Overview
Application Process
Owners or insurers of boilers, pressure vessels or refrigeration plants may apply to the Chief Inspector in accordance with The Saskatchewan Boiler and Pressure Act and Regulations for approval of a Quality Management System of Inspection to be carried out by the owner, or the insurer. The application is made to obtain the Certificate of Authorization, which authorizes the holder to implement a quality management system approved by the chief inspector.
To make a submission to the Chief Inspector for Issuing of the Certificate of Authorization, the following three steps shall be followed:
- Fill out the Application for a Quality Program Review. Ensure the contact information is complete and accurate for your organization.
- Include one controlled copy of the QMS manual.
Classes of Authorization
Saskatchewan Boiler and Pressure Vessel Regulation 83(1) establishes three classes of authorization: Class A and B owner’s certificate of authorization and Class C insurer’s certificate of authorization.
The variance in scope of each class is as follows:
Class A certificate of authorization permits:
- The periodic inspections of any boiler, pressure vessel, and pressure piping system or plant that is listed in the manual submitted for a prescribed location or locations.
- The inspections of repairs or alterations of any of the above equipment provided that the repair or alteration has been registered by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan where required.
- The acceptance inspections of any new pressure piping system installed at the above location(s) provided it has been registered with the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan where required.
Class B certificate of authorization permits:
- Everything as per Class A with the exception that anything referring to boilers is excluded, as Class B Certificate of Authorization does not allow the owner to extend their program to include boilers.
Class C certificate of authorization permits:
- An insurer to do the periodic inspections of equipment that is insured by that company.
Classes of Pressure Equipment Inspector’s Licence
An owner or insurer must ensure that any inspections required by Quality Management System are conducted by a Licensed Pressure Equipment Inspector. Two classes of Pressure Equipment Inspector’s licences are established: Pressure Equipment Inspector’s class 1 licence, and Pressure Equipment inspector’s class 2 licence.
A Class 1 licence authorizes the holder to inspect and issue an inspection certificate with respect to any of the following:
- A boiler, a pressure vessel, or a refrigeration plant, including any associated pressure piping system for which the owner holds a valid licence to operate.
- A pressure vessel to which the Act applies but is exempted from the requirement for a licence to operate.
- A repair or alteration to equipment described in (A) or (B) above for which a design has been registered.
- An installation of a new pressure piping system for which the design has been registered.
A Class 2 licence authorizes the holder to inspect and issue an inspection certificate with respect to any of the following:
- A pressure vessel, including any associated pressure piping system for which the owner holds a valid licence to operate.
- A pressure vessel to which the Act applies but is exempted from the requirement for a licence to operate.
- A repair or alteration to equipment described in (A) or (B) above for which a design has been registered.
- An installation of a new pressure piping system for which the design has been registered.
Benefits of QMS
The Quality Management System of inspections is a voluntary system that companies can use to increase inspection intervals, eliminate start‐up delays on newly installed equipment and increase service intervals on PSV s.
The following inspection intervals are set and followed for inspecting pressure equipment located in the province of Saskatchewan:
- One year for high pressure boilers
- Two years for low pressure boilers
- Five years for pressure vessels
- One year for refrigeration plants with Ammonia refrigerant
- Two years for refrigeration plants with other refrigerants
- Owners or insurers of pressure equipment who obtain the Certificate of Authorization and who designate and employ a licensed Pressure Equipment Inspector would be permitted to inspect equipment that they own or insure at inspection intervals determined through risk management principles.
- The owner of a licensed QMS system may apply to the Chief Inspector to further designate “designated” Class 1 pressure equipment inspectors as a “Special Inspector” able to perform acceptance inspections of boilers and pressure vessels.
- Saskatchewan has adopted CSA B51, Annex H. Thus, the Overpressure Protection Device servicing intervals dictated by Annex ‘H’ shall be followed. A licensed QMS holder may apply under the provisions of CSA B51, Annex H to extend the servicing intervals.
- Equipment inspected under a licensed Quality Management System is eligible for a 30% reduction of the annual equipment licensing fee.
Reporting Requirements Under a QMS
Communication between the QMS holder and the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan is an essential part of achieving and maintaining a well‐functioning QMS of inspection.
To this objective, presentation of the following reports is considered mandatory:
- Letter of Implementation – to communicate implementation of the system.
- Reporting of Inspections Performed under QMS – to communicate performance of required inspections.
- Pressure Equipment Inventory Update – which communicates changes of pressure equipment inspected under QMS.
- Notification to the Chief Inspector – submission of such reports will not only fulfil the requirements specified in the QMS manual but will also eliminate the need for the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan to obtain this information by way of costly audits at holders expense.
Letter of Implementation
- Letter of Implementation is a one‐time report notifying the Technical Safety Authority that the QMS program was in fact implemented.
- Once the QMS program is implemented, the holder of the Certificate of Authorization notifies the Technical Safety Authority via letter.
- The contents of this letter shall include a statement of implementation and a date of implementation.
Regular Reports of Inspections Performed Under a QMS
QMS Holders are not exempt from having to obtain a Licence to Operate for each piece of pressure equipment they operate.
Before a Licence to Operate for a particular piece of pressure equipment can be issued, all required inspections must be performed.
Thus, all inspections performed under a QMS program must be reported to avoid complications with licence renewal.
The intent is for the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan to receive reports of QMS inspections in May and November of each year.
The Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan has developed QMS Inspection Reporting spreadsheet to assist QMS holders in reporting their inspections.
Pressure Equipment Inventory Updates
Pressure Equipment Inventory Updates are used by the Technical Safety Authority to maintain accuracy of its records, and shall be submitted:
- When pressure equipment is sold or retired from service a Pressure Equipment Status Report form shall be submitted for each piece of equipment being updated.
- At intervals specified in the current QMS manual – the comprehensive pressure equipment inventory list.
- When pressure equipment is relocated, Installation or Repair/Alteration Permit shall be submitted for each piece of equipment reinstalled at different location. For frequently relocated pressure equipment a status of portability can be obtained.
Notification to the Chief Inspector
At all times the Chief Inspector for Saskatchewan shall be accurately informed on who the Designated Pressure Equipment Inspectors are for every QMS authorization.
The QMS holder shall notify the Chief Inspector immediately if the designation of a Pressure Equipment Inspector is terminated or a new designation is made.