Permits & Approvals

If you own a building that has an elevating device installed, it’s your responsibility to obtain an operating permit. You also need to renew the permit every year thereafter.

Your renewal reminder and form will be mailed 30 days before your operating permit expires. Please submit your form in person at any BCSA office or call
1-866-566-7233.

Be prepared to pay the renewal fee.

To retain your operating permit you need to hire a licensed maintenance contractor to perform mandatory maintenance. For more information see the Mandatory Maintenance directive.

As the owner of a new installation, your elevating contractor will have to request an inspection once the installation has been completed. The owner, within 60 days after a passed inspection, must obtain an operating permit. Please see Elevating Devices Information Bulletin IB-ED 2013-01.

Once an installation has passed an inspection, our office will send an invoice to the owner for an operating permit.

Remember, all active elevating devices must have an operating permit.

Operating permits are for owners of regulated equipment in commercial, residential, industrial, institutional or public assembly buildings. This equipment includes:

• Hot water boilers with a heating surface area exceeding 3 m2
• Steam boilers with a heating surface area exceeding 2m2
• Hot potable water heaters exceeding 120 kW or 400,000 BTUs/h
• Pressure vessels with a pressure exceeding 103 kPa operating pressure
• Air conditioning and refrigeration systems exceeding 25 kW input prime mover nameplate rating

A Safety Officer must inspect any of the equipment listed above before you can receive an operating permit. Once the equipment has passed inspection, you’ll receive the permit by mail along with the invoice for your permit, inspection and registration. Please be prepared to pay the appropriate boiler fees.

The permit needs to be stored alongside the equipment. You will be invoiced for the permit’s annual renewal.

If you are selling, scrapping, or are no longer using your boiler, pressure vessel or refrigeration/HVAC system, please submit a Boiler Declaration Form 1186 to any BCSA office to confirm that the equipment is out of use.

Gas operating permits are for gas stations and other facilities dispensing propane, natural gas or hydrogen. Operating permits are also required for owners of gas utilities, propane bulk plants, vehicle fuel system installers and other facilities. For more information on those facilities, please refer to section 28 of the Gas Safety Regulation.

If you’d like to get an operating permit, please prepare all the information in the Operating Permit Application Form 550 and:

1. Call our customer service line on 1-866-566-7233 or,
2. Mail or fax the form to your nearest BCSA office or,
3. Visit any of the BCSA offices in person.

Please be prepared to pay the appropriate fee as per the Gas Fee Schedule.

To renew your operating permit, complete the Operating Permit Form 550 and follow the steps above. It may take several weeks to issue the permit from the date you submit an application, so it’s best to renew as soon as you get your reminder.

Owners of high voltage equipment, any system with a supply over 250 kVA or a building with this type of equipment or supply, often need an operating permit.

To apply for your permit

1. Complete the Electrical Operating Permit Application Form 410,
2. Name a Field Safety Representative (FSR) in your application. The FSR may be an employee of the equipment owner or an electrical contractor,
3. Submit the form in person at your nearest BCSA office.

We will mail an invoice once the application has been processed. For information on these fees, please see the Electrical Fee Schedule.

If you have an operating permit, and your Field Safety Representative has changed, you must submit a Notice of FSR Change immediately.

Renewing your operating permit

Renew your existing operating permit by completing the Operating Permit Renewal and Declaration Form 1218. Submit in person at your nearest BCSA office.

Operating permits may take several weeks to issue from the date you submit an application.

When is an operating permit required?

An operating permit is required in British Columbia if you are operating or maintaining specific types of equipment that fall within the requirements of the Safety Standards General Regulation (B.C. Reg. 105/2004). If you are the owner or managing agent of one of the following types of premises it is likely that you will require an operating permit for one or more technologies:

• Commercial properties
• Industrial plants
• Mills
• Manufacturing plants
• Multi-unit office or residential buildings
• Schools, hospitals & municipal facilities

Why do I need an operating permit?

