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Business Rules which apply to gas permits

Responsibilities of a gas fitter

Permits must be obtained prior to commencement of all alterations, additions or installations of gas piping or equipment. To comply with requirements of the Regulation with regard to permits the following shall be carried out:

Drawings must be submitted with all applications where the total input of all units to be connected exceeds 400,000 BTU per hour.

Drawings must detail:

1. The length and size of gas piping and gas pressure
2. Any piping which will be concealed
3. In the case of conversion burners:
   1. Details of valve train and controls
   2. Location and size of combustion air provisions
   3. Size, height and type of chimney breeching
   4. Type of burner (drafthood, or I.D. Fan, etc.)

It is essential that the application for permit be properly completed with particular reference to the legal address and correct name of the installation premises; the date to commence, the approximate date of completion; and the name of the licenced fitter who is making the installation, alteration or addition.

Permit application will expire if the inspection and turn-on is not completed within 90 days from the authorization date. Extensions may be granted by the Chief Inspector providing the request is made prior to the expiry date.

Inspection and Technical Services must be notified if there is a substitution of equipment specified on the original permit.

Under the Gas and Oil Burner Act and Regulation, a gas fitter must:

1. Make application for a permit prior to commencing installation
2. Ensure that all appliances and equipment are approved
3. Pressure-test piping and ensure that there are no leaks
4. Purge all gas lines after gas turn-on
5. Start up all equipment installed by the fitter
6. Perform a heat rise test in compliance with the manufacturers' specifications
7. Check operation of all controls
8. On conversion burners: carry out a combustion efficiency test and record the results
9. Identify the installation with the fitter's current tag and ensure the removal of any pre-existing tags
10. Instruct the owner in the use, operation and maintenance of the equipment

Fitters' responsibility to notify Inspection and Technical Services:

1. General gas-fired installations
Prior to activation of any installation where total gas supplied exceeds 400,000 BTU per hour, the fitter must contact Inspection and Technical Services to arrange for a start-up inspection appointment.

2. Boilers or pressure equipment
Prior to activation of any boiler or pressure equipment with a rating greater than 3 Boiler Horsepower in other than one- or two-family dwellings (3 BoilerHorsepower = 30 kilowatts = 126,000 BTU/H INPUT), the fitter must contact Inspection and Technical Services to arrange for a start-up inspection appointment.

Important: Only installers holding a valid Certificate of Authorization issued by Inspection and Technical Services may apply for a gas permit to install boilers of this rating or higher.

A Certificate of Authorization is issued to an installer of pressure equipment and/or piping who demonstrates an acceptable Quality Control Program.  Gas fitters installing pressure equipment must hold a valid Certificate of Authorization (quality assurance program), or must work under the authority of a properly qualified contractor. Contact Inspection and Technical Services for more information on the Certificate of Authorization program and Quality Control.

Fitters' responsibility to notify the Utility:

Prior to any activation, the gas fitter must notify the gas utility or propane supplier to request an inspection when:

1. Replacing an appliance or making a new installation
2. Making alterations to gas equipment or piping
3. Installing additional equipment or piping

The only exception is where a gas-fired residential appliance is installed to replace similar appliance, the fitter may ignite the appliance provided that the fitter notifies the gas utility forthwith that the appliance is operating in a safe manner.

Where an additional or replacement gas-fired commercial or industrial appliance is installed, the fitter must notify Inspection and Technical Services and the gas utility or propane supplier and request an inspection prior to turn-on as described in the Inspection Requirements sections.

Before supplying gas, the gas utility or propane supplier will:

1. Check that the installation conforms to the current CSA B149.1, B149.2 or B149.3
2. Check that the appliances are approved and labeled
3. Check for leaks with a meter dial test or propane regulator test
4. Check and record gas fitters tag on each appliance. Discrepancies found during these checks may cancel gas turn-on until they have been corrected. Inspection and Technical Services will be notified of these discrepancies.

Licencing requirements:

• A person holding a valid commercial and industrial gas fitter's licence ("A" gas fitter) may install, repair or modify any gas equipment
• A person holding a valid domestic gas fitter's licence ("B" gas fitter) may install gas equipment where the input to a single appliance in an installation does not exceed 400,000 BTU per hour. Total gas supplied to the installation may exceed 400,000 BTU per hour providing no single unit is rated in excess of 400,000 BTU per hour.
• A person holding a valid liquid petroleum gas fitter's licence ("C" fitter) may install any gas equipment using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel, where the input to any single installation does not exceed 125,000 BTU per hour.

A person holding a valid oil burner installer's licence ("F" oil burner) may install and service all oil burners and fuel oil tanks.