Boilers, Pressure Vessels & Refrigeration
Assessments
Overview
We perform routine remote and physical assessments on boilers, refrigeration plants, pressure piping and pressure vessels.
To request an assessment, complete our Boiler and Refrigeration Inspection Declaration Form. Once we receive your request, our safety officers will review the information to determine the appropriate next step, which can be one of the following options:
- Waive the inspection: we accept the permit holder’s declaration of compliance and do not perform a remote or physical inspection. This means no inspection will be performed and no certificate of inspection will be issued.
- Schedule a physical inspection: if a high hazard has been identified or is suspected, a safety officer will arrange to physically attend the site to perform the inspection. A certificate of inspection will be issued to the permit holder upon completion of the physical inspection.
- Schedule a remote inspection: a safety officer performs the inspection without physically attending the site. To carry out a remote inspection, they will request evidence of one or more of the information types listed below. Alternatively, you can contact your local safety officer to arrange a time to walk through the installation via live video conferencing tools. A certificate of inspection will be issued to the permit holder upon completion of the remote inspection.
Evidence required
To support the remote inspection process, you will be asked to provide specific evidence that clearly demonstrates the scope of the regulated work or product.
Types of evidence that may be requested include, but are not limited to:
- Photo or videos logs (time-stamped when necessary)
- Documentation (PDFs, Word, etc.)
- Live video conferencing
Since every permit and assessment has its own unique considerations, we cannot advise exactly what evidence will be required prior to receiving a request for inspection (declaration form). Please refer to our remote assessments BPVR guidelines to learn more.
Remember to record your installations through photo and/or video logs and to retain copies of relevant documentation stored on site, so that these are available if requested by your local safety officer.
Any questions? Email us with the subject line “Remote assessments”.
Performing your own inspections
Regulated equipment owners are obligated to regularly inspect and maintain their systems and equipment, to ensure they are in safe working condition and comply with applicable codes and regulatory requirements. This includes maintaining the integrity of pressure equipment throughout its entire lifecycle: from design to construction and installation, to its entire service life (operation, maintenance, inspections, repairs, alterations) to its removal from service (disposal).
Alternative safety approaches
An alternative safety approach (ASA) is an innovative way of achieving safety that is acceptable under the Safety Standards Act (SSA). It is an approach that gives owners and operators of regulated equipment flexibility in managing safety. ASAs enable innovations in technology and work practices within a structured and controlled regulatory environment. Learn more about ASA for owners and operators of regulated equipment.
ASME Shop Inspections
Technical Safety BC conducts code inspections to ensure that boiler and pressure vessel equipment conforms to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Certification Program.
To book an inspection time, submit an ASME Shop Inspection Request.
Preparing confined spaces for inspection
Before your boiler inspection, prepare any confined spaces to avoid hazards for our safety officers. See Notice: Confined Space Entry Requirements for more details.