Having qualified individuals responsible for the operation and maintenance of your property’s technical equipment protects your investment by providing compliance and oversight of your site’s safety.

It is your legal obligation to obtain an operating permit to satisfy requirements for operation and maintenance of equipment. Operating permits confirm that maintenance of your equipment is monitored or performed by qualified individuals. These individuals are responsible for technical safety inspection, operation and maintenance requirements, while ensuring that work records for equipment are kept up to date.

Each site may also be subject to periodic inspection.

How do I know if I need an operating permit?

The specific requirements for each technology can be found here:

• Electrical
• Gas
• Boiler & Pressure Vessels
• Elevating
• Amusement Devices
• Passenger Ropeway

When do I acquire an operating permit?

• You must obtain an operating permit before operating equipment or performing maintenance work.
• You must obtain a new operating permit when you acquire a property which has a current operating permit. Existing permits become invalid when properties change ownership.
• You must adhere to an ongoing renewal process as long as the equipment remains in service.

How do I acquire an operating permit?

An application form is available via the relevant technologies listed above. Completed applications must be submitted to the BCSA for approval. Once your application has been approved and payment has been received as detailed on the invoice, your operating permit will be sent to you.

Your application may require you to include details of the person responsible for the maintenance of your equipment. This individual may be your own qualified employee, a qualified contractor, or your contractor’s qualified employee. Their signature is required on your application to confirm they will be responsible for the maintenance of equipment for the duration of the operating permit. You may change this qualified individual at each renewal interval, if necessary, provided the qualified person assuming responsibility provides a declaration of compliance.

Contact us

For more information on how to obtain an operating permit or for any questions, please contact us:

Toll free: 1-866-566-7233

Email: operatingpermits@safetyauthority.ca

To install and operate a passenger ropeway in BC, you must be a licensed contractor and get the correct permits. An installation permit lets you install or erect the ropeway and an operating permit allows it to run.

The steps after getting your installation permit may include a construction inspection and will include an acceptance inspection. Follow the steps to get your installation permit.

Installation Permit

You must be a licensed passenger ropeway contractor to obtain an installation permit. When you have the specifications of your ropeway and are ready to install follow these steps:

1. Complete passenger ropeway Installation Permit Letter of Application Form. Remember to include the type of passenger ropeway, slope length and vertical rise of the installation.
2. Submit a profile of the passenger ropeway.
3. Submit a route map showing the location of the installation. A topographic map is best.
4. Provide proof of ownership or permission to use the land where the passenger ropeway will operate (e.g. crown land lease, land title documents).
5. Include a cheque for the required fee payable to BC Safety Authority. You may also call the Passenger Ropeways Client Service Representative and pay by credit card.
6. To submit your application, contact the Passenger Ropeways Client Service Representative, 778-396-2026, passengerropeways@safetyauthority.ca.

Construction and Acceptance Inspections

Your installation permit will include details of the time needed to inspect and review the technical submission of your passenger ropeway. Please note, if the hours exceed this time, an hourly billing at a professional rate will apply.

1. Your first step is a construction inspection. You may not need a construction inspection – your Safety Officer will make that decision. If required, your assigned Safety Officer will make contact to arrange a time to visit.
2. The second step is an acceptance inspection. When you have completed the installation, you must contact your Safety Officer to arrange the acceptance inspection. It’s best to book in advance to ensure your Safety Officer is available. Please submit all technical documentation to your Safety Officer ahead of time.

Technical submission for the acceptance inspection

If you are making modifications or have a new installation, you must submit technical documentation before your acceptance inspection.

The submission must:

1. Meet the requirements of CAN/CSA Z98-07 Annex A, the approval checklist.
2. Be reviewed and have a seal by a professional engineer licensed in BC. The professional engineer must also provide certificates of design and construction.
3. All of these documents must be submitted to your assigned Safety Officer prior to the acceptance inspection.

