Class A - Contractor Licence Guideline
- Scope of guideline
- Application for a class A contractor licence
- Quality control program
- Quality control manual guideline
- Review and acceptance of the applicants quality control program
- Maintaining the quality control program
- Audits of the licenced contractor quality control program
Appendix A - Quality control manual guideline
Appendix B - Suggested quality control manual section elements
1. Scope of guideline
This guideline has been created to assist contractors in developing, updating or revising quality control programs applicable to a class A contractor licence under the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Refrigeration Safety Regulation (BPVR Regulation). This guideline is intended to be used in conjunction with Contractor Licensing Directive: D-BP 2019-01.
2. Application for a class A contractor licence
To apply for a class A contractor licence the applicant must submit a completed application form (FRM-811) and a current copy of their documented quality control program to Technical Safety BC.
The application form, applicable fees, and other information are available on our website.
3. Quality control program
A quality control program is required to be submitted with the applicable application form as part of the application process for a class A contractor licence.
Quality control programs must detail the organization’s processes, procedures, and controls for maintaining compliance with the requirements applicable to the scope of work listed in their manual. Quality control programs must take into consideration all applicable regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, the Safety Standards Act (the Act), associated regulations, including adopted codes, directives, and safety orders.
The necessary scope and detail of the program will depend on the complexity of the work performed and on the size and complexity of the organization that is performing the regulated work. Regulated work may be performed in a fixed location (e.g., a shop) or in the field, provided that the controls are described in the quality control program.
4. Quality control manual guideline
Appendix A provides guidance for an effective quality control program. It is not intended to provide all of the information that may need to be included in a quality control program, but rather to serve as a guideline. Depending on the scope of the regulated work to be performed and the specific code requirements that are applicable, additional information beyond the contents of this guideline may be required.
5. Review and acceptance of the applicants quality control program
Quality control programs will be reviewed for acceptance by Technical Safety BC prior to issuance of a licence. Additionally in accordance with adopted code CSA B51, the applicant may be asked to demonstrate to Technical Safety BC that they have adequate equipment and facilities to perform the scope of work specified in their quality control program and to demonstrate that they have a thorough working knowledge of their quality control program.
Technical Safety BC will review the demonstration project, assess the application of the quality control program requirements and, if acceptable, will issue the class A contractor licence.
The applicant will be notified of any deficiency identified by Technical Safety BC in the review of the quality control program, and/or its application through the demonstration project. The applicant will then be responsible to take any corrective action required to resolve the deficiency prior to issuance of the licence.
6. Maintaining the quality control program
Quality control programs must remain current and up-to-date to ensure that they accurately reflect the requirements contained in the Act, associated regulations, including adopted codes, directives, and safety orders as amended from time to time.
A licencee may change, update, or revise their quality control program at any time provided that the changes, updates, or revisions are submitted to Technical Safety BC along with a copy of the contractor licence application form (FRM-811) for acceptance prior to implementation. Revisions to the program must be submitted to Technical Safety BC for acceptance as required, and as part of the renewal process.
Prior to each licence renewal, quality control programs must be reviewed by the licencee for any changes which may impact the program and any required revisions to the program must be submitted to Technical Safety BC for acceptance as part of the renewal process.
7. Audits of the licensed contractor quality control program
Quality control programs may be subject to inspection, including investigation, monitoring and audit, by Technical Safety BC at any time. Inspection of licensee quality control programs and associated regulated activities are performed to confirm that a contractor is meeting the expectations under their licence including, but not limited to, applying all aspects of their quality control program.
Appendix A – Quality control manual guideline
The following provides guidance for an effective quality control manual. It is not intended to provide all of the information that may need to be included in a quality control program, but rather to serve as a guideline. Depending on the complexity of the regulated work to be performed and the specific code requirements that are applicable, additional information beyond the contents of this guideline may be required.
