This part of the directive includes a process whereby the employer (Treasury Board [http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/index-eng.asp]) has delegated to the primary custodian of government property (PWGSC [http://pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca/text/index-e.html]) the responsibility for establishing contracts, on behalf of all custodian departments, with provincial boiler inspection authorities to ensure that inspections required by the Code, Part II [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/16951.html] are carried out.
Scope
This part of the directive enhances and/or supplements Part V (Boilers and Pressure Vessels) [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/31290.html#rid-31501] of the COHSR and should be read in that context.
Definitions
In this directive:
"authorized inspection agency" (organisme d'inspection autorisé) means the provincial or territorial or other inspection agency, which:
- employs qualified inspectors;
- meets the requirements of an "Authorized Inspection Agency" as defined in Section 3.2 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boilers and Pressure Vessels Code [http://www.asme.org/Codes/];
- (c) does not contract with any department or agency of the public service for the operation, repair or maintenance of boilers, pressure vessels or piping systems;
"designated inspection agency" (organisme d'inspection désigné) means the provincial, territorial or other inspection agency engaged by the Minister to inspect boilers, pressure vessels or piping systems for specified geographic areas;
"minister" (ministre) means the Minister of Public Works and Government Services;
"operating authority" (autorité exploitante) means the public service department or agency responsible for the operation and/or maintenance of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system;
"provincial or territorial inspection agency" (organisme d'inspection provincial ou territorial) means the agency responsible for the inspection, certification and registration of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems under provincial or territorial jurisdiction in the geographical area in which a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system of the public service is located;
"qualified inspector" (inspecteur qualifié) means a person recognized under the laws of the province or territory in which the boiler, pressure vessel or piping system is located as qualified to inspect boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems;
"regional director" (directeur régional) means an officer designated by the Minister to administer the safety inspection program in the area in which a public service occupancy or establishment is located.
5.1 Inspection and Certification of New Installations and Major Repairs
5.1.1 The operating authority shall ensure that the provincial or territorial inspection agency has access to all plans and specifications relating to a new installation or major repair of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system.
5.1.2 Subject to this section, no boiler, pressure vessel or piping system shall be operated or used following installation or major repair until the boiler, pressure vessel or piping system has been inspected and certified by the provincial or territorial inspection agency (Section 5.10 of the COHSR [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/31718.html#section-5.10]).
5.1.3 Where the provincial or territorial inspection agency is not prepared to provide the inspection and certification services referred to in this section, the operating authority shall ensure that the new installation, or major repair, is inspected by an authorized inspection agency and that documentation acceptable to HRSDC/Labour Program is obtained certifying that the newly installed or repaired boiler, pressure vessel or piping system complies with the requirements of this directive and with the Code to the extent essential for the health and safety of employees.
5.2 Operation
5.2.1 No person shall operate or use, or permit to be operated or used, a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system:
- unless it has been inspected by a qualified inspector in accordance with the requirements set out in 5.4 and a valid record of inspection has been issued in respect of that boiler, pressure vessel or piping system;
- unless every operator thereof is qualified in accordance with this section; and
- at a pressure higher than its maximum allowable pressure.
5.2.2 The operating authority shall ensure that:
- where two or more boilers or pressure vessels are connected to each other in a plant for use at a common operating pressure, they are each fitted with one or more safety valves or other approved equivalent fittings to relieve pressure at or below the maximum allowable pressure of the weakest boiler or pressure vessel in the plant as shown on the certificate of inspection for that boiler or pressure vessel;
- no person alters, interferes with or renders inoperative any fitting attached to a boiler, pressure vessel or plant, except for the purpose of adjusting or testing the fitting, and on instructions from the inspection agency (Section 5.5 of the COHSR [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/31718.html#section-5.5]).
5.2.3 The standards for control and supervision of the operation of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems located in a province or territory are those standards established under the applicable provincial or territorial statute or ordinance.
5.2.4 Subject to the provisions of this section, the qualifications and requirements of an operator of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system are those qualifications and requirements established under the applicable provincial or territorial statute or ordinance.
5.2.5 Any person employed as an operator who holds a valid Certificate of Qualification issued by any province or territory or a federal agency authorized to do so is considered qualified to operate a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system in any other province or territory for which an equivalent certificate is required.
5.3 Inspections – General
5.3.1 The Minister shall designate a provincial, territorial or other authorized inspection agency to carry out safety inspections of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems for specified geographical areas.
5.3.2 The designated inspection agency shall assign qualified inspectors to perform safety inspections of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems in its geographical area.
5.3.3 Qualified inspectors employed by the designated inspection agency shall be furnished with accreditation by the Minister identifying them as safety inspectors authorized to carry out the inspections. On producing their credentials, they shall, at any reasonable time, be permitted access to public service facilities in order to inspect any boiler, pressure vessel or piping system.
5.3.4 Operating authorities shall provide to the regional director a list of all boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems in their charge that are subject to the requirements of this directive and shall provide prompt notification of any additions or deletions to this list.
5.3.5 The operating authority shall ensure that, during any inspection of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system, there is a person in attendance who is capable of taking all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the person making the inspection.
5.3.6 The factor of safety for a high pressure lap-seam riveted boiler shall be increased by at least 0.1 each year after 20 years of use and, if the boiler is relocated at any time, it shall not be operated at a pressure greater than 102 kPa.
5.4 Inspection and Testing - Halon Systems [http://www.ec.gc.ca/ozone/docs/sands/halons/en/cop/p3.cfm]
5.4.1 Subject to this section, halon containers shall not be recharged without carrying out a test of container strength and a complete visual inspection if more than five years have elapsed since the date of the last test and inspection.
5.4.2 Subject to this section, halon containers that have been continuously in service without discharging may be retained in service for a maximum of 20 years from the date of the last test and inspection, at which time they will be emptied, retested, subjected to a complete visual inspection and re-marked before being put back in service.
5.4.3 Where halon containers have been subjected to unusual corrosion, shock or vibration, a visual inspection and a test of container strength shall be carried out.
5.4.4 Halon containers shall be tested by non-destructive test methods such as hydrostatic testing and shall be thoroughly dried before being filled.
(For additional information, see the following Environment Canada website: [http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/dpe/Anglais/dpe_main_en.asp?prev_fiche_rfh_2003].)
5.5 Records
5.5.1 The operating authority shall keep every record referred to in this section, for a period of at least 10 years after the inspection is made, at the workplace in which the boiler pressure vessel or piping system is located.
5.5.2 The inspector shall also direct that the boiler, pressure vessel or piping system be sealed in the manner prescribed, cancel the existing record of inspection and advise the regional director.
5.5.3 Where the use of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system has been prohibited, and the inspection agency is of the opinion that it cannot be repaired or the operating authority does not wish to have it repaired, the operating authority shall specify a method of disposal that will effectively prevent its further use in the public service.
5.5.4 Upon the discovery of any condition in a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system that may make its operation unsafe, the operating authority shall immediately notify the authorized inspection agency.