On April 14, 2025, the Propane Compliance Standard will take effect for all licenced propane facilities in Ontario. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) will apply this standard during periodic inspections to enhance safety and regulatory consistency.
The Propane Compliance Standard identifies high-risk non-compliances that pose significant risks to safety. If high-risk non-compliances are found during a periodic inspection, TSSA will:
- Issue an order(s) requiring corrective action
- Conduct a follow-up inspection to confirm compliance
Other non-compliances, categorized as safety tasks (low- and medium-risk), will be noted on the inspection report. Owners and operators are responsible for resolving safety tasks within the time specified in the inspection report. TSSA will not conduct a follow-up inspection if only safety tasks are found during a periodic inspection.
The Compliance Standard seeks to enhance the safety of propane facilities across Ontario by prioritizing the efforts of TSSA and regulated parties on addressing high-risk non-compliances promptly.
Benefits of Compliance Standards
- Prioritizes high-risk non-compliances: Help owners, contractors and mechanics understand safety priorities by focusing their efforts on addressing high-risk non-compliances.
- Promotes inspection consistency: Inspection orders are based on risk and data analyses from inspection and incident history, ensuring standardized and consistent inspections.
Learn More - Join our Webinar
TSSA is hosting a live webinar to provide more details about the new Propane Compliance Standard:
Date : Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time : 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (EST)
- How the Propane Compliance Standard was developed
- High-risk non-compliances covered in the standard
- The difference between high-risk non-compliances with the Compliance Standard and other non-compliances/safety tasks
- Steps to take when non-compliances are identified during a periodic inspection
This news item was sent to propane facility owners and operators and Fuels web subscribers.
On April 14, 2025, the Liquid Fuels Compliance Standard will take effect for all licensed liquid fuels facilities in Ontario. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) will apply this standard during periodic inspections to enhance safety and regulatory consistency.
The Liquid Fuels Compliance Standard identifies high-risk non-compliances that pose significant risks to safety. If high-risk non-compliances are found during a periodic inspection, TSSA will:
- Issue an order(s) requiring corrective action
- Conduct a follow-up inspection to confirm compliance
Other non-compliances, categorized as safety tasks (low- and medium-risk), will be noted on the inspection report. Owners and operators are responsible for resolving safety tasks within the time specified in the inspection report. TSSA will not conduct a follow-up inspection if only safety tasks are found during a periodic inspection.
The Compliance Standard seeks to enhance the safety of liquid fuels facilities across Ontario by prioritizing the efforts of TSSA and regulated parties on addressing high-risk non-compliances promptly.
Benefits of Compliance Standards
- Prioritizes high-risk non-compliances: Help owners, contractors and mechanics understand safety priorities by focusing their efforts on addressing high-risk non-compliances.
- Promotes inspection consistency: Inspection orders are based on risk and data analyses from inspection and incident history, ensuring standardized and consistent inspections.
Learn More – Join Our Webinar
TSSA is hosting a live webinar to provide more details about the new Liquid Fuels Compliance Standard:
Date : Thursday, March 27, 2025
Time : 10:00– 11:00 a.m. (EST)
Webinar Topics
- How the Liquid Fuels Compliance Standard was developed
- High-risk non-compliances covered in the standard
- The difference between high-risk non-compliances with the Compliance Standard and other non-compliances/safety tasks
- Steps to take when non-compliances are identified during a periodic inspection
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This news item was sent to liquid fuels contractors and facilities and Fuels web subscribers.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has issued a Director’s Safety Order on Smartrise SRA (V3 CEDES) Controllers with single door zone sensor.
This order applies to elevators:
- with a Smartrise SRA (V3 CEDES) traction controller;
- registered and installed using CSA Standard B44 Elevators and Escalators; and
- with a single sensor to determine position for the levelling and Unintended Car Movement Protection safety circuits.
Safety Concern
This Director’s Order addresses a safety issue that could result in serious injury or death. During a Category 5 test on a traction elevator equipped with a Smartrise SRA (V3 CEDES) controller, CEDES Absolute Positioning System, and a single door zone sensor (sensing the position 75 mm above or below a landing), a mechanic observed that a single door zone sensor (either Magnet or Optical) can fail, and the elevator may move with the doors open. The car travelled toward the nearest landing with both the hall and car doors open, before stopping at the landing. The failure of the single sensor was not detected.
Actions Required
All owners and licensees shall ensure that their elevators are:
- Assessed in accordance with section 2 not later than June 1, 2025; and
- Have software altered and submit a Minor A Alteration Design Submission in compliance with section 3 of this order not later than December 1, 2025, where applicable.
Elevators not in conformance with the timelines above shall be removed from service until the required actions are completed.
Read the Director's Safety Order for full details.
TSSA has posted an updated Guidelines for Registration of Pressure Piping that addresses P-standard registrations.
The P-Standard is a type of piping registration applicable to standard piping design to be installed in multiple locations. The updated guidelines include a new section clarifying what can be registered as a P-standard.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has issued an advisory clarifying the requirements for the foundations of residential or small commercial standby generators with a capacity of up to 26 kW and fueled by natural gas or propane.
According to CSA B149.1-20 Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, these generators must be installed on a firm, level foundation and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Manufacturers often require, recommend or permit installation on a poured concrete pad, a prefabricated concrete slab, compacted soil, gravel, patio stones or other similar materials. TSSA will consider an installation compliant with clause 7.2.1.6 if the foundation meets the requirements or recommendations outlined in the manufacturer's instructions.
