Why are CRNs required?

It's the law, in Canada. Canadian Registration Numbers (CRN numbers) identify unique pressure equipment design concepts for use in Canada, and must meet requirements, in accordance with Canadian statutes and regulations.  Canadian law references CSA B51.  Each design concept has a unique CRN number.  One Canadian Registration Number can represent millions of individual items, each with a different serial number, that all conform to the CRN design. Though each provincial jurisdiction has responsibility for the safety of pressure equipment within its borders, Canadian provincial regulatory authorities have cooperated to help ensure CRN numbers are tracked nationwide, and identifiable across provincial boundaries.  CRN numbers are required to be stamped on equipment or, in the case of very small fittings, trackable with other identification markings.

CSA B51 and CRN Numbers

CSA B51, the Canadian “Boiler, Pressure Vessel, and Pressure Piping Code”, describes the required rules of CRN use in detail.  Part 1, Clause 4 specifies that pressure fittings, pressure vessels, and boilers are assigned CRN numbers with the acceptance of regulatory authorities in provinces where the equipment is to be used. Vessel and boiler CRN numbers never start with a “0”.  Fitting CRN numbers always do.  All CRN numbers have a decimal point that follows the prefix assigned by the regulatory authority.

CRN Formats

For fittings, the letter following the “0” in the prefix corresponds to CSA B51 Table 1, and is used by regulatory authorities at their discretion to categorize the fitting according to type:

1. Pipe fittings
2. Flanges line
3. Valves
4. Flexible connections
5. Strainers, filters, separators, traps
6. Instrumentation
7. Over pressure protection devices
8. Items not in categories A to G

Subsequent characters in the prefix that precede the decimal, are sequentially assigned by the regulatory authority.  For some fitting categories, five digits follow the letter noted above that precede the decimal.  For vessels, an alphanumeric (unless the registration is really old) and four digital characters precede the decimal. Following the decimal, the geographical region in which the design was first registered (the originating jurisdiction) is identified with a character listed in Clause 4.3.2.: 1     British Columbia 2     Alberta 3     Saskatchewan 4     Manitoba 5     Ontario 6     Quebec 7     New Brunswick 8     Nova Scotia 9     Prince Edward Island O     Newfoundland Y     Yukon The prefix, decimal, and character after the decimal identifies a unique design.  To indicate all of Canada, the letter “C” is subsequently used.  To indicate all regions in Canada which require registration, the “CL” is used. Subsequent digits identify other regions in which the design has been registered, in no particular order.

CRN Formating Examples

Here are some examples of CRN numbers:

1. B1234.256 pressure vessel design initially registered in Alberta, and also registered in Quebec and Ontario
2. B1234.265 same CRN number as noted in 1 above despite reversal of “65”
3. B1234.465 pressure vessel design different from items 1 and 2, and registered first in Manitoba
4. 0B1234.265 flange design registered first in Alberta
5. 0B1234.165 flange design different from that identified in item 4, and registered first in British Columbia
6. 0B1234.2C flange design as noted in item 4, but registered in all Canadian regions
7. 0B1234.2CL flange design as noted in item 4 above, but registered in all Canadian regions except those where registration is not required

CRN Registration Rules per CSA B51

Fitting CRN registrations expire 10 years after the originating registration, and can be renewed before expiry.  For example, if 0A.12345.132 was first registered in British Columbia on Jan 31, 2018, and then on in Alberta on March 23, 2019 and Saskatchewan on Aug 19, 2024, then the registration for all three jurisdictions will expire on Jan31, 2028 unless it is renewed in British Columbia before then.  Renewal would need to occur in the originating jurisdiction (British Columbia) first and prior to February 1, 2028/  Other jurisidctions can renew the CRN after British Columbia, and not before.  Vessel CRN registations never need renewal. If the code or regulations become more stringent after registration, then those that have care and control of the design and / or related equipment need to ensure that the registration is revised to meet the new requirements in accordance with regulatory requirements. Give Cammar Corporation a call to discuss any CRN requirement questions that you might have!