Manufacturers Located Outside of Canada:
• All piping that is constructed outside Canada must be inspected and certified by an Authorized Inspector (A.I.) employed by an A.I.A acceptable to ABSA. The inspection and certification must be
documented using ABSA AB-83F form. A certified AB-83F form must be submitted to the owner.
• Companies who wish to set up fabrication facilities in Alberta for the construction of pressure piping are required to obtain a Certificate of Authorization Permit and register the WPSs with ABSA. Please review Section 4.0 Certification Process for more information.
3.2
Legislative, Codes and Standards Requirements
• Safety Cod e s Act , Revised Statutes of Alberta 2000, Chapter S-1:
The paramount document in the hierarchy of the requirements is the Safety Codes Act in Alberta. The Act establishes basic requirements such as responsibilities of the owners, manufacturers, contractors, designers;
powers of the Safety Codes Officers; issuance and suspension of permits;
registration of pressure piping designs; maintenance of a QMS. Orders, appeals and penalties are described in the Act. The Act defines pressure equipment, and the definition includes pressure piping. The PESR further defines pressure piping. You are required to understand and maintain a current copy of the Act.
• Pressure Equipment Safe t y Regulation (PESR) , Alberta Regulation 49/2006:
The PESR is enacted under the Safety Codes Act and includes
requirements for the design and construction of pressure piping systems in Alberta. It establishes that pressure piping is used to convey expansible fluids under pressure. Piping systems that contain only non-expansible fluids are exempt. It establishes requirements relevant to pressure piping such as the Codes and Standards that are declared in force; Certificate of
Authorization Permit; pressure piping systems design registration; welding and bonding procedures specification registration; hydro testing of
completed pressure piping systems; over pressure protection; certification of piping construction using an AB-83 form; and certification of the piping systems upon installation using an AB-81 form to confirm completion of final safety checks and readiness for operation. Section 4 of the Regulation establishes partial exemptions (e.g., small bore piping up to DN50 (NPS2) is exempt from the requirements of the PESR if all of the stated
requirements are met and for piping systems under 500 litres, exemption from design registration). You are required to understand and maintain a current copy of the PESR.
• Pressure Welders R e gu l ation , Alberta Regulation 169/2002:
Pressure Welders Regulation contains requirements for certificate of competency and performance qualification cards for welders and machine welding operators.
The above requirement refers to the use of certified ‘B’ or ‘C’ Pressure Welders and Machine Welding Operators for fabrication of pressure piping systems. A certified welder cannot weld on any pressure equipment unless he/she is employed or contracted by a Certificate of Authorization Permit holder and is knowledgeable about the requirements of the WPS and the QMS. Other requirements including assignment of a symbol to the welder or operator for the purpose of identifying the welds; identification of the welds using the symbol; records of the welders/operators may be found in the Regulation. If your activity involves welding, you are required to understand and maintain a current copy of the Pressure Welders Regulation.
• Pressure Equipment Exemption Order
,
Alberta Regulation 56/2006:The Pressure Equipment Exemption Order establishes exemptions for pressure piping such as pressure piping which is fully vented to atmosphere or operating with one or more PRDs with set pressure not exceeding 103 kPa; or piping that forms part of a heating plant. You should be aware of what is exempt and what is not exempt.
The following codes and standards are adopted by the PESR as part of the regulation and they contain requirements for pressure piping. Compliance with requirements of the adopted codes is mandatory unless there is a conflict with the legislation, in which case the requirement of the legislation shall apply.
• Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Pressure Piping Code, CSA B51:
CSA B51establishes requirements for the construction of pressure piping and fittings in Canada. Information such as the requirements for CRN for Fittings and categories of Fittings viz. A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H may be found in this code. It contains information such as registration of designs, QMS registration, WPS registration, inspections, pressure testing etc. that is complementary to the PESR. Under Section 2(2) of PESR, if there is a conflict between the provisions of the CSA B51 Code and other adopted codes or standards, the provisions of the CSA B51 Code prevail over the other codes or standards. You are required to understand and have access to a current copy of this Code.
