Toronto, ON — All repairs and alternations of boilers and pressure vessels (BPV), fittings, and piping used for agricultural purposes must comply with Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels, as of July 1. This comes under the Technical Standards and Safety Act (TSSA).
Repairs to BPVs include any work that is required to restore the boiler or pressure vessel to a safe operating condition that doesn’t deviate from the original design. If there is a deviation from the design, then it needs to follow the “Alterations to BPVs” section. This would require design calculations that could affect pressure-containing capability; for example, an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure or increasing the design temperature of pressure-retaining equipment. Companies performing repairs are required to have a certificate of authorization from TSSA or another Canadian jurisdiction. Companies with a National Board Certificate of Authorization are also acceptable, provided all National Board requirements are included.
If the BPV is covered by mechanical breakdown insurance, TSSA recommends contacting the insurance company to perform the repair inspection.
Some piping systems are exempt from TSSA registration and inspection. Before repairing or fabricating any piping, the safety standard association recommends contacting the local inspector to determine inspection requirements. New piping or additions to existing piping systems require design registration and inspection.
A plan is currently in development, which will be phased in over five years to bring into compliance all existing BPVs used for agricultural purposes that fall under the regulation.
The plan includes registering existing equipment through a form that will be soon released. The information collected through the form will be used to do a risk-based assessment and establish a priority list for scheduling inspections based on the type of device, its location, and whether it is covered by insurance.
TSSA states that they will continue to work with agricultural partners to implement the regulatory requirements.