In accordance with the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 and other applicable regulations, codes and standards, the mandate of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) Fuels Safety Program is to regulate the transportation, storage, handling and use of these fuels in Ontario:
Natural gas
Digester gas
Landfill gas
Hydrogen
Propane
Butane
Fuel oil
Gasoline
Diesel
The Fuels Safety Program’s core regulatory services include:
Inspections: Conduct inspections and license pipelines, gas stations, propane filling stations, marinas and tanker trucks.
Licensing/Certification/Registration: Issue licences to operate fuel facilities and pipelines, register contractors and certify tradespersons who install and service fuel-burning equipment.
Compliance Support/Education: Offer training and certification services related to fuels safety in Ontario, including the accreditation of colleges or trade schools that administer courses pursuant to the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000.
Engineering: Review and approve facility plans for TSSA-licensed sites and perform custom equipment approvals and inspections to ensure fuel is handled and used safely.
Incident Investigation/Reporting: Investigate incidents and reports of non-compliance and provide technical expertise to industry stakeholders, safety partners and consumers.
Technical Advisory Services: Work with industry partners to mitigate issues and improve compliance outcomes to keep Ontarians safe.
See TSSA Fuels Safety Quick Facts (pdf) for a graphic representation of the Fuels Safety Program’s services.
Fuels-related Ontario Regulations cover the following.
O. Reg. 210/01: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems covers:
the design, construction, operation and maintenance of oil and gas industry pipeline systems that convey liquid hydrocarbons, including crude oil, condensate, liquid petroleum products, natural gas liquids and liquefied petroleum gas
any gas or mixture of gases suitable for domestic or industrial fuel that is conveyed to the user through a pipeline
O. Reg. 211/01: Propane Storage and Handling covers:
the storage, handling, transportation and transfer of propane.
the installation of appliances, equipment, components, accessories and containers on highway vehicles, recreational vehicles, mobile housing, outdoor food service units, and wash-mobiles when propane is to be used for fuel purposes.
the installation of containers and equipment to be used for propane in distribution locations and filling plants and on tank trucks.
the conversion of highway and industrial vehicles to propane from gasoline or other hydrocarbon fuels.
O. Reg. 212/01: Gaseous Fuels covers:
the installation, testing, maintenance, repair, removal, replacement, inspection and use of appliances, equipment, components and accessories where gaseous fuels are to be used for fuel purposes
the installation of VRAs (Vehicle Refueling Appliances), without storage, having a total flow rate below 1.0 cubic metre per minute (35 cubic feet per minute)
O. Reg. 213/01: Fuel Oil covers:
the installation, testing, maintenance, repair, removal, replacement, inspection and use of appliances, equipment, components and accessories where fuel oil is to be used as a fuel, but it does not apply to equipment referred to in O. Reg. 217/01: Liquid Fuels or O. Reg. 210/01: Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems
the maintenance, modification and specified upgrading of existing equipment and to all new equipment
O. Reg. 214/01: Compressed Gas covers:
the construction, operation and maintenance of GV (meaning a gas that is used as engine fuel for a vehicle) retail or private refuelling stations
the conversion of highway and industrial vehicles to GV from gasoline or other hydrocarbon fuels
the bulk containers and manifolded portable containers used as a temporary source of gas
the transportation of compressed gas in a bulk container
the use of hydrogen as a fuel to be used in vehicles, and
the storage of compressed hydrogen
O. Reg. 217/01: Liquid Fuels covers:
facilities (a permanent or mobile retail outlet, bulk plant, marina, cardlock/keylock, private outlet or farm) where gasoline or an associated product is handled, loaded or dispensed to be used as a fuel in motor vehicles.
The following regulations apply to the registration and/or certification requirements for contractors or businesses that perform work on fuel-related devices, equipment and facilities. The regulations also apply to workers, such as gas fitters and mechanics.
O. Reg. 197/14: Liability Insurance Requirements for Propane Operators sets out eligibility requirements for persons eligible to hold an authorization for the purposes of Ontario Regulation 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling)
O. Reg. 215/01: Fuel Industry Certificates governs the certificates required to be held in order to perform work under the following regulations:
O. Reg. 216/01: Certification of Petroleum Mechanics governs the certificates required to work under: