COMPLIANCE BULLETIN: Ontario Amends Boiler and Pressure Vessel Regulation

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ontario’s TSSA is introducing new regulations governing boilers and pressure vessels, effective July 1, 2018.
• Among the changes, businesses will have to follow a new process in order to secure a COI for BPVs.

OVERVIEW

Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is introducing new regulations governing boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs), effective July 1, 2018. Among the changes, businesses will have to follow a new process to secure a certificate of inspection (COI) for BPVs. COIs are documents issued to BPV owners after they pass a periodic inspection. COIs also legally authorize BPV owners to operate the devices.

WHO’S IMPACTED?

The new rules, which are based on amendments to Ontario’s Boilers and Pressure Vessels Regulation, are designed to keep residents safe by ensuring that BPVs are designed, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with applicable codes and standards. In addition, the amendments enable the TSSA to keep a database of all regulated BPVs, including their location and safety status.

Notably, these changes affect the following stakeholders:

• Individuals and businesses who own BPVS regulated under the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Regulation
• Insurers licensed to underwrite BPV equipment
• Third-party inspection providers

WHAT’S CHANGING AND WHY?

The new BPV standards include the following provisions:

1. The new process requires BPV owners to work directly with the TSSA. The TSSA will issue a COI to BPV owners after they pass a periodic inspection and submit a Record of Inspection. COIs are valid throughout the inspection cycle of a BPV device, which can range from 12 to 36 months.
2. Owners of BPVs will be required to pay a COI fee to the TSSA for each device they own. These fees range from $40 to $115 depending on the frequency of inspections. A triennial audit fee of $4,100 will apply to insurers who underwrite boiler and machinery insurance in Ontario. It should be noted that The Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company of Canada will continue to conduct periodic BPV inspections at no additional charge to owners.
3. The TSSA will maintain a database of device-specific periodic inspection information from both insurers and TSSA inspectors. This will allow the TSSA to track the status of BPVs and any notable incidents. Furthermore, the TSSA will be able to share timely safety information with the public.
4. The TSSA will implement an audit and attestation program to provide oversight of periodic inspections conducted by insurers.

These provisions were not only introduced to improve communication between BPV owners and the TSSA, but benefit public safety as well.

BPVs are used across a variety of industries, including, but not limited to, power, manufacturing, agriculture and forestry. In the event that a BPV is installed or operated in an unsafe manner, equipment failures, leakages and ruptures can occur. These events can lead to major health and safety hazards, like poisonings, suffocations, fires and explosions. This is particularly concerning, as BPVs are common in populated structures like apartments, condominiums, malls, office space, hospitals, retirement homes and schools.

To learn more about the changes, read these fact sheets provided by the TSSA.

This Compliance Bulletin is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. 2 Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice.

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