carlingview Drive Toronto, Ontario 
M9W 6N9 
Email: tssaadvisorycouncil@tssa.org 

Deadline Thursday, September 25, 2025

Notice: Parties having an interest and expertise in the Natural Gas industry

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) actively solicits the advice and input of key stakeholders from the respective industries that it regulates through several industry specific advisory councils. The advisory councils are invited to work with TSSA in support of safety initiatives and general enhancements in service delivery within their respective industries.

The Natural Gas Advisory Council was established to provide a forum through which TSSA can consult with industry relative to its safety strategies and receive valuable input and advice to help guide TSSA’s decision making and operations. This structure provides:
• a communication channel through which their safety concerns can be voiced.
• a means to support and advise TSSA with respect to continuous improvement of itsservices.
• a valuable resource through which to solicit industry input and advice; and
• a mechanism to facilitate communication back to industry at large.

The Natural Gas Advisory Council is seeking the following nominations to represent this stakeholder group:
• Manufacturers & Designers – Water Heating
• A Standards Development Organization or Certification Bodies
• Manufacturers & Designers – Boilers

Visit the TSSA website to access information about the Natural Gas Advisory Council, including the minutes of past meetings.

If you are interested in nominating an individual as a Council Member, please submit his/her letter of interest or nomination together with the individual’s resume by 2025-09-25 to:

Iuliana Afanase 
Stakeholder Outreach Advisor 
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
345 Carlingview Drive Toronto, Ontario 
M9W 6N9 
Email: tssaadvisorycouncil@tssa.org