How To Complete TSSA Pressure Vessel Registration In Ontario

You install BioGas processing systems that include pressure vessels. Before any of that equipment operates legally in Ontario, you need TSSA registration and a Canadian Registration Number. The process involves design submissions, technical reviews, inspections, and compliance documentation. Get a step wrong and you face project delays, failed inspections, and equipment sitting idle while you sort out regulatory issues.

The registration path is straightforward once you understand each stage. You prepare a design package, submit it through TSSA's online portal, work through their technical review, and coordinate inspections to receive your Certificate of Inspection. With proper preparation, most projects move from submission to operation in 12 to 16 weeks.

This guide walks you through the complete TSSA pressure vessel registration process. You'll see what documentation TSSA requires, how to navigate the online portal, what happens during technical review, and how to maintain compliance after installation. Follow these steps and you'll complete registration efficiently without delays.

What TSSA pressure vessel registration involves

TSSA pressure vessel registration requires you to prove your equipment meets Ontario Regulation 220/01 standards before operation. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority reviews your design documentation, verifies compliance with ASME or CSA codes, and issues a Canadian Registration Number that legally authorizes your vessel for use in Ontario.

The registration cycle from design to operation

Registration breaks down into four interconnected stages that build on each other. You start by submitting design calculations, drawings, and material certifications through TSSA's online portal. Their engineering team reviews your package against code requirements and sends technical queries that you must address. Once approved, you receive a CRN that gets stamped on your nameplate. After installation, a TSSA inspector or authorized insurance company inspector conducts a first inspection to verify the vessel matches approved drawings and operates safely.

The entire process typically takes 12 to 16 weeks from initial submission to receiving your Certificate of Inspection.

Your registration doesn't end after installation. You maintain compliance through periodic inspections at intervals set by vessel type (annually for high-pressure steam boilers, every three years for standard pressure vessels). Each inspection renews your Certificate of Inspection, which you need to operate legally. Missing an inspection deadline means shutting down equipment until you complete the renewal process.

Step 1. Confirm your vessel is regulated and needs a CRN

Not every pressure vessel in your BioGas system requires TSSA pressure vessel registration. You save time and money by identifying which equipment falls under Ontario Regulation 220/01 before you start paperwork. The regulation exempts certain vessels based on pressure ratings, capacity, and application. Check your equipment specifications against the exemption criteria to determine what needs a Canadian Registration Number and what operates without one.

Check the regulation exemption list

Start by reviewing Section 2(2) of Ontario Regulation 220/01, which lists equipment that doesn't require registration. Your vessel might be exempt if it operates below 15 psig, holds less than specific volume thresholds, or serves as a hot water tank under 120 gallons. Agricultural equipment lost its blanket exemption on July 1, 2021, so BioGas systems on farms now follow the same rules as industrial installations.

Common exemptions include pressure vessels under 15 psig with volumes below 1.5 cubic feet, compressed air receivers under 5 cubic feet at any pressure, and refrigeration equipment components that meet specific CSA standards. If your vessel doesn't match an exemption, you need registration.

Review the complete exemption list carefully because operating unregistered equipment that requires a CRN violates provincial law and exposes you to shutdown orders and fines.

Apply the pressure and capacity thresholds

Your vessel requires registration when it exceeds both pressure and volume minimums set in the regulation. Calculate your operating pressure in psig and compare it against the threshold for your vessel type. Measure internal volume in cubic feet to confirm whether your equipment crosses the registration requirement line. Document these calculations because TSSA reviewers verify them during the design submission process.

Step 2. Prepare your design package and portal account

Your design package forms the technical foundation of your TSSA pressure vessel registration application. You gather engineering calculations, fabrication drawings, material certifications, and quality control documentation that proves your vessel meets ASME Section VIII or CSA B51 requirements. Assembling complete documentation before you start the online submission prevents review delays and back-and-forth requests for missing information.

Gather your technical documentation

Collect design calculations signed by a Professional Engineer licensed in Canada, showing wall thickness, weld joint efficiency, and pressure ratings. Include fabrication drawings with vessel dimensions, nozzle locations, material specifications, and weld details. Add material test reports that certify your steel meets code requirements, along with radiographic or ultrasonic test results for pressure-retaining welds. Your nameplate design must show the future CRN space, maximum allowable working pressure, design temperature, and manufacturer details.

TSSA requires these specific documents for every submission:

• Signed and sealed engineering calculations

• General arrangement and fabrication drawings

• Material certifications (mill test reports)

• Non-destructive examination records

• Quality control procedures and inspection reports

• Completed design registration application form

Missing even one required document triggers a review hold that adds weeks to your tssa pressure vessel registration timeline.

Create your TSSA Client Portal account

Register for a TSSA Client Portal account at clientportal.tssa.org before starting your submission. You provide your company name, business address, contact information, and payment details during registration. The portal requires a valid email address that TSSA uses for all communication about your application status and technical queries. Verify your account through the confirmation email before attempting to upload documents. Save your login credentials securely because you need portal access throughout the review process and for all future registrations.

Step 3. Submit the design and respond to TSSA review

You upload your complete design package through the TSSA Client Portal and pay the registration fee to trigger the technical review. TSSA assigns an engineer who examines your calculations, drawings, and material certifications against applicable code requirements. The review process takes two to six weeks depending on complexity and documentation quality. Your responsiveness to technical queries directly impacts how quickly you receive your Canadian Registration Number.

Navigate the online submission process

Log into your Client Portal account and select Boilers & Pressure Vessels Design Registration from the services menu. Fill in the vessel details form with manufacturer information, design pressure, design temperature, vessel volume, and intended use. Upload your PDF documents in the specified order: calculations first, then drawings, followed by material certifications and quality control records. Attach the completed prepayment form (SKI-001 or SKI-002 depending on vessel type) and submit payment through the portal payment gateway. You receive an automated confirmation email with your application tracking number within 24 hours.

Handle technical queries efficiently

TSSA sends technical queries through the portal when reviewers identify missing information, calculation discrepancies, or code compliance questions. Check your portal dashboard every two business days because queries require responses within specific timeframes to avoid application closure. Download each query document, address every numbered question with supporting calculations or revised drawings, and upload your response package through the same portal submission interface.

Response delays beyond 30 days trigger automatic application withdrawal, forcing you to restart the entire tssa pressure vessel registration process with new fees.

Common queries involve weld joint efficiency justifications, material substitution approvals, or clarification of nameplate information. Provide complete answers with referenced code sections to speed approval.

Step 4. Install, inspect, and keep your COI current

Your approved CRN allows fabrication and installation, but you cannot operate your vessel legally until a TSSA inspector or authorized insurance company inspector completes a first inspection and issues your Certificate of Inspection. Schedule this inspection at least 60 days before your planned startup date to avoid project delays. After receiving your COI, you enter a periodic inspection cycle that continues for the vessel's operational life.

Book and pass your first inspection

Contact TSSA at inspectionscheduling@tssa.org or arrange inspection through your insurance company if you carry boiler and machinery coverage. Complete the BPV Inspection Request Form and submit it with payment at least 60 days before your target inspection date. The inspector verifies your vessel matches approved drawings, checks nameplate information against your CRN certificate, tests safety relief devices, and confirms proper installation of controls and gauges. You receive your COI within five business days after passing inspection.

Your tssa pressure vessel registration becomes operational only after you receive a valid Certificate of Inspection following first inspection.

Track renewal dates and schedule periodic inspections

Mark your COI expiry date in your maintenance calendar because operating with an expired certificate violates provincial law. High-pressure steam boilers require annual inspections, while standard pressure vessels need inspection every three years. Book your periodic inspection 60 days before expiry through your insurance company or TSSA. Address any violations found during inspection before receiving your renewed COI to maintain continuous legal operation.

Simple next steps

Start your tssa pressure vessel registration by confirming which equipment requires a CRN under Ontario Regulation 220/01. Gather your engineering calculations, fabrication drawings, and material certifications before creating your Client Portal account. Submit your complete design package and respond promptly to any technical queries within 30 days to avoid application withdrawal. Schedule your first inspection at least 60 days before your planned operation date to receive your Certificate of Inspection on time.

Your BioGas processing equipment needs reliable pressure vessels that meet all compliance requirements from day one. 99pt5 builds pressure vessels engineered to petroleum industry standards with full TSSA or equivalent documentation included (depending on the jurisdiction where the vessel was fabricated), so your projects move from design to operation without regulatory delays or expensive technical rework.