CRN in Alberta for Pressure Vessel and Piping System

[ET50]

It looks like we need CRN certification for a pressure vessel, associated piping, and fittings for a system being manufactured in the USA and being shipped to Alberta. My question is, do we need to have a CRN before fabrication begins or can we certify our vessel and piping system after it's been fabricated? Sorry for being vague but we have never done this before and want to do it right. We have 2 vessels, never used and "U" stamped, but at the time of fabrication no requirement for CRN. To use these can we get them certified, or do we need to fabricate a new vessel with CRN in mind?

 

[apieron]

1. My question is, do we need to have a CRN before fabrication begins or can we certify our vessel and piping system after it's been fabricated?

You only need a CRN before it is in operation so technically you can begin fabrication without a CRN. However, you run the risk of ABSA making significant changes to your design during the design review stages. You likely could end up with a finished product that you can't get registered. Do the right thing and get the CRN first.

2. We have 2 vessels, never used and "U" stamped, but at the time of fabrication no requirement for CRN. To use these can we get them certified, or do we need to fabricate a new vessel with CRN in mind?

I am not entirely sure about this question. Likely, if you have all the associated drawings for the vessels you could possibly get them registered and get a CRN. However, depending on the age, the codes have changed over the years and they may not be up to code. But if you do have the drawings, it might be worth a shot.

 

[Frank1344]

ET50,

This is a recommendation:
Go to

http://www.absa.ca

and check under design registration section, it will give you instructions on how to register your design and fabrication.

There is a document "Pressure Equipment Safety Legislation" or "PESL" also known as AB-516 which is the main reference for all the requirements for registering any pressure equipment in Alberta which you can download free from website.

But the quickest way is to go under contact us section, get the phone and call absa office and ask to talk to one of the Design Survey Engineers and explain what you wrote above to her/him. They are able to put you on the right track on from wher to start, forms, back up documents, etc.

Best of luck,
Frank
Calgary

 

[ET50]

Thanks for the quick and informative responses. The Pressure Vessels we have are less than 6 months old, but the piping has not been fabricated yet. This will be quite the learning experience I believe. Any thoughts on the time frame associated with this if we're starting from zero.

 

[Frank1344]

Is this going to be a skid? All the equipments will be shipped together on a structural skid?

 

[ET50]

"Is this going to be a skid? All the equipments will be shipped together on a structural skid?"

Yes that is correct, Everything will on a structural skid and the skid will be inside a container.

 

[SnTMan]

ET50, start talking to ABSA, the sooner the better. It is difficult to know how long the CRN process can take, it is not uncommon for the entity seeking registration to pay overtime fees to expedite the process. ABSA is probably the most difficult of the lot. I can just about guarantee you will have to justify some portion of you design.

Regards,

Mike

 

[weldtek]

It's been awhile since I dealt with them, but in addition to having drawings and calculations approved, we had to have all of the welding procedures we planned to use on the vessel approved. I've been involved with pressure containing equipment installed in BC, Ontario and Alberta and I concur with SnTMan, Alberta has the most difficult group to deal with. I'll take Texas any day.

 

[moltenmetal]

Systems below a certain size (volume) are exempt from design registration requirements for the pressure piping, but vessels need CRN regardless. Even if design reg is not needed for the piping, you will still need an AI to witness the NDE and hydrotests though. How you accomplish that to ABSA's satisfaction can only be answered by ABSA. And those folks work for the government of Alberta- not you, and not your customer- so they can be fairly rigid and difficult to reason with.

As other advice has said, get them involved EARLY to avoid problems.

 

[SNORGY]

These links might help:

http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2006_049.pdf

http://www.absa.ca

 

[SNORGY]

My experience with ABSA has been less pessimistic (on the EPC side anyway). If you have the NB numbers for the vessels and have filled in the paperwork they ask for on their website, the approval process has always been less than 6 weeks. Others' experiences may vary.

 

[Guest102023]

Call ABSA, the sooner the better.