Ontario CRN Requirements: TSSA Registration Guide

Reviewed by CRN expert team · Last updated: October 23, 2026

Ontario is Canada's largest industrial province and home to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), which administers pressure equipment design registration. Kopfkino Consulting, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, has deep expertise in TSSA submissions.

This guide covers TSSA's technical requirements. For end-to-end submission support, see our Ontario CRN registration service.

TSSA's Role and Mandate

TSSA is an independent safety regulator responsible for safe operation of boilers, pressure vessels, and related equipment under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 and Ontario Regulation 220/01 (Boilers and Pressure Vessels).

Ontario Pressure Equipment Exemptions (O. Reg. 220/01)

• Vessels, fittings or piping at a maximum allowable working pressure of 15 psi (103 kPa) or less (s. 2(2)(d))
• Vessels, fittings or piping with liquids not more hazardous than water, at 150°F (65°C) or less and a maximum allowable working pressure of 250 psi (1,717 kPa) or less (s. 2(2)(e))
• Domestic hot water storage vessels with an internal diameter of 24 inches (610 mm) or less, not over 212°F (100°C) and with heat input of 120 kW or less (s. 2(2)(f))
• Pressure vessels with a capacity of 1.5 cubic feet (42.5 L) or less that are not fittings (s. 2(2)(q))
• Pressure vessels with an internal diameter of 6 inches (152 mm) or less (s. 2(2)(r))

Each exemption in this list is defined by a stated condition, such as pressure, diameter, or volume. Whether a vessel falls inside one is a conclusion drawn from its design conditions, so the basis for that conclusion, and the condition relied upon, belongs in the equipment file. The pressure limits are maximum allowable working pressures, so an exemption is assessed against the design rating, not the operating pressure. Source: Ontario Regulation 220/01 (Boilers and Pressure Vessels)

Ontario CRN Submission Process

• Submit through the TSSA Client Portal
• Boiler and pressure vessel designs: signature and seal of an Ontario-licensed professional engineer (O. Reg. 220/01, s. 4(3))
• Since February 1, 2025, TSSA does not process registrations submitted without the mandatory supporting documents. Source: TSSA mandatory supporting documents for BPV engineering applications
• TSSA's published FAQ gives an average processing time of 92 days as of August 13, 2024; that is a historical average, not a commitment. Source: TSSA FAQ on submitting BPV engineering applications
• TSSA states that expedited engineering services are no longer available except for unforeseen, emergency situations

The steps in this list fit together as one package. The portal is the delivery route, the authenticated documents carry the Ontario P.Eng. signature, and the data sheet presents the vessel information in the authority's own form, so the reviewer receives all of them together.

Key Ontario Industries

Automotive, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, HVAC, power generation, and water treatment industries all require Ontario CRN registrations. Kopfkino serves manufacturers across all of these sectors.

The industries in this list differ widely, but the requirements described in this guide apply to the pressure equipment used in each of them. The sector describes where the equipment operates, while the design registration covers the equipment itself.

Related In-Depth Guides

• CRN Registration in Ontario: TSSA Requirements, O. Reg. 220/01 and the Mandatory P.Eng. Seal
• CRN Registration Services in Ontario

Frequently Asked Questions

Does TSSA accept electronic submissions?

Yes. TSSA's online portal accepts electronic submissions with digital P.Eng. authentication. Kopfkino submits all Ontario packages electronically.

"TSSA's online portal is efficient when the package is right: a clean P.Eng.-reviewed submission with the mandatory supporting documents moves through review without avoidable comment cycles. Incomplete packages are what turn Ontario into a bottleneck."

For registration help in Ontario, see CRN Registration Ontario (TSSA).