Installation Modifications

If you want to modify an existing passenger ropeway, complete passenger ropeway Installation Permit Letter of Application Form and check the modification box. To submit your application, contact the Passenger Ropeways Client Service Representative, 778-396-2026, passengerropeways@safetyauthority.ca.

You must also submit a letter of intent that describes the components you intend to modify. Charges for this process will be determined after the acceptance inspection stage. Each installation needs a number of inspection hours, as detailed on your operating permit. We’ll take into account how many hours we’ve already used to inspect and how many more hours are needed. Additional charges will be billed at the hourly professional rate.

To install and operate an amusement device in BC, you must be a licensed contractor and have the correct permits. A design submission lets you install or erect an amusement device and an operating permit allows you to run it.

Exemptions

A number of amusement devices are not regulated by the BCSA and do not require installation or operating permits. Examples include: bungee devices, go karts, stationary coin operated rides, and amusement devices that are operated by muscle power.

For a complete list of devices that are exempt from the regulation, see section 18(2) of the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.

The following devices are also exempt and not subject to regulation:

• Ziplines that do not exceed a height of 2.4 m from the ground.
• Ziplines that have trolley speeds less than 5m/sec (18 km/hr).
• Inflated devices that have a bounce surface less than .25 m from the base.
• Inflated devices that do not have inflated walls and/or roof that encloses the bounce surface.

If you’re not sure whether your amusement device is a regulated product, please contact:

Provincial Safety Manager for Passenger Ropeways and Amusement Devices,
Telephone: 778-396-2047, or
Email: amusementdevices@safetyauthority.ca.

Licensed contractors must provide a design submission for each unit being considered before they install or alter any elevating device. An elevating device includes elevators, escalators, moving walkways, or dumbwaiter lifts.

The steps after getting your installation permit may include a construction inspection and will include an acceptance inspection. Follow the steps to get your installation permit.

Installation Permit

Before installing an elevating device, you’ll need to get the design specifications registered. Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation letter which becomes your installation permit.

To get the design registered, you must be a licensed elevating device contractor and you must hire the services of a professional, BC-licensed engineer to certify the design registration.

When you have the design specifications of your device:

1. Complete the Elevating Devices Drawings and Specifications Submission for Installation Permit Form 1069. The professional engineer must add their professional seal to the form and indicate conformance with the applicable code.
2. To submit your design application, submit your forms and drawings to the BCSA New Westminster office in person or by mail.

Our design registration review can take up to four weeks from the date you submit an application.

Licensed contractors and owners need a permit before they install, operate or perform maintenance on any boiler, refrigeration system or pressure vessel.

Register a design before getting your installation permit

Before installing a boiler, you’ll need to first provide a Canadian Design Registration Number (CRN) or submit the design specifications of the device registered to obtain your CRN.

All licensed contractors qualified to work with the following equipment need an installation permit before they begin any operations:

• Hot water boilers with a heating surface area exceeding 3 m2
• Steam boilers with a heating surface area exceeding 2m2
• Hot potable water heaters exceeding 120 kW or 400,000 BTUs/h
• Air conditioning and refrigeration systems exceeding 5 kW input prime mover nameplate rating

Pressure vessels don’t need an installation permit, but before purchasing the unit you should contact your nearest BCSA office just in case it can’t be registered in BC.

To get your installation permit please prepare all the information in the Boiler Installation Permit Form 823 or Refrigeration Installation Permit Form 824 and:

1. Call our customer service line at 1-866-566-7233 or,
2. Mail, fax or visit your nearest BCSA office.

Please be prepared to pay the appropriate fee for your type of boiler, refrigeration system or pressure vessel: Boiler Fee Schedule.

Alterations and new equipment

If you intend to bring a new boiler into British Columbia or alter existing equipment, you need to contact your nearest BCSA office to let us know.

New equipment must be approved before you can apply for an installation permit. To learn more, see: Design Registration for boilers.

Only Class A contractor licence holders can make alterations or repairs. Notify the BCSA ahead of time by completing the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Repair and Alteration Form 1060. Mail the completed form to any BCSA office.