Boiler and Pressure Equipment (BPE)

Technical Safety Act - Province Streamlines Safety Regulations in New Act (News Release, 1 April 2011).

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

Safety Notifications

Safety Alert: imminent danger to a safety issue, that if not addressed will likely lead to health and safety consequences.

Safety Bulletin: non-imminent danger practices or procedures, which may have a level of safety risk if not addressed as soon as possible.

Safety Directive: an interpretation or application of the act, regulations or standards of the regulation, which require action. A Directive is legally binding and must be followed by the affected parties.

Safety Notice: informative, non urgent, proactive communication on safety issue.

Key Safety Reminders

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 (PDF) 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 (PDF).

b) Complete and submit the BPE Contractor Licence Application (PDF). 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 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:

b) Complete and submit the BPE Contractor Licence Application (PDF). 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 (PDF). 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 Licensed Contractors (PDF) 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 (PDF) 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 (PDF) 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
a pressure piping system

Boiler, pressure vessel and petroleum furnace coil submissions for registration in Nova Scotia must include a Design Registration Application for a CRN (PDF), 2 copies of fabrication drawings and 1 set of design calculations as required by the Code of Construction and Boiler and Pressure Regulations under the Technical Safety Act.

For the registration of fittings, the submission must include the completed Statutory Declaration form found here (PDF) along with 2 copies of drawings and/or catalogues, and 1 copy each of calculations, proof test reports, other technical documents as applicable, and registration application form.

Registration of pressure piping systems must include 2 copies of the system's P&ID, and one copy each of the General Arrangement drawing, Line List or Piping Specifications, design code calculations as required by the code, and the registration application form.

Mutual Design Recognition, Reconciliation Agreement and the Canadian Registration Number (CRN)

On January 1, 2020 the Reconciliation Agreement for the Canadian Registration Number for Pressure Equipment (RA for CRN) came into force. Nova Scotia is one of many signatory provinces and territories committed to the mutual recognition of design reviews for boilers, pressure vessels and fittings conducted by other of the participating parties. Mutual recognition means that participating provinces and territories will recognize as valid the design reviews of other participating jurisdictions.

Once a design review is successfully completed in one of these jurisdictions, it will not need to be repeated in the other participating jurisdictions for the same application submission. A summary of the agreement can be found at this link. Full text summary of the Reconciliation Agreement including the participating jurisdictions can be accessed at: here (PDF).

Multi-Jurisdictional and National Reviews

For single point design reviews representing several jurisdictions in Canada visit the National Registration website for ABSA (Alberta) or visit for TSSA (Ontario)

Atlantic Canada and the Territories

For registrations specifically in one or more of the ACI Central seven member jurisdictions (NS, NB, PE, NL, NT, NU, YT) visit ACI Central Inc.

Nova Scotia Only

For registration requests specific to Nova Scotia only apply using the Registration Submissions Contact Information accessed through the Design Registration Application for a CRN along with two (2) copies of fabrication drawings and one (1) set of design calculations as required by the Code of Construction and Boiler and Pressure Regulations under the Technical Safety Act. Download the Design Registration Application for a CRN (PDF)

Where a CRN exists with other provinces and territories in Canada, to apply for a design recognition review in Nova Scotia, a new application must be submitted. Current codes and standards for broiler and pressure equipment design must be met at the time of application.

Registration Submissions Contact Info

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

Phone: 902-240-9584

Fax: 902-428-8770

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

Contacts

Please contact 1-800-9LABOUR (1-800-952-2687) with your Boilers & Pressure Equipment permit, licencing and related questions.

Labour, Skills and Immigration