• Mechanical Refrigeration Code, CSA B52:
CSA B52 establishes requirements for the construction of mechanical refrigeration systems including piping and tubing in Canada. If you are seeking certification for the application of this Code, you are required to understand and have access to a current copy of this Code.
• Process Piping Construction per ASME B31.3 Code:
B31.3 is typically used for the design and construction of pressure piping found in Petroleum Refineries, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Textile, Paper, Semiconductor, and Cryogenic Plants and related Processing Plants and Terminals. This code has been adopted through PESR in Alberta and therefore is mandatory. If you are seeking certification for the application of ASME B31.3 Code, you are required to understand and maintain a current copy of this Code.
• Power Piping Construction per ASME B31.1 Code:
B31.1 is typically used for the design and construction of piping found in Electric Power Generating Stations, Industrial and Institutional Plants, Geothermal Heating Systems, and Central & District Heating and Cooling Systems. This code has been adopted through PESR in Alberta, therefore is mandatory. If you are seeking certification for the application of ASME B31.1 Code, you are required to understand and maintain a current copy of this Code.
• Refrigeration Piping Construction per ASME B31.5 Code:
B31.5 is typically used for the design and construction of pressure piping containing refrigerants or secondary coolants (used in conjunction with CSA B52 Code). This code has been adopted through PESR in Alberta, therefore is mandatory. If you are seeking certification for the application of ASME B31.5 Code, you are required to understand and maintain a current copy of this Code.
• Building Services Piping Construction per ASME B31.9 Code:
B31.9 is typically used for the design and construction of piping found in Industrial, Institutional, Commercial, Public Buildings and multi-unit residences which does not require the range of sizes, pressures and temperatures covered by ASME B31.1 Power Piping Code. This code has been adopted through PESR in Alberta, therefore is mandatory. If you are seeking certification for the application of ASME B31.9 Code, you are required to understand and maintain a current copy of this Code.
• Welding and Brazing Qualifications, ASME Section IX:
Section IX is referenced in the ASME Codes of construction such as ASME B31.3, ASME B31.1, ASME B31.5, ASME B31.9 and contains information about the requirements for welding/brazing procedures and
welders/operators qualifications. A WPS must meet the requirements of this code as a pre-condition of registration with ABSA. Important information about the Welders/Operators Performance Qualification testing is included in this code. If you intend to assemble pressure piping by welding/brazing, you are required to understand and have access to a current copy of this Code. Welding being a critical activity for the construction of pressure piping, and, given that the information of frequent use that is contained in this Code, it is recommended that the Code be purchased by the
manufacturer.
If a company is engaged in mechanical assembly of pressure piping only, this requirement does not apply.
• Nondestructive Examination (NDE), ASME Section V:
Section V is referenced to in the ASME Codes of construction such as ASME B31.3, ASME B31.1, ASME B31.5, ASME B31.9 and contains information about the requirements for NDE. NDE requirements and techniques such as radiography, MPI, UT, and visual examination are specified in ASME B31 Codes. You are required to understand and have access to a current copy of this Code.
Note: Electronic access in lieu of hard copies to all the documents which are
listed under Section 3.2, is acceptable.
3.3 Quality Manual Requirements
Requirements are enclosed in a box and therefore must be addressed.
Implementation Guidance is provided where appropriate to aid in the development of the quality manual.
Requirements
Management shall develop and implement a Quality Manual that states the company’s commitment to quality, and, describes the system used by the organization for the construction of pressure piping. A quality manual shall meet the requirements of company policies & standards and the AB-518 document.
I mplementation Guidance
A quality manual is developed in accordance with the company’s policies & standards.
This document establishes the owner’s/company’s/executive management’s policies, commitment, and accountability to meet the specified requirements, and, describes the system that will achieve and maintain an effective QMS. Ideally, a quality manual is written by the owner or top level managers and quality department manager.
