Boilers and Pressure Equipment (BPE)

Technical Safety Act - Province Streamlines Safety Regulations in New Act

New regulations covering boilers and pressure equipment, fuel safety, crane operators, power engineers, standards, general matters and fees will take effect on April 1, 2011 Read More...

 

Boiler and Pressure Equipment Section

This applies to all Boiler and Pressure Equipment (BPE) as defined under the Technical Safety Act and Boiler and Pressure Equipment Regulations.

Anyone involved in the construction, manufacturing, installation, operation, repair and maintenance of:

• boilers
• pressure vessels
• high pressure piping systems
• refrigeration plants

BPE Chief Inspector Directives

 

Boiler Condition Report

BPE Regulations, Maintenance and Inspection Section 28 (2) (b):

28 (2) An owner of a boiler with a maximum output capacity of 150 kW (507,104 BTU/hr) or greater at 103 kPag (15 psig) of steam or lower, or operating at a pressure of 206.7 kPag (30 psig) of hot water or lower, must ensure that the boiler is:

(b) given an acceptable condition report that is completed and signed by an oil burner mechanic or gas technician authorized under the Fuel Safety Regulations made under the Act and provided to the BPE chief inspector.

BPE Contractor Licence

Any company wishing to perform work on regulated pressure equipment must have a valid Boiler and Pressure Equipment (BPE) Contractor Licence. Permits for installing or working on equipment at a specific location in the province will not be approved unless the contractor doing the work is in possession of a contractor licence. Activities performed related to pressure equipment that requires a contractor licence includes, but is not limited to:

• work as a manufacturer, fabricator, installer or contractor on regulated boilers and pressure equipment;
• work to repair or alter or perform maintenance on regulated boilers and pressure equipment and it's safety devices;
• welding, brazing, or bonding on regulated boilers and pressure equipment;
• employing personnel and providing for licencing of personnel that will perform welding, brazing, or bonding on regulated boilers and pressure equipment.

1) Obtaining an initial BPE Contractor Licence

a) Submit two copies of the company's written Quality Program Manual. The manual must be accepted by a BPE Inspector assigned to your area. If your company is from outside Nova Scotia and wishes to work in Nova Scotia, submit two copies of your Quality Program Manual that has been accepted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction over pressure equipment in your area, and a copy of the certificate or licence that demonstrates acceptance. For more information on preparing a Quality Program Manual that would be acceptable to our department, please refer to the Guideline for the Preparation of Quality Program Manuals

b) Complete and submit the BPE Contractor Licence Application. The application lists the required fee and addresses for submissions.

c) Submit the required fee by cheque or money order only, made payable to the Minister of Finance. See application for fee amount.

2) Changes or Revisions to a registered Quality Program Manual or an existing BPE Contractor Licence

Should a change or revision be made to a registered Quality Program Manual, the changes must be reviewed and accepted by the BPE Inspector assigned to your area or the the Authority Having Jurisdiction if from outside Nova Scotia. Revisions to written Quality Program Manuals that will require a new licence to be issued will include:

• change of company name or ownership;
• operational (procedural) or process control changes;
• increase or decrease in the types of pressure equipment to be within the scope of the quality program;
• changes required by updates or revisions to product codes and standards or regulations;
• change of address (applicable to ASME Accredited companies only).

Such changes will require a new BPE Contractor Licence to be issued, in which case, you must:

a) Submit two copies of the company's written Quality Program Manual. The manual must be accepted by a BPE Inspector assigned to your area. If your company is from outside Nova Scotia and wishes to work in Nova Scotia, submit two copies of your Quality Program Manual that has been accepted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction over pressure equipment in your area, and a copy of the certificate or licence that demonstrates acceptance. For more information on preparing a Quality Program Manual that would be acceptable to our department, please refer to the Guideline for the Preparation of Quality Program Manuals

b) Complete and submit the BPE Contractor Licence Application. The application lists the required fee and addresses for submissions.

c) Submit the required fee by cheque or money order only, made payable to the Minister of Finance. See application for fee amount.

3) Renewal of a BPE Contractor Licence

a) Complete and submit the BPE Contractor Licence Application-Renewal Form. The application lists the required fee and addresses for submissions.

b) Submit the required fee by cheque or money order only, made payable to the Minister of Finance. See application for fee amount.

NOTE: Licence renewals can only be granted if the revision level and date of the Quality Program Manual being implemented at the time of renewal is the same revision level and date that is registered with the department. If a revision had occurred after registration, please see 2) Changes or Revisions to a registered Quality Program Manual or an existing BPE Contractor Licence, above for further information.

4) BPE Contractors

We maintain a List of Licenced Contractors on our website, which is updated periodically. The list will only include those companies with a valid licence at the time of upload to the website.

BPE Permit

A BPE permit must be obtained before any work, repair, alteration or installation is performed on any boiler, refrigeration plant, pressure vessel or pressure piping system. An application for a BPE permit must be accompanied by all of the following:

• a written description of the regulated work to be done
• the drawings for the regulated work to be done
• the particulars of the machinery and components to be used
• the applicant's BPE contractor licence number

Equipment Licence

A person must hold an equipment licence to use or operate a boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant, or to cause or permit a boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant to be used or operated.

Before an equipment licence is issued it must meet the requirements of the BPE Regulations.

Pressure Welder Licence

A person must hold a pressure welder licence in the appropriate class to weld on any regulated product (ex. boiler, pressure piping, pressure vessel and refrigeration plant construction or repair) a pressure welder must be employed by a pressure welding employer who holds a BPE contractor licence.

There are two classes of pressure welder licence:

• pressure plate
• pressure pipe

First time pressure welders must complete an application and meet the minimum required practical experience or educational qualifications as required by the BPE Regulations.

Testing can be arranged by contacting the Technical Safety Division, Boilers and Pressure Vessels Section.

Canadian Registration Number (CRN)

A Canadian Registration Number with the Provincial designator is required for the design, drawings and specifications for any of the following regulated products before it is manufactured, fabricated, inspected, installed or operated in the Province:

• a boiler;
• a fitting to be used on a boiler system or pressure equipment;
• a petroleum furnace coil;
• a pressure vessel

Submissions must include CRN Application Form, 2 copies of fabrication drawings and 1 set of design calculations as required by the Code of Construction.

Note: For single point design reviews representing several jurisdictions in Canada see the ACI Central Inc. website located on the Related Sites below.

Pressure Piping System Design Registration

An application for registration of design for a pressure piping system must be submitted as per BPE Regulation.

Submissions must include CRN Application Form, 2 copies of design drawings (P&ID/ General Arrangements) and 1 set of design calculations as required by the Code of Construction..

Registration Submissions Contact Info:

Design Review & CRN Registration:
Donald Ehler: Donald.Ehler@novascotia.ca

Phone: 902-424-8072

Fax: 902-428-8770

Labour and Advanced Education
Boilers & Pressure Equipment Section
103 Garland Ave., 3rd Floor
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  B3B 0K5