Under the revised Heating Contractor Audit Program, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) inspectors now focus on the contractor’s business operation as it pertains to the regulation(s) instead of conducting field inspections for code compliance. This allows the contractor to be responsible for regulatory compliance, including checking their fuel technicians’ work in the field.
The program will continue with enhanced processes incorporating learnings since it was first launched a few years ago.
The Propane, Gaseous and Fuel Oil Regulations have seven primary requirements that are a contractor’s responsibilities. They are as follows:
- Only install approved equipment
- Technicians shall be certified for the work
- Call for initial inspection by the distributor where fuel is being used for the first time
- Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field
- Incident Reporting
- Identification, action as required and reporting of non-compliances (unacceptable conditions)
- Requirement to tag (pressure test tag/installation tag) equipment upon installation completion (in the Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code and the Fuel Oil Regulation)
TSSA’s audit will require the contractor to demonstrate compliance with these requirements through the contractor’s processes, procedures and records.
Regarding item 4 listed above “Ensure employees comply with the regulation(s) by verifying employees’ work in the field”, TSSA expects contractors to check their employees’ (technicians’) fuels work. The Safety Dispatch newsletter issued on August 15, 2023 indicated contractors must have a Quality Assurance Program. While this is not a requirement, it is one method to achieve compliance and is a best practice in the heating contractor industry. If there is no process to verify technicians’ work, TSSA will perform field verifications. In the event that non-compliances are found during TSSA’s verification, orders will be issued to address the non-compliances, including a directive for the contractor to develop a program to demonstrate that every reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure employees comply with O. Reg. 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling) s. 5 or O. Reg. 212/01 (Gaseous Fuels) s. 11 or O. Reg. 213/01 (Fuel Oil) s. 5. as applicable.
Please review these advisories for further details on the Heating Contractor Audit Program:
- Revision of TSSA’s Fuels Heating Contractor Audit Program
- Validation Programs associated with TSSA’s Fuels Heating Contractor Audit Program, Advisory FS-248-20
About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.