Registration Requirements for Pressure Piping Systems

In part, the following explains the requirements in The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act and Regulations. 

Objective of Design Registration

The primary objective of Design Registration is to ascertain, within reasonable bounds, that designs submitted for registration under The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act are in compliance with the Act, Regulations, and relevant codes and standards.  One must keep in mind that the owner of the design has ultimate responsibility for its correctness.  Registration of a design does not relieve any person who constructs, installs, alters, or repairs a pressure piping system of liability with respect to that design. 

Regulated Pressure Piping within Saskatchewan

A pressure piping system is defined through The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act as pipes, tubes, conduits, gaskets, bolts and other fittings making up a system, the sole purpose of which is the conveyance of an expansible fluid under pressure and the control of the flow of an expansible fluid under pressure between two or more points.  The Act and supporting regulations further define pressure piping regulated within Saskatchewan through the following exceptions:

• piping governed by The Pipelines Act, 1998 (such as CSA Z662 piping);
• piping governed by The Gas Licensing Act (such as CGA B149.2 propane storage piping and CGA B149.1 combustion fuel piping);
• medical gas piping systems;
• air piping with a diameter of 25.4 mm or less;
• piping systems forming a part of a low pressure boiler plant and containing hot water at a pressure of 1103 kPa or less or a temperature of 121 C or less; and
• piping systems that are not connected to, or used in connection with, a boiler or pressure vessel.

Although definitions for boilers and pressure vessels can be found within the Act, section 10 of the Regulations continue on to require compliance with the Canadian Standards Association standard B51-03 Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code.  This clause allows the introduction of this source that provides a more descriptive definition of a pressure vessel in Figures 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c).  Specifically, this is where exemptions are introduced of pressure vessels in low pressure and low temperature water service (less than or equal to 1.72 MPa and 65 C [250 psi and 150 F]) and small pressure vessels which meet specific diameter, pressure, and volume combinations.  It is important to note that Figure 1(a) is not applicable for vessels intended for air or oil service.  Additionally, it is noted that an item falling under the classification of a Category "H" pressure fitting is not considered a pressure vessel regardless of how similar the physical resemblance is to a pressure vessel. 

Design Submission Requirements

Before fabrication or installation of a pressure piping system commences, the design of the piping system shall be registered unless otherwise provided in the regulations (described below).  The submissions for registration shall include:

• the design drawings in duplicate (folded);
• a completed "Application for Registration of Design" form for each design; and
• the prescribed fee of $220 per submission (cheques or money orders made out in Canadian funds to the "Minister of Finance"). No refund will be given of any fee paid pursuant to an application for registration if the application is denied.

The drawings, specifications, and other information submitted as part of the application must include:

1. flow or line diagrams showing the general arrangement of all boilers, pressure vessels, pressure piping systems, and fittings;
2. pipeline identification lists showing the design conditions (maximum pressures and temperatures, MDMT if applicable, corrosion allowance, radiography, test medium and pressure, and PWHT time and temperature) for each pressure piping system;
3. a list of pressure relief devices to be used in the pressure piping system, including their capacities and set pressures;
4. the material specifications, sizes, schedule, and primary service rating of all pressure piping and fittings;
5. a detailed description of the test procedure for the pressure piping, including the type, method, test media, test pressure, test temperature, duration, and safety precautions;
6. a completed "General Engineering Requirements for Design and Construction of Pressure Piping Systems";
7. a signed letter from the owner acknowledging specific lines designated as Category D fluid service if applicable; and
8. any other information that the design reviewer may require to ascertain that the design is suitable for registration (as authorized by the chief inspector).

The drawings submitted for registration must be stamped and signed by a professional engineer registered in Saskatchewan, as defined in The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, who holds a valid licence pursuant to that Act. 

In short, the drawings must be complete enough that, without having to assume anything, one could use the submitted drawings and specifications to build the exact same piping system and have it meet the code. 

Submissions for registration shall be sent to the Saskatchewan Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety office in Regina at the following address: 

Codes and Standards Compliance Office
Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety
330 - 1855 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK  Canada   S4P 3T2 

Designs submitted by fax or other electronic means (email) are not accepted at this time. 

Exemptions from Registration Requirements of Pressure Piping Systems

The design of a pressure piping system with an aggregate internal capacity of 0.5 cubic meters or less is not required to be registered.  Note that the aggregate internal capacity is based on the entire system at the location and may include the work of multiple designers or fabricators. 

Notes on Fabrication, Construction, and Installation

All welding shall be performed in accordance with ASME Section IX to a qualified welding procedure.  All welding procedures used shall be submitted for registration. 

As pressure piping is fabricated and tested, the contractor shall complete the "Construction Data Report for Piping Systems" which verifies that the piping was fabricated and examined in accordance with the applicable standards.  This form shall be countersigned by an authorized inspector (in Canada - a provincial inspector as appointed under the Act; outside Canada - an inspector who holds a valid National Board Commission).  All pressure piping systems shall be subject to a hydrostatic test as required by the Regulations and notification shall be given to the authorized inspector for his witness.  Shop "Construction Data Reports for Piping Systems" not hydrostatically tested shall be completed by the fabricator and made available to the District Inspector upon request. 

Pressure piping lines shall be clearly identified by a system so that the "Construction Data Report for Piping Systems" and mill test reports can be traced to the line in question. 

Upon completion of the pressure piping installation, the "construction Data Report for Piping Systems" shall be submitted along with the "Completion of Construction" form to the owner and copies made available to the Chief Inspector.  All completed forms should include our registration number that has been assigned to the project by the Codes and Standards Compliance Office of the Saskatchewan Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Unit. 

For more information contact: 
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety at (306) 787-1443
(1-866-530-8599 - toll free in Saskatchewan) or fax (306) 787-9273.