Steam Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Steam Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act. R.S., c. 444, s. 1.

Interpretation

2 In this Act,

(a) "chief inspector" means chief inspector of steam boilers and pressure vessels appointed under this Act and includes inspectors of steam boilers and pressure vessels so appointed;

(b) "Minister" means the Minister of Labour;

(c) "pressure vessel" means an unfired vessel used for containing gas, air or liquid and having an internal or external pressure in excess of fifteen pounds per square inch and having an inside diameter of more than six inches, but does not include

(i) pressure vessels under the jurisdiction of any department of the Government of Canada,

(ii) pressure vessels located on locomotives and vehicles used for carrying passengers or freight,

(iii) pressure vessels used for containing either flammable liquids and for gases at temperatures of over three hundred degrees Fahrenheit,

(iv) pressure vessels for containing only water under pressure for domestic supply including those containing air, the compression of which serves only as a cushion, or in airlift systems;

(e) "steam boiler" means any boiler, vessel or structure in which steam is generated for power or heating purposes and includes all pipes, apparatus and mechanical and other attachments used in connection therewith, but does not include

(i) a steam or hot-water boiler used for domestic purposes or used solely for heating purposes the steam pressure of which does not exceed fifteen pounds to the square inch or the water pressure of which does not exceed thirty pounds to the square inch,

(ii) a steam boiler of a railway locomotive operated by a railway under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Transport Commission, or any steam boiler subject to the jurisdiction of the said Commission, or

(iii) a marine steam boiler. R.S., c. 444, s. 2.

3 A chief inspector of steam boilers and pressure vessels and such inspectors, officials and clerks as may be necessary to enable him to perform the duties assigned to him shall be appointed in accordance with the Civil Service Act. R.S., c. 444, s. 3.

Regulations

4 The Governor in Council may from time to time make regulations respecting such matters and things as are deemed necessary and expedient to ensure adequate strength, safety and efficiency of steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants used or operated or to be used or operated in the Province including, but without restricting the generality of the foregoing,

(a) prescribing specifications for the construction of the several classes of steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants, the material to be used, the method and order of construction and the tests to be applied during and after construction;

(b) the construction of steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants;

(c) the inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants during their construction, reconstruction and repair, both before and after their removal from the place of construction, reconstruction or repair;

(d) prescribing by whom steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants shall be inspected;

(e) the issuing of certificates of inspection and the period during which such certificates shall remain in force;

(f) prohibiting the use or operation of a steam boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant for or in respect of which a prescribed certificate of inspection is not in effect;

(g) the fees to be paid for inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels and refrigeration plants and for certificates of inspection;

(h) the revoking and suspending for cause of certificates of inspection;

(i) prescribing in what circumstances a steam boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant shall be deemed to be unsafe;

(j) prohibiting the use or operation of a steam boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant deemed to be unsafe;

(k) prescribing and defining the powers and duties of the chief inspector;

(l) the making of such returns and reports by such persons and in respect of such matters as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of fully carrying out and giving effect to the provisions of this Act or any regulations made hereunder;

(m) governing the methods to be employed and the procedure to be followed in the welding of boilers and pressure vessels and pressure piping used in connection therewith;

(n) providing for and requiring the registration of every person who employs one or more welders upon the welding of boilers or pressure vessels, or pressure piping used in connection therewith, and of every welder so employed and prescribing the fees payable for registration;

(o) providing for the testing, approval and recording of the welding procedures in use by employers and welders registered in accordance with regulations made under this Section;

(p) prescribing the qualification tests to be passed by such welders, the qualifications to be possessed by candidates for tests, the nature and frequency of tests, the fees payable for tests and governing the conduct of tests;

(q) adopting and constituting as regulations with respect to any of the matters enumerated in this Section all or part of any relevant code, rules or standards, and amendments thereto, with or without modifications in lieu of or in addition to other regulations made under this Section. R.S., c. 444, s. 4.

Right of entry and inspection

5 (1) The chief inspector and every other person thereunto authorized by the Minister in writing may at all reasonable times enter into and upon any place for the purpose of making an inspection to determine whether any of the provisions of this Act or of the regulations have been or are being violated.

Penalty for obstruction

(2) Every person who obstructs or hinders the making of any such inspection or who refuses to permit any such inspection to be made shall be liable to a penalty. R.S., c. 444, s. 5.

Attendance for examination

6 The chief inspector or any person thereunto duly authorized in writing by the Minister may by notice in writing require the attendance before him at a time and place named in the notice of any person and may examine such person as to any matter connected with the construction, alteration, repair or operation of a steam boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration plant. R.S., c. 444, s. 6.

Penalty

7 Every person who violates this Act or any regulation made hereunder shall for the first offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding two hundred dollars and in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two months and for every second or subsequent violation to a penalty not less than fifty dollars and not exceeding five hundred dollars and in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not less than one month nor more than six months. R.S., c. 444, s. 7.