Directive: General Supervision and Risk Assessed Plant Registration Requirements

The following directive clarifies special plant registration and operation requirements, and establishes the minimum administrative and technical specifications required to be met for registration as general supervision or risk assessed status under the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Refrigeration Safety Regulation (the Regulation).

Definitions

Plant: A power plant, heating plant, low temperature low pressure fluid plant, low pressure thermal fluid plant, high pressure thermal fluid plant, refrigeration plant, oil well plant, unfired plant, or pressure plant.

Continuous supervision status plant: A plant for which the supervision of boilers, pressure vessels or refrigeration equipment is carried out in accordance with section 45 of the regulation.

General supervision status plant: A plant that has been registered and is supervised in accordance with sections 54 and 55 of the regulation.

Risk assessed status plant: A plant that has been registered and is supervised in accordance with sections 54 and 56 of the regulation.

Specific Details

Section 54 (1) of the regulation establishes two categories of special plants:

1. general supervision status plant
2. risk assessed status plant

Plants registered as either general supervision or risk assessed status are approved to operate with plant supervision carried out in accordance with the requirements of s. 55, 56, and 67 of the Regulation, including the terms and conditions established by the provincial safety manager pursuant to s. 27(3) of the Safety Standards Act (the Act).

Plants that are not registered as general supervision or risk assessed status are classified as continuous supervision plants and must have the person in charge of the plant present at all times in the plant boiler room, refrigeration machinery room, engine turbine room or in the immediate vicinity within the plant premises while the plant is in operation, as required by section 45 of the Regulation.

Requirements for Registration as General Supervision and Risk Assessed Status

Section 54 (3) of the regulation authorizes the provincial safety manager to direct administrative and technical specifications to be met prior to registration of a general supervision or a risk assessed status plant:

Special Plant Registration and Operation
54 (3) Before registration of a general supervision status plant or a risk assessed status plant, a provincial safety manager may direct administrative and technical specifications for that plant to be met.

Manual for General Supervision and Risk Assessed Status Plants (MAN-4000) establishes the minimum technical and administrative requirements set by a provincial safety manager which must be met to obtain and maintain registration as a general supervision or risk assessed status plant in accordance with section 54(3) of the Regulation.

Prior to registration, an assessment will be carried out by Technical Safety BC to verify that all applicable requirements of s. 55 or 56 of the regulation, and the technical and administrative requirements set by the provincial safety manager have been met.

Maintaining General Supervision and Risk Assessed Status

Plant owners are responsible for maintaining compliance with the Act, Safety Standards General Regulation, Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Refrigeration Safety Regulation, adopted codes and terms and conditions established by the provincial safety manager under s. 27(3) of the Act and listed below. Failure to maintain compliance with all applicable requirements may result in the suspension or cancelation of general supervision or risk assessed status plant registration.

Terms and Conditions

Pursuant to section 27(3) of the Act, general supervision and risk assessed status plants are subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. The plant and associated safety and management program must be maintained in the same condition as was accepted during the registration assessment. Any changes to the accepted plant configuration, capacity and/or plant safety and management program, must be reported to Technical Safety BC.
2. All activities associated with the operation and maintenance of the plant must be done in accordance with the plant safety and management program.
3. When a power engineer or refrigeration operator is required to be on the plant premises in accordance with section 55(2) & 56(2)(a) of the regulation, the power engineer or refrigeration operator responsible for the plant must thoroughly inspect the plant including all boilers, refrigeration systems, pressure vessels, pressure piping systems, fuel systems, fittings, safety devices, and ancillary equipment soon as practical after the start of the shift. Additionally, prior to leaving the plant premises, the power engineer or refrigeration operator responsible for the plant must verify that all controls, safety devices, and remote monitoring systems are functioning appropriately.

Provincial Safety Manager – Boilers, Pressure Vessels, & Refrigeration

References:

Safety Standards Act
Safety Standards General Regulation
Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel & Refrigeration Safety Regulation