Boiler and Pressure Vessel Regulations: What Ontario grain farmers need to know Stay Safe. Stay Compliant. Report Your Pressure Equipment. ADVERTISEMENT Ontario grain farmers who use boilers and pressure vessels (BPVs) as part of their agricultural operations are required to report their pressure equipment to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). BPVs are typically used for drying and processing grain, heating buildings or storing grain. Air compressors, which are a form of pressure vessel, are also used to operate grain dryers and farm equipment. The exemption on agricultural BPVs that was lifted in July 2021, means that BPV installations, fittings, and piping used for agricultural purposes must comply with Ontario Regulation 220/01: Boilers and Pressure Vessels under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B51 Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Pressure Piping Code. Since then, TSSA has been working with agricultural associations across Ontario to ensure operators and owners are fully informed that the installation, operation, maintenance and registration of BPVs, fittings, and pressurized piping used for agricultural purposes are regulated. Previously, Ontario had been the only province where BPVs used in agricultural operations were exempt from safety laws. What grain farmers need to do The first step to comply with safety requirements is to report all installed BPVs used for agricultural purposes to TSSA by completing an online form. After boilers and pressure equipment have been reported, TSSA will notify agricultural sites of a scheduled site assessment 30 days in advance. During a site assessment, a TSSA inspector will evaluate BPVs for safety compliance. Tony Gabriele, BPV Project Lead and Regional Supervisor with TSSA, says site assessments provide an opportunity for TSSA inspectors to educate owners and operators of agricultural sites that use regulated BPVs and help them understand and comply with the provincial regulations. Agricultural operators can prepare for the site assessment by: • Reviewing the checklist of what an inspector will look for • Ensuring their equipment is accessible and ready for the site assessment • Informing TSSA before the site assessment if there are any biosecurity protocols related to the site and if there has been a bio-outbreak at the site that could affect the completion of the site assessment. Gabriele says reporting BPVs used in agricultural operations is “a critical step” in keeping the process moving to ensure BPVs are operating safely. “If you have not yet reported your boiler or pressure vessel equipment to TSSA, please go to TSSA’s website and fill out the online form,” he adds. Key compliance requirements for boilers and pressure vessels used on grain farms • Having a Canadian Registration Number issued by TSSA to confirm a BPV design complies with safety standards. • Obtaining a Certificate of Inspection (COI) for regulated pressure equipment. • Undergoing Periodic Inspections: Certified BPVs must be inspected periodically by a qualified inspector. Before a COI expires, owners and operators must request a periodic inspection from their insurer (if the device is insured) or from TSSA (for uninsured equipment). • Ensuring the company hired to repair or alter BPVs holds a Certificate of Authorization from TSSA. For more information, check out the infographic and Boiler and Pressure Vessel Equipment for Agricultural Use on TSSA’s website. If you have questions, email agriculture.bpv@tssa.org.
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