Each province or territory in Canada issues the Canadian Registration Number (CRN) by an authorized safety authority for pressure vessels and fittings that operate at a pressure rating greater than 15 psig. The CRN identifies that the design has been accepted and is registered for use in that province or territory.
1. The first step is to determine what province or provinces the equipment will be operating in. It is important to note that each province or territory has unique application criteria for CRN. If the equipment will be used in more than one province or territory, a separate CRN application is required.
Timing is also discussed early in the project, so customers understand what is involved in the CRN application process. Upon determining the design and shipping requirements, it may take several weeks for the CRN number to be granted depending on the project complexity.
2. Next, approval drawings are developed for specific CRN parameters. Fittings, piping, and components need to be verified through detailed calculations or testing. Further, some provinces and territories require a PE (Professional Engineer) stamp. Documentation for drawings and materials is prepared in accordance with the requirements for the specific provincial CRN application.
3. Depending on the complexity of the vessel, the design verification may require changes and modifications. This involves back and forth consultation with both the customer and the reviewer of the registration.
4. If required, our Quality Assurance team schedules and performs tests to comply with the vessel's certifications and prepares the testing and certification documents.
5. Finally, the CRN number is issued, and equipment only then can be shipped and placed in service.
Custom vessel manufacturing for industries and pressure vessel factions requiring compliance is what we do. There is a process for customer service and project engineering that we follow to get the correct solution with the defined compliance. Apache sales techs and engineers work with customers to explain this process and provide options when necessary to manage your custom vessel project.
Experience and reputation are significant when developing relationships with inspectors, agencies, and governing officials to keep the CRN registration process moving forward. Having exported to Canada for over 40 years, Apache’s small vessel and large tank team have extensive experience with Canadian regulatory requirements and documentation.
DESIGN TO COMPLIANCE
Designing custom vessels to compliance, such as ASME or CRN, is a highly engineered approach. Certainly, manufacturers of the custom vessel must have required accreditation, but the engineering expertise goes beyond certification. The pressure vessel manufacturer must have experience and a reputation with inspectors, agencies, and governing officials to manage the compliance process smoothly and efficiently.
The process is complex, and we must educate customers about the important steps, all of which affect the project's outcome. The process includes consultation, project engineering, manufacturing, and compliance.
Consultation
When discussing the intent of the vessel with the Customer or Engineering Firm, the sales team works to learn more about the industry and process that the vessel will serve. This will often help us make recommendations on design attributes that the customer may not know this early in the design and vessel selection process. This is especially important in the absence of a formal specification package.
A scope alignment meeting occurs to discuss the proposal and services. This meeting may include revisions, due dates, milestones, review of pricing, terms, and conditions, and certification timelines and deliverables.
Project Engineering
After Apache receives the PO (purchase order), we assign the project to the engineer, and the kick-off meetings begin. Sales works closely with the project engineer to relay information back to the customer.
Engineering will perform final calculations, complete the design, consult with component manufacturers, and review designs with the customer. Construction, pressure, fixtures, and components must comply with ASME or CRN code.
Once the customer approves the design, Apache submits the compliant design to ASME, CRN or other faction approval and begins managing that process.
Manufacturing
The project engineer creates detailed drawings for the manufacturing process. Staff, fabricators, and welders are ASME certified. All welders are approved for the weld procedures required to make custom vessels.
Compliance
Project engineers work closely with manufacturing and quality assurance technicians to conduct the testing required for compliance. ASME testing and certification requirements include pneumatic, hydrostatic, liquid penetrant, saline, riboflavin, CIP coverage, material, base metal thickness, material trace, welder trace, Ferroxyl, PMI (Positive Material Identification) radiography, and UT. Apache provides in-house inspection services, which benefit customers with ASME projects. The documents are provided in the TOP (turnover packet) by Apache's Quality Assurance team.
Apache has been ASME certified for over 40 years. In addition to ASME, Apache is accredited in many other global standards, including CRN.
In addition to the "12 Steps to Compliance" video highlighted in this blog, learn more by downloading our e-book, "Road Map: Design to ASME Submission."
CRN is a Canadian Registration Number issued by each province or territory of Canada for the design and manufacture of boilers, pressure vessels and fittings to be shipped for use in Canada. It is important to note that each province and territories have unique application criteria for CRN.
Some fittings, piping and components are pre-approved for CRN, while others will require detailed calculations and/or testing to verify compliance. Certain design attributes may be accepted by some provinces or territories, but not by others. Further, some provinces and territories require a PE (Professional Engineer) stamp, but not all have this requirement.
One process is consistent; each province and territory requires the submission of the design to the CRN regulatory agency and the equipment must have a CRN number before it can ship and be placed in service.
How can manufacturers and processors plan for CRN for their tank and vessel projects? Start wth early planning and consider vessels as a long lead item. Determine design and shipping requirements at the onset of scope management discussions and allow several weeks, depending on project complexity, for the CRN number to be granted.
Apache provides CRN support on new projects as well as on used vessels orginally used in domestic markets that the customer desires to place into service in Canada.
Having exported to Canada for over 40 years, Apache's small vessel and large tank team have extensive experience with Canadian regulatory requirements and documentation. Apache has produced CRN vessels for many industries including oil, gas, energy, pharmaceutical, cannabis processing, health and beauty, and food and beverage. Apache has provided design, review and registration services for a variety of tank and vessel applications including extraction, evaporation, thermal processing, mixing and batching.
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