1. Cover page
The cover page should contain the organization name, logo, physical address, and the class of contractor licence. It should also contain other information including, date of manual issuance, edition level, revision level, controlled/uncontrolled copy, etc.
2. Scope
The manual should reference the contractor licence class and must specify a detailed scope of work identifying the regulated work which will be performed by the organization. This scope of work will be used during the review of the quality control program to determine the necessary complexity of the program based on the scope of work to be performed.
It should indicate by listing all applicable adopted code sections, and standards that the regulated work is performed as per the applied scope of work, and the retention of up-to-date copies of the applicable codes adopted by the BPVR Regulation.
It should have controls to ensure regulated work that is outside the scope of the contractor licence, will not be performed and any contractor licence terms and conditions will be complied with.
The manual should also indicate where the regulated work is taking place and provide provisions for implementation of the quality control program either in a shop or field.
The manual should indicate which activities will be performed solely by the licencee organization and which activities will be subcontracted to competent third parties, example; design, drawings, pressure welding, non-destructive examination, or heat treatment.
Included below is an example scope of work applicable to a class A contractor licence for reference.
|
Licence class |
Example: Scope of work |
|
A |
· Installation, alteration, repair or maintenance of boilers and pressure vessels, and the construction, installation, repair, hot tapping, maintenance or alteration of pressure piping. · Construction, installation, repair or alteration of boiler external piping. · This licence includes the scope of work permitted under an: “Au”, “Ap”, “B”, or “PW” class licence; installation, repair and alteration of pressure vessels used in refrigeration, and construction, repair and alteration of refrigeration piping. |
3. Statement of authority and responsibility
The manual should indicate the authority and responsibilities of those in charge of the quality control program and should provide them with the freedom to identify non-compliances and take corrective action including stopping work if needed by the full support of management. The statement of authority should be signed by the highest authority on the organization chart.
4. Table of contents
The table of contents should reflect the structure of the manual by listing the sections and the exhibits, including revision level. It should also have provisions for approval by the contractor and acceptance from a Technical Safety BC safety officer by signing and dating or other means. A table for revision history of the manual should be included.
For the purpose of clarity, define all abbreviated titles of personnel, control documents, organizations, codes, standards, Acts and Regulations used within the manual, as well as any term used frequently within the document.
5. Manual control
The manual should have provisions for preparation, revision, distribution, and implementation of the quality control manual. It should indicate the persons responsible for the manual control, including submittal of manual revisions to Technical Safety BC.
It should also describe how the licensed contractor will review and update the manual to ensure that knowledge of the Act and Regulations, directives, safety orders, and adopted codes and standards are maintained current.
6. Organization chart
The manual should have an organization chart showing the reporting relationships and lines of communication between management, engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, production, field work, inspection and quality control, as applicable, and it should reflect the actual organization. It should also include a brief explanation of duties and responsibilities of key personnel whose performance affects the quality control program.
7. Drawings, design, calculations, and specifications
The manual should have provisions to identify the minimum information necessary to comply with the code of construction in the form of drawings, specifications or other means.
It should incorporate procedures which assure that the latest applicable drawings, design calculations, specifications and instructions, are used for construction, assembly, examination, inspection and testing. In case the design and drawing function is subcontracted to a third party, there should be mechanism to review and approve these documents prior to release to production.
It should indicate who is responsible to prepare, review/approve design and drawings for regulated work, who is responsible to specify materials to be used, and who controls regulated work that will be performed in the shop or field.
There should be in the description that if the approved design drawings are revised for some reason, what controls will be applied to make sure that obsolete drawings are withdrawn from shop/field location and replaced with revised design drawings.
The manual should also include provisions to ensure that regulated work will not be performed, unless the original design and/or the altered design of regulated equipment has been registered with Technical Safety BC as per BPVR regulation.
8. Material control
The manual should include a system of ordering, receiving, and controlling material. This is to ensure that the correct material (including welding consumables) is procured, inspected after receipt, properly stored, and released for production. There should be controls defined to maintain material traceability until project completion including; heat number and color code application. It should have provisions that the received materials have the required material certifications, material test reports, or certificates of conformity which satisfy the applicable code requirements.
