Directive: Gas contractor responsibilities re: gas notification requirements for completion, installation or alteration

This Directive is being issued by a provincial safety manager pursuant to section 30 of the Safety Standards Act.

General details

This Directive is being issued to clarify the notification requirements that permit holders must comply with when submitting declarations for installation permits.

Specific details

A permit is a permission issued by the Provincial Gas Safety Manager as required by the Safety Standards Act (the “Act”) and is subject to certain terms and conditions that must be met.

Gas Safety Regulations (“GSR”) s.34 requires the holder of a permit or the gas fitter that represents the holder of the permit to notify Technical Safety BC that regulated work has been performed under the permit at the following times:

1. Immediately upon completion of each phase of the gas system, and 
2. Immediately upon final completion of regulated work.

Read more about Gas Safety Regulations.

For the purposes of this section, the following definitions will apply:

Immediately:  “prior to being placed into service and before commencing work on the next phase.”

Each phase:     Includes:

• Rough-in:  which may include, but is not limited to: pressure test, rough-in piping, rough-in venting, etc.  
• Final: prior to being placed into service

Or at no less than 180 days from the date of permit issuance or date of last assessment request.

Upon completion of each phase of the gas system, the holder of a permit or the gas fitter that represents the holder of the permit must immediately inform Technical Safety BC that regulated work has been performed in accordance with the Act and request an inspection.

On final completion of regulated work authorized by a permit, the holder of the permit must immediately complete a notification of completion, installation or alteration form and supply it to Technical Safety BC or submit through your online account if you are an on-line account user. 

On-line services link (existing clients): Technical Safety BC on-line portal

On-line services registration (to become a user): Technical Safety BC-new-online-account

Notification Form link:  Gas Notification of Completion, Installation or Alteration Form - 570

Use of system not authorized without declaration

As indicated in s.26 of the GSR, if the permit holder complies with the notification requirements in s.34, an installation permit issued for regulated gas work is sufficient to authorize use of the system.  However, if the required request for inspection/declaration has not been received, the permitted system or equipment is not authorized to be placed into service. For permits where systems or equipment are found to be operational without required inspections having been requested, the work will be assessed as non-compliant.

In the case of a Commissioning approval or Product approval, 48 hours’ notice must be provided to the area gas safety officer before the equipment or system may be placed into service. If the gas safety officer cannot attend the site for a physical assessment, the permit holder must obtain verbal permission before proceeding.  Any verbal permission is subject to further terms and conditions which may be imposed following assessment.

 

 

Brad Wyatt

Provincial Safety Manager, Gas

 

References:

Safety Standards Act
Safety Standards General Regulation
Gas Safety Regulation