Directive: Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Notification and Declaration of Compliance Requirements

The following directive is being issued by a provincial safety manager pursuant to section 30 of the Safety Standards Act (the Act) to clarify the requirements for providing notification under the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation.

Definitions

Declaration of compliance: a declaration or notice that, or another form of statement indicating that, regulated work complies with the Act and the regulations.

Regulated work:

1. the assembly, manufacture, construction, installation, operation, testing, maintenance, or repair of a regulated product; and
2. the alteration of a regulated product.

Specific Details

Section 61 of the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation (the regulation) establishes the general duties of a licensed contractor including the requirement for notification to be provided:

• before the commencement of regulated work; and
• upon the completion of regulated work.

While the regulation establishes the requirement for notification to be provided, it does not specify the type of notification required or the form in which it must be provided for different equipment types. This directive clarifies the following:

• that notifications required under section 61(2) of the regulation must meet the requirements of a declaration of compliance under the Safety Standards General Regulation; and
• it outlines the administration of section 61 of the regulation, including the various processes which apply to the different types of regulated products falling under the scope of the regulation.

Before the Commencement of Regulated Work

Prior to the start or commencement of regulated work, a licensed contractor must provide notification to a provincial safety manager in accordance with section 61(1) of the regulation. Notification shall be provided in the following manner in order to meet the requirements of section 61(1) of the regulation:

• boilers and boiler systems, and refrigeration systems and equipment: obtaining an installation permit prior to the start of work satisfies the requirement of section 61(1) for providing notification to a provincial safety manager.
• pressure vessels: submitting an installation notification for pressure vessels to Technical Safety BC prior to the start of work satisfies the requirement of section 61(1) for providing notification to a provincial safety manager.
• pressure piping systems: providing notification to the area safety officer in accordance with Directive D-BP 2011-01: Inspection Requirements for Piping Systems and Piping Components prior to the start of work satisfies the requirement of section 61(1) for providing notification to a provincial safety manager.
• repairs and alterations: where an installation permit is not required by Technical Safety BC for repair or alteration activities, providing notification to the area safety officer prior to the start of work satisfies the requirement of section 61(1) for providing notification to a provincial safety manager.

In all cases the licensed contractor must provide complete details, including supporting documentation, for each piece of regulated equipment or regulated system installed.

Upon the Completion of Regulated Work

Upon the completion of regulated work, a licensed contractor must provide notification to a safety officer as per section 61(2) of the regulation. This notification must indicate that the regulated work has been completed in accordance with the regulation and, as such, is interpreted to be a declaration of compliance as defined in the Safety Standards General Regulation. Declarations of compliance must comply with the requirements of section 35 of the Safety Standards General Regulation including:

1. the person providing the notification must first physically inspect the regulated work that is the subject of the declaration; and
2. the declaration must confirm that, based on the inspection performed, the regulated work complies with the Act and regulations.

Notification shall be provided in the following manner in order to meet the requirements of section 61(2) of the regulation:

• boilers and boiler systems, refrigeration systems and equipment, and pressure vessels: submission of a declaration of compliance along with any supporting documentation for the type(s) of equipment installed satisfies the requirements of section 61(2).
• pressure piping systems: providing notification in accordance with Directive D-BP 2011-01: Inspection Requirements for Piping Systems and Piping Components and submission of a signed and completed construction data report satisfies the requirements of section 61(2).
• repairs and alterations: providing notification to the area safety officer and submission of a signed and completed repair and alteration report satisfies the requirements of section 61(2).

Provincial Safety Manager - Boilers, Pressure Vessels, and Refrigeration

References
Safety Standards Act
Safety Standards General Regulation
Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel & Refrigeration Safety Regulation
Boiler, pressure vessel and refrigeration inspection declaration form (FRM-1449)
Pressure vessel installation notification form (FRM-1444)
Boiler and pressure vessels repair and alteration report form (FRM-1060)
Pressure piping repair and alteration report (FRM-1553)