Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) fosters awareness, among contractors, owners, gas suppliers, professionals and manufacturers alike, of the importance of initiating as early as possible the approval process, thus avoiding delays in the powering-up of non-certified gas-powered appliances.
An appliance is said to be approved if it is:
or recognized as conforming to the CSA B149.3 standard, Code for the Field Approval of Fuel-Related Components on Appliances and Equipment, by an accredited certification organization, and labelled accordingly.
According to section 2.06 from the Construction Code, Chapter II, Gas [Fr], any appliance or equipment used must be approved for the use for which it is intended.
In an installation intended to use gas, it is prohibited, except for approval purposes, to use an appliance or equipment that has not been approved. It is also prohibited, except for approval purposes, to sell or lease an appliance or equipment which is not approved.
However, section 2.06 does not apply to the following equipment or appliances:
The gas-powered appliances or appliances using another type of fuel, which are already certified or approved and which have been converted for using gas (other than the initial gas), must be compliant with the requirements of sections 2.06 and 2.07 from the Construction Code, Chapter II, Gas. This mandatory requirement applies only if the conversion has been made using a conversion kit which is certified for the appliance and appropriate to the specific model.
It is also required to comply with all the existing requirements that are mentioned in the CSA B149.1 standard, Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code, and to the relevant modifications introduced by the Construction Code, Chapter II, Gas.
A new approval under the CSA B149.3-15 standard is required for any modification or upgrading of any appliance that is already approved according to this standard. Consult the list of criteria that require the re-approval of gas appliances [Fr].
It is allowed to supply, but strictly for approval purposes, an unapproved appliance or equipment which is operated within an installation intended to use gas. The expression “for approval purposes” means: with the intent of proceeding to the powering-up and adjustments which will enable thereafter to operate the appliance according to the parameters with which it has been designed.
This powering-up and these adjustments must be performed by a person who is both qualified and skilled, who monitors constantly the appliance and who, once the adjustments are made, shall shut it down and close its supply valve. One shall not be allowed to use this appliance to produce energy, heating or light until an inspector representing an accredited certification agency has verified its compliance with the current codes and affixed on it the label provided for that purpose.
According to section 14 of the Building Act, a contractor shall comply with the Construction Code in respect of construction work under his/her responsibility.
Therefore, before connecting an appliance to the gas supply piping, the contractor must in particular make sure that the appliance is approved and bears a seal or label of certification, or a label of field approval from a accredited certification agency (pursuant to Chapter II, Gas, from the Construction Code). The contractor cannot under any circumstances alter an appliance for its installation without having the appliance re-approved.
According to section 38 of the Building Act, a gas or natural gas distribution undertaking (company) shall refuse to supply an installation intended to use gas if it is defective or known by the undertaking to constitute a safety hazard.
Yet, it is actually difficult and sometimes impossible to come to a decision with regard to the safety of an installation containing an appliance that is not approved without analyzing its mechanical and electrical plans as well as the material specifications. In this regard, it is important to initiate the approval process as soon as possible, for instance immediately after the purchase agreement and before the fabrication of the appliance.
Thus, you may submit the plans and design specifications in full to an accredited certification agency, have a file created, and have on hand the approval of said design before the beginning of the fabrication of the appliance. Such precautionary measures will spare the applicant last-minute “legwork” for the process of having the appliance approved and all the inconveniences thereto.