It should include a material control system to ensure that only the intended material is used when performing regulated work under the scope of the licence, and to the specifications of the applicable codes and standards.
The manual should also include provisions for handling materials that are not in compliance with the registered design and/or the applicable code, and have provisions to ensure field activities are controlled.
9. Repairs and alterations
The manual should clearly indicate the scope and type of repair(s) or alteration(s) the organization is capable of and intends to carry out including the identification of the applicable codes. It should also include control of repair(s) or alterations(s) planning, with local area safety officer acceptance and involvement as per BPVR Regulation, including national board inspection code part 3 requirements.
10. Installation
The manual should have provisions for proper assembly and installation methods including drawings, instructions, or specifications to comply with installation code(s). The manual should also include provisions for obtaining applicable permit(s) when required prior to installation, informing local safety officer, proper structural supporting, assuring clearance, access requirements, and measures to ensure requirements for expansion, piping, valves, controls with over-pressure protection.
11. Welding and brazing control
It should have provisions to ensure that only individuals that hold a pressure welding certificate of qualification are assigned to perform pressure welding on a regulated product, and the extent of their work is limited to the pressure welder certificate class that they hold; and should have provisions to maintain their certificate and other applicable qualifications.
It should have measures for preparation, qualification, and registration of welding procedure specifications and brazing procedure specifications with Technical Safety BC.
It should have measures to control welding in the field when applicable and has provisions for welding traceability as required by the applicable codes, including storage and distribution of welding consumables.
The manual should also include provisions for the subcontracting of welding on regulated products to ensure the subcontracted welding company holds a valid PW contractor licence. When pressure welding is subcontracted to a class PW contractor licence holder, there should be provisions in place to clarify the use of class PW contractor’s quality control program, or the main contractor’s quality control program for pressure welding controls and documentation.
12. Non-destructive examination
The manual should have controls and measures to ensure performed or subcontracted non-destructive examination is as per the requirements of applicable codes and completed by qualified personnel.
13. Heat treatment
The quality control manual should have provisions for control of the heat treatment performed or subcontracted by the organization and should have measures in place to ensure that the heat treatments are in compliance with the applicable codes and standards, and records such as heat treatment chart and thermocouple attachment schematic are available on file.
14. Examination and inspection program
The manual should have provisions to ensure the inspections and tests as per the requirements of the Act, BPVR Regulation, and applicable codes are complied with and are recorded accordingly. It should also provide procedures for the types of inspections and tests performed, as well as indicating the person(s) responsible for the control of the inspection and test plan.
It should also include details and procedures on how pressure testing (hydro and/or pneumatic) will be carried out safely.
15. Calibration
The quality control manual should have provisions for calibration of measuring and test equipment including method of calibrations, record keeping, frequency, and any other requirements as per the Act, BPVR Regulation, and applicable codes.
16. Correction of non-compliances
There should be a system for correcting non-compliance and any condition which does not comply with the requirements of the Act, associated regulations, design, specifications, and applicable codes. Non-compliances must be corrected or eliminated before the completed component can be considered to be compliant. The manual should also have provisions to document the non-compliances and their disposition; and to inform a Technical Safety BC safety officer of non-compliant conditions.
17. Record retention
The manual should have measure to ensure that the records are maintained as required by the Act, BPVR Regulation, and applicable codes.
18. Exhibits
When forms are referenced within the manual, a sample should be provided with company name/logo in this section and the titles of the forms referenced in the text of the manual should be consistent with the titles of those forms shown as exhibits.
Note: Technical Safety BC forms that may be referenced within the manual, are not required to be included in exhibits.
Appendix B – Quality control manual guideline
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| A-CL-BRC-7025-MAR-19-2020-V3 - Final.pdf | 302 KB |
Controlled document: BRC-7025