What Certificates are required for various activities?
All Gaseous Fuels regulations under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 16, should be adhered to when installing or servicing
a fuel-fired pool heater. That said, Ontario Regulation 212/01 states:
- No person shall install, alter, purge, activate, repair, service, or remove any appliance, equipment or other thing employed or to be employed in the handling or use of gas unless
the person is the holder of a certificate for that purpose. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 6 [1]).
Initial putting into use
- Where premises are connected to a supply of gas for the first time, no person shall put an appliance in the premises into use for the first time until the distributor has examined the installation of the appliance and is satisfied the installation and use of the appliance are in compliance with this regulation. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 7 [1]).
- An examination under subsection (1) shall include an examination of all appliances intended to be installed at the time of occupation of the premises. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 7 [2]).
Duty to maintain in safe operating condition
- An owner or user of an appliance, equipment, a work, or any other thing employed in the handling or use of gas shall ensure the appliance, equipment, work, or thing employed in the handling or use of gas is maintained in a safe operating condition. (O. Reg. 212/01, s. 15).
Ontario Regulation 215/01 identifies the Gas Technician certificate as the certificate class required by Regulation 212/01 as the ‘certificate for that purpose:
- 20. (1) A person who is the holder of a G.1 certificate may install, inspect, alter, purge, activate, repair, service or remove a natural gas or propane appliance of any BTU input and the equipment and accessories essential to its operation. (O. Reg. 215/01, s. 20 [1]).
- 21. (1) A person who is the holder of a G.2 certificate may install, inspect, alter, purge, activate, repair, service or remove a natural gas or propane appliance that has an input of 400,000 BTUh or less and the equipment and accessories essential to its operation. (O. Reg. 215/01, s. 21 [1]).
To the code
In 2012, the TSSA’s O. Reg. 212/01: Gaseous Fuels code was amended with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B149.1, Natural gas and propane installation code, which applies to the installation of:
- Appliances, equipment, components, and accessories where gas is to be used for fuel purposes;
- Piping and tubing systems;
- Vehicle-refueling appliances and associated equipment; and
- Stationary gas engines and turbines.
According to CSA, this code targets Canadian gas and propane industry workers and reflects the latest advances in technology and corresponding safety requirements. It has also been adopted into law in every Canadian province and territory. Section 7, subsection 25, specifically applies to pool heaters as follows:
7.25.1
A pool heater shall be installed on a
(a) firm and level base; and
(b) non-combustible floor or support, except where the pool heater is
(i) certified for installation on a combustible floor;
(ii) installed using the pool heater manufacturer’s certified special base; or
(iii) installed as specified in clause 4.13.3.
7.25.2
Except where permitted by clause 4.13.2, a pool heater shall be installed with the following minimum clearances from combustible material:
(a) vertical 450 mm (18 in.);
(b) sides and rear 450 mm (18 in.); and
(c) front 1200 mm (48 in.).
