TSSA Portals

High-Pressure Piping

TSSA reviews high-pressure piping installations carrying fuels to determine their compliance with the required regulations and standards.

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In Ontario, TSSA regulates piping systems for fuels — such as natural gas, propane, fuel oil and digester/landfill/biogas (DLB) — that are to be burned in appliances or used for transportation. These are regulated by TSSA’s Fuels Safety Program under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, and the following regulations, which adopt the TSSA High-Pressure Piping (HPP) Code 2020 (pdf): 

This Code does not apply to:

High-pressure piping registrations must comply with the High-Pressure Piping (HPP) Code and be approved by TSSA.

Contractors registered with TSSA are responsible for ensuring compliance with related safety regulations and standards.

What is high-pressure piping?

Piping carrying natural gas downstream of the customer meter where the system has been designed for pressure exceeding:

  • 125 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) or 860 kPa in piping systems installed outdoors, or  
  • 66 psig (450 kPa) for piping systems installed indoors.

Gaseous fuels piping, except natural gas, where the system has been designed for pressures exceeding: 

  • 125 psig (860 kPa) in piping systems installed outdoors, or 
  • 66 psig (450 kPa) for piping systems installed indoor
  • i21 psig (138 kPa) or 26 psig (172 kPa) for Propane indoor piping system as shown on table 5.1 of CSA B149.1; or 
  • Specific or no threshold as defined by the respective Code Adoption Document or standard

High-pressure fuel oil piping must be registered if: 

  • Design pressure is above 100 psig for design temperature below 38C, or 
  • Design pressure is above 15 psig for design temperature above 38C.

Piping systems other than those noted above do not need TSSA approval. 

Submissions for registration and approval

Before a new fuel system is approved, its design is subject to an engineering review to ensure it complies with safety standards and the requirements outlined in the Code Adoption Document. 

To submit fuel piping system design for approval, complete the appropriate form and submit it along with electronic copies of drawings (process flow diagrams, piping and installation drawings) and the fee indicated on the Application for Approval of High-Pressure System (pdf) form along with the required Supporting Documents for High-Pressure System Approval (pdf). 

Documents must be submitted in PDF format and be sized so that they can be read and printed on paper no larger than 297 mm (11 inches) by 420 mm (17 inches).

The documents must include the following information:

  • Scope: Indicate the start and end of the line for which you are submitting the application. 
    • For fuel oil applications related to high-rise buildings, usually the scope is from downstream of the pump set to the day tank inlet. 
    • For tie-in connections, see Section 6.3 of TSSA-HPP. 
    • For NG, H2, and DLB, the scope of the HPP approval is from any point downstream of the customer’s meter to the end point defined by the applicant. 
  • Design code/code of construction (e.g., CSA Z662, ASME B31.1 or ASME B31.3) 
  • Material and piping specifications, for example: 
    • Pipe: ASTM A 106 or ASTM A 53; Type E, F or S; Schedule 10, 40, 80, etc.; and Grade A or B. 
    • Fittings: Socket weld, butt weld or threaded connection to ASME B1.20.1, etc. 
  • Line size (nominal pipe diameter). 
  • Approximate length of pipe. 
  • Medium (fuel oil, NG, H2 or DLB). 
  • Design pressure. 
  • Design temperature. 
  • Over pressure protection and location (safety/relief valve setting must be less than or equal to design pressure). 
  • Pressure test criteria (if using a pneumatic test, explain why one is necessary):
    • Test pressure based on the selected code. 
    • Test medium. 
    • Test duration.
  • Joint type (welded or threaded). If welded, indicate whether it is socket- or butt-welded.
  • Non-destructive examination (NDE). 
  • Component certification for fittings, connections and valves (focus on pressure and temperature rating).

 For additional guidance, refer to the following:

Modifications to a high-pressure piping system

The following changes are considered modifications that require a new approval from TSSA:

  • Any change to design pressure and/or temperature 
  • Any alteration to pipe material specification, size and/or minimum schedule (pipe thickness)
  • Any alteration to pipe joining method 
  • Any modification to fitting material specification and/or minimum rating/class.
  • Any change to non-destructive examination requirements 
  • Any change to over pressure protection arrangement or change
  • The addition of a new energy source (i.e., heat exchanger, boiler, pump, compressor)
  • If the change requires calculations/analysis or alters calculations/analysis already on file. 
  • Any change to the medium (gas or fluid) carried by the piping system.

If the change is not a modification as defined above, no new approval is required.

For any changes to the piping system that require pressure tests to be performed as per the code of construction (i.e., changes to the layout), the test must be witnessed by a TSSA inspector. Please book an inspection with a TSSA inspector to schedule this test. Visit the Inspections webpage for details. 

If the change to the piping system is considered a modification of an existing or approved piping system, a new approval is required for the modified parts only. If at the time of original installation, the piping system installation did not meet the applicable safety code that was in effect, the piping system shall be registered according to current code requirements.