Gas showroom safety in Ontario

An advisory was issued by Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) in Ontario last July about requirements for product hook-up in gas showrooms. The TSSA is a provincial body, only operating in Ontario. HPBAC became aware of the advisory towards the end of last year as inspectors starting knocking on doors. The requirements are extremely onerous. HPBAC has been in discussions with TSSA with the objective of finding a way to achieve the safety objectives without putting retailers out of business. Industry meetings were held in May in Ottawa, Toronto and London to which TSSA staff were invited. The meetings were extremely well attended and proved very fruitful. The gas safety code allows for different hook up requirements for temporary installations such as trade shows and TSSA, at HPBAC’s instigation, has agreed in principal, to extend this provision to gas showrooms. Two trials will now be conducted. TSSA will require an automatic CO alarm and cut off. HPBAC has assisted in the sourcing of this device.