Both Canada and the United States use the ASME VIII-1 pressure vessel code for construction - but -
--- Canada has a B51 standard that provides a more inclusive definition of a pressure vessel. You can purchase the Canadian B51 standard from CSA (1-800-463-6727 or 1-416-747-4044).
--- Canada has a FITTINGS category for items that are not vessels but need to be built under a quality control program. Please see TSSA's guideline for non nuclear fittings.
--- Pressure Vessels and fittings installed/used in Canada need a CRN (Canadian Registration Number).
--- The National Board registration is not used in Canada with the exception of Saskatchewan unless specified by the owner of a vessel. However, for manufacturers located in the USA, vessels that are to be used in Canada must carry a valid CRN for the province of destination AND be National Board Registered. Vessels fabricated outside of Canada and USA which are not fabricated in National Board facilities are subject to special review.
From B51-97 page 20 4.11:
"Manufacturers in the USA who manufacture and export boilers of pressure vessels to Canada shall hold an ASME Certificate of Authorization and ensure that all boilers and pressure vessel are stamped with the appropriate ASME Symbol and registered with the National Board."
Also from B51-97 4.12:
"Manufacturers in countries other than Canada and the USA who do not have the appropriate ASME Certificate of Authorization shall, when submitting designs of boilers and pressure vessels for registration, submit evidence acceptable to the regulatory authority that the quality control system for the manufacturing facilities and procedure is equivalent to that of the applicable ASME Code."
--- Saskatchewan will accept National Board without a CRN.
--- Each vessel/fitting must be registered in EACH province it will be used in.
--- Each province has its own registration requirements and fees. - more information can be found below.
--- Some items required CRNs due to their use - ie compressed natural gas - even if it would not normally be a fitting or a pressure vessel. Consult with the jurisdiction where the item will be used.
--- A CRN can be applied for, even if it is not required.
--- The CRN should be applied for before construction begins.
The last point deserves comment, to quote B51 -
"Acceptance and registration shall be obtained before construction is commenced".
For a foreign manufacturer who has a finished vessel, and has been told on the shipping date that the vessel is bound for Canada, this can be a problem. In reality, this requirement varies by jurisdiction.
The Ontario vessel act