Consumer FAQ

In theory, any piece of equipment that can contain pressures higher than normal atmospheric pressure could be considered “pressure equipment”.
Under Alberta’s Safety Codes Act and regulations, “pressure equipment” is defined in a more specific way, based on factors such as its intended purpose, size, and design pressure.

Alberta has one of the lowest incident rates in North America. However, failures do occur.
In most cases, failures happen when safety devices do not function when they should. Unfortunately, this can usually be traced back to poor maintenance or inadequate operator training. The message that “all pressure equipment accidents are preventable” is as important as ever.
Part of ABSA’s mandate is to investigate all accidents and unsafe conditions that involve pressure equipment. ABSA also has the authority to shut down boilers or vessels that are deemed immediately hazardous.

A “certificate of inspection Permit” allows a boiler or pressure vessel to be placed into service in Alberta. The owner, installer, contractor, or vendor must obtain a certificate of inspection permit before placing a boiler or pressure vessel in service, unless it is specifically exempt from this requirement by the legislation.
For more information, refer to Boiler and Pressure Vessel Permit.

Pressure vessels intended for the transport of dangerous goods are generally exempt from Alberta’s Safety Codes Act. Instead, they are covered by Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.