Engineering Approvals

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) offers several engineering services, including design approvals, variance approvals, equipment field approvals, and more.

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) reviews fuel system and device design submissions to ensure compliance with the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, as well as any applicable regulations and adopted safety codes or standards.

The TSSA’s Fuels Safety Program offers several other engineering services, including design approvals, variance approvals, equipment field approvals, and more.  

The Fuels Safety program also offers expertise in the following areas:

Engineering Applications

To request an engineering approval, please complete and submit the appropriate application form(s) and supporting document(s) to our Prepayment Portal. Applications and supporting documents must be submitted as individual files. Do not combine all documents into a single file. 

If you need help, please contact customer service at 1-877-682-TSSA (8772) or email customerservices@tssa.org.

Applications and Mandatory Supporting Documents for Fuels Engineering Applications

To enhance the efficiency of processing engineering applications submitted for fuel systems and devices, engineering applications submitted after February 1, 2025, without a completed application and mandatory supporting documents will not be processed. All fees are non-refundable. Links to the applications and list of mandatory supporting documents can be found below. 

Liquid Fuels

Application for an Ontario Licence to Operate a Retail Outlet or Bulk Storage Plant

  • Completed application
  • Site plan

Application for Modification of a Retail Outlet or a Bulk Storage Plant

  • Completed application
  • Design modification
  • Site plan

Liquid Fuels Variance

  • Completed application
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method
Field Approvals

Field Approval of Appliances or Equipment

  • Completed application
  • P&ID drawings
  • Process description
  • Bill of materials 
  • Electrical schematic
  • Purge calculations

Field Approval of Refineries / Chemical Plants / DLB

  • Completed application
  • P&ID drawings
  • Cause and effect diagram
  • Control narrative
  • Process description
  • Burner management system
  • Wiring diagram
  • Bill of materials 
  • Electrical schematic
  • Purge calculations
Digester Landfill & Biogas

Application for Digester, Landfill & Biogas

  • Completed application
  • Site plan
  • List of gas-fired appliances and regulators
  • Specifications for valves, controls, gas pipes and components
  • Operating and maintenance procedure
  • Engineering drawings 
  • Bill of materials 
Gaseous Fuels

Natural Gas Variance 

  • Completed application 
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method

Digester, Landfill & Biogas Variance

  • Completed application 
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method

Propane Variances

  • Completed application 
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method

Other Variances

  • Completed application 
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method
Mobile Food Service Equipment (MFSE)

Application for Mobile Food Service Equipment

Special Effects

Application for Special Effects

  • Completed application
  • Site plan
  • Specifications for valves, controls, gas pipes and components
  • Description of special event
  • Safety plan/Operating procedure
Fuel Oil

Fuel Oil Variances

  • Completed application
  • Engineering drawings
  • P&ID drawing
  • Electrical schematic
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method

Underground Fuel Oil Tank Registration

  • Completed application
  • Site plan
  • Engineering drawings
  • P&ID drawing

Temporary Fuel Oil Variance

  • Completed application
  • Comprehensive inspection report completed by the appropriate certificate holder
  • Timeline for which the unacceptable condition (non-immediate) will be corrected
  • Milestone schedule (for temporary variances longer than a year) 
Environmental Review

Environmental Review

  • Completed application
  • Environmental assessment report completed by a "Qualified Person"

UST Abandonment Variance 

  • Completed application
  • Supporting documents
  • Environmental assessment report completed by a "Qualified Person"
  • Equivalent safety method
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG Variance

  • Completed application
  • CSA/TSSA Code section & reason for non-compliance
  • Equivalent Safety Method

CNG Refuelling Station

Propane Conversion Centre

  • Completed application 
  • Site plan
  • Municipal approval
  • Branch Standard No. 9

CNG Conversion Centre

  • Completed application
High-Pressure Piping

High-Pressure Pipeline (Natural gas)

High-Pressure Pipeline (Hydrogen)

  • Completed application
  • Approved welding procedure from TSSA BPV
  • Pipe specification
  • Line identification lists for each line
  • PFD Drawings
  • P&ID drawings
Hydrogen

Hydrogen Fuelling Station

  • Completed application
  • Site plan
  • Approved welding procedure from TSSA BPV
  • Pipe specifications
  • Line identification lists for each line
  • Location of E stops and fire protection, gas detection and lightning protection
  • Protecting of tank, piping and equipment layout
  • Piping layout and relief vent termination locations
  • P&ID drawings 
Propane Level 1

Initial 

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Branch Standard No. 9
  • Certificate of insurance

Modification

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Change of Steel

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Change of Ownership

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Reinstatement

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Branch Standard No. 9
  • Certificate of insurance
Propane Level 2

Initial 

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Modification

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Change of Steel

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Change of Ownership

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

Reinstatement

  • Completed application
  • RSMP
  • Pre-installation check sheet
  • ROT designation form
  • Municipal approval
  • Certificate of insurance

If you need help, please contact customer service at 1-877-682-TSSA (8772) or email customerservices@tssa.org.  

Field Approval Program

The Field Approval Program is an approval process for custom-made appliances that are limited in number and cannot be certified by designated certification organizations.  

Learn more about the Field Approval Program.

Environmental Review

As part of the Fuels Safety Program, Environmental Services helps ensure that a company’s actions to deal with a fuel leak or spill comply with proven and effective environmental requirements.

Learn more about TSSA’s Environmental Review.

Oil and Gas Pipeline Oversight Program

As part of TSSA’s transition to an Outcome-Based Regulator, TSSA has developed a risk-based Operator Rating System (ORS) for pipeline operators. The ORS is in line with best practices in other jurisdictions and focuses on reducing the risk of pipeline safety incidents.  

Learn more about the TSSA’s Oil and Gas Pipeline Oversight Program.

Propane Risk and Safety Management Plans (RSMPs)

Risk and Safety Management Plans (RSMPs) are a best practice in propane safety and reflect TSSA’s commitment to emergency prevention and preparedness, information sharing, and data analysis.  

Learn more about Propane Risk Safety Management Plans.