If the manufacturer’s instructions are unclear, do not specify foundation requirements or provide recommendations only, TSSA will deem the installation to be compliant with clause 7.2.1.6 if the foundation meets the following requirements:
- It is composed of compacted crushed gravel or limestone base and a non-combustible platform (such as patio stones or a concrete slab); and
- The top surface of the foundation is at least 2 inches above the surrounding ground surface.
Please refer to the advisory for full details.
Consultation closes on March 7, 2025
TSSA invites you to provide feedback on its publication of the Code Adoption Document (CAD) for Fuel Oil.
The CAD adopts a series of national safety codes into regulation. There are two separate codes adopted in the CAD which was last updated and published in 2021.
The opportunity to provide feedback will be open until March 7, 2025. TSSA aims to publish the final CAD approximately two months after reviewing consultation feedback.
Please visit EngageTSSA to comment on the 2025 Fuel Oil CAD.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has posted a new advisory outlining new licensing regime requirements for the transportation of compressed gas.
As of February 3, 2025, TSSA has adopted a new licensing regime that will require a licence to be issued for each transport truck carrying a bulk container certified as meeting the requirements of Transport Canada or the U.S. Department of Transportation. A licence will be issued only if it has passed an inspection performed by a TSSA inspector.
Previously, TSSA permitted the transport of compressed hydrogen and compressed natural gas through a non-permanent variance application that expires every two years. Approved variances are tied to user location and may or may not include a pressure reduction system and more than one tube trailer under the same approval.
Read the advisory for details.
As required by the Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems Code Adoption Document, pipeline operators are required to seek TSSA approval for any change in service fluid, including blending hydrogen into pipeline systems:
“Prior to a change in service fluid, including non-sour service to sour service, or gas to hydrogen or hydrogen blend service, the operating company shall conduct an engineering assessment to determine whether the pipeline systems would be suitable for the new service fluid. The assessment shall include consideration of the design, material, construction, operating, and maintenance history of the pipeline system and shall be submitted to the Director for approval.”
There are two ways to seek the required approval for introducing hydrogen into a pipeline system:
Option 1: Individual Engineering Assessment
Submit an Application for a Consultation, along with an engineering assessment signed by an Ontario-licensed professional engineer, demonstrating the safe operation of the pipeline system for each introduction of hydrogen blending.
Or
Option 2: Generic Engineering Assessment
Step 1: Submit an Application for a Consultation, along with a generic engineering assessment signed by an Ontario-licensed professional engineer, demonstrating the safe operation of the pipeline system for introducing various hydrogen blends. Considerations include, but are not limited to, conditions such as:
- The age of the pipeline
- Impacted materials
- Operating pressures
- Welds and transitions
- Maintenance programs
- Integrity programs
- Percentage of the hydrogen blend, etc.
Step 2: Submit individual applications for introducing specific hydrogen blends in the pipeline system to TSSA. TSSA will approve the individual applications for specific hydrogen blends as an administrative process if they are compatible with the requirements under the generic assessment. These individual submissions shall reference the following:
- The generic assessment
- Explanations of how the application is compatible with the generic assessment
- The location at which hydrogen blending is introduced
- Signed off by an Ontario-licensed professional engineer
The approval of submissions listed above will be billed at the hourly rate specified under the Engineering Services section of TSSA’s Natural Gas & Hydrogen Fee Schedule.
Changes in class location will apply to existing oil pipelines, per the Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems Code Adoption Document.
A pipeline’s class location can change due to population growth and development in a pipeline’s surrounding area. Previously, existing oil pipeline systems were exempted from the requirement to address changes in class location.
Operators of existing oil pipeline systems can submit applications to address changes in class location through one of the following ways:
- Apply for a variance to provide time to upgrade existing pipelines or reduce the operating pressure;
or
- Conduct and submit an engineering assessment to TSSA to determine the suitability of the continued use of the pipeline.
Starting December 22, 2024, propane certificate holders and Record-of-Training (ROT) holders will no longer be required to hold a liquid propane fitter certificate to purge propane tanks of 2,500 US water gallons (USWG) or less. The exemption helps propane distributors achieve the required changeout timelines for pressure-relief valves by increasing the number of professionals eligible to perform this task.
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement approved the exemption of these specified persons from the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 Fuel Industry Certificates Regulation (O. Reg. 215/01), provided they meet all the following conditions:
1. The person holds one or more of the following certificates or ROTs under the Act:
- Propane truck operator (PTO)
- Propane plant operator 1 (PPO-1) or
- Propane plant operator 2 (PPO-2)
2. The person is employed by a registered contractor under 0. Reg. 211/01, or a distributor under 0. Reg. 211/01;
3. The person has completed a TSSA-approved training program, including a practical examination from a TSSA-accredited training provider on how to evacuate propane tanks safely; and
4. The person undergoes either full retraining or skills retesting from a TSSA-accredited training provider at three-year intervals.
Training providers who wish to deliver a TSSA-approved training program should submit an Application for Training Provider Accreditation to TSSA and meet the accreditation and curriculum requirements established in the relevant policies and procedures.
Read the Minister’s exemption here.