QMS Manual elements as shown in this document have been chosen to follow the sequence of operation for the construction of pressure piping and in consideration of the requirements of the ISO Quality Standards. A quality manual may be written in any format and in the sequence that best suits the organization’s operation, providing all the requirements of this document are addressed.
ISO 10013:2001 - Guidelines for Quality Management System Documentation, and ISO 10005:2005 – Guidelines for Quality Plans, provide useful information for developing an effective quality management system. A quality manual meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 Standard provides for the application of additional principals not
covered by AB-518 and thus is a sound basis for the development of a QMS manual. A QMS manual based upon ISO 9001:2008 or 29001:2000 is recommended and will be acceptable provided all of the requirements of this document are addressed.
The quality manual must accurately describe the system in practice. It should be a working document to enable the owner/management; company personnel who are responsible for constructing piping systems to the requirements, for the auditors, for ABSA, your customers and other interested parties to readily understand the piping construction program.
The extent of documentation needed to meet the requirements of this document will depend upon the size of the organization, type, location, complexity of the operations and competence of the personnel. Smaller organizations may find it appropriate to provide detailed descriptions of their work processes within the manual. However, as a general rule, including detailed procedures within the main text of the manual detracts a reader from the manual’s readability. For this reason procedures and other documents that describe the detailed processes are usually referenced in the applicable manual sections and are maintained as separately controlled documents.
The content for each manual section may then be limited to a brief explanation of the key requirements. The applicable Procedures/Flowcharts that cover the detailed descriptions should then be referenced in the appropriate section.
Samples of a Quality Manual Section and a Procedure are included for information in Appendix A and B respectively.
The primary purpose of procedures, engineering standards, manufacturing standards, work instructions and other such documents is to provide further guidance and details to the individuals involved in the pressure piping construction activities. These
documents must, therefore, be readily available at their point of use. They should be written with the reader in mind to clearly convey what is required to perform the
applicable activities, and, must be detailed enough so that activities could be completed and meet the requirements on a consistent basis. The guidance documents may take the form of flow charts, tables, text, a combination of these or other means which best suits the organization.
The owner or senior management responsible for the piping construction program should be actively involved in the development and implementation of the program. This is necessary to ensure that the quality system will be practical, add value to the
organization’s business, and ensure that activities are aligned and not duplicated, as well as to demonstrate compliance with the legislation.
3.3.1 Title Page
Requirements The title page shall identify:
• the name and shop address of the organization (office address if the activities are done at the field sites only);
• brief scope or name of the activity to which the manual applies; and
• the manual number and revision status.
I mplementation Guidance
An example of a brief description of the activities covered by the manual may be
“Construction and Repair/Alteration of Pressure Piping in accordance with ASME B31.3 Code”. Other useful information that may be included in the title page is as follows:
• Identify whether it is a controlled or uncontrolled manual
• Manual Edition
• AQP number (after it’s issued by ABSA)
• Manual assigned to_________________
3.3.2 Table of Contents
Requirements
The manual shall include a Table of Contents that lists the number and title of each section and its location in the manual.
3.3.3 Scope
Requirement s This section shall:
• describe the scope of the activities to be undertaken;
• list the shop locations covered under the same registered name;
• provide the scope of work undertaken at each shop location, and the address of each shop;
• indicate whether field activities are also undertaken and controlled from this location; and
• state the title of a person designated to perform QC function at each site, and, the title of a person who is overall responsible for
maintenance and assuring effective implementation of the QMS at all locations.
If a company does not have a shop, and undertakes field activities only, then the company shall indicate that the activities undertaken are at field sites in Alberta controlled from an office address of the company.
Implementation Guidance The scope section may include exclusions for circumstances where the scope boundaries of activities may require clarification to dispel any pre-assumptions made by the clients (e.g., if a company constructs ASME B31.1 Non-Boiler External piping only, then a statement may be made that the company does not construct ASME B31.1 Boiler External piping).
3.3.4 Definitions of Terms and Acronyms Implementation Guidance
All terms and acronyms used in the quality manual should be defined.
3.3.5 Organization
Requirements This section shall:
• include a statement that management will ensure that responsibilities and authorities are defined and are communicated within the
organization; and
• define an organization that shows the organizational structure and identifies key positions of personnel who manage and perform work affecting quality.
Implementation Guidance
The responsibility, authority and interrelation of personnel who manage, perform and verify work affecting quality – as well as those who need the organizational freedom and authority to identify non conformances, recommend solutions, initiate corrective action and verify implementation of solutions – should be described in this section. The description may be in the form of organization charts, flow charts, and job descriptions, as applicable. These documents may be included or referenced in the manual.
Personnel responsible for quality control functions may report directly to a production manager, however they should have the freedom to report matters that may jeopardize safety to the owner/top manager. Such a relationship may be shown by a dotted line connecting the owner/top manager to the person responsible for QC function.
3.3.6 Statement of Authority and Responsibility Requirement s
This Statement of Authority document shall include:
• a statement that the written quality system meets the requirements of this document and accurately describes the pressure piping construction processes implemented by the company;
• a statement that management will uphold the safety requirements of the SCA & Regulations and resolve any issues regarding quality;
• a statement that the quality system has the full support of the owner/management who will ensure that adequate resources, including competent personnel, are provided to implement the program;
• the title of the person responsible for the development and maintenance of the pressure piping construction program, with an explanation that this person has the defined authority and responsibility for implementation of the program and has direct access to, and support from, top management to resolve any implementation barriers;
• and the signature (with date) of the owner/senior management.
Implementation Guidance
A statement of authority is required to affirm commitment and support from the top management to assure that requirements of the Safety Codes Act will be upheld and that adequate resources will be provided for effective
implementation of the quality management system.
A company should avoid repeating the ‘scope’ of the piping construction program in the Statement of Authority.
A new Statement of Authority document signed by the owner/executive manager with the current date is required during each submission for renewal of the certification.
3.3.7 Owner’s/Management’s Responsibilities
Requirements This section shall:
• include a statement and evidence that the owner/management is committed to the development and implementation of a successful
pressure piping construction program and that it will continually improve its effectiveness;
• establish that owner/management will review the pressure piping construction program at appropriate intervals to ensure its continued suitability and effectiveness; and
• include a statement that the owner/management shall determine and provide adequate competent human resources and the necessary facilities and equipment to effectively implement the pressure piping construction activities.
Implementation Guidance
The objective of describing Owner’s/Management responsibilities in the QMS manual is to ensure that owner/top management takes a leading and visible role in defining, implementing, administering and improving the QMS with the goal of meeting all requirements.
Leadership, commitment and the active involvement of the owner and/or the top management are essential for developing, maintaining and implementing an effective and efficient quality management system. Top management should:
• lead the organization by example in order to develop trust with its people
• communicate the direction and values of the organization
• participate in improvement initiatives
• obtain feedback
• create an environment that encourages the involvement of personnel in the development of the quality processes
3.3.8 Contract Review
Requirement s This section shall describe the:
• responsibilities for contract review and agreement;
• documentation of pressure piping construction requirements and the scope of work;
• responsibilities for the supply of materials and construction drawings;
• responsibility for the design and design registration with ABSA;
• responsibility for PWHT and pressure testing;
• responsibilities for verification that piping lot sizes for the purpose of NDE are specified by the owner and agreed upon;
• requirement of a turnover package and contents thereof;
• responsibilities for certifying the construction using AB-83 or AB-83 Partial or AB-83F as the case may be; and
• responsibilities for certifying the installation and readiness for operation using an AB-81 Form.
Implementation Guid anc e
Contract agreement is a critical activity that happens at the initial stages of the construction project and has influence upon the success of the project. The objective of describing the Contract Review process in your QMS manual is to ensure that contract requirements are defined, understood, agreed upon and documented prior to the start of work, and to make certain that you will be able to meet the overall requirements before accepting the order.
The QMS manual and procedures should provide adequate guidance to the personnel of the organization to ensure that:
The QMS manual and procedures should provide adequate guidance to the personnel of the organization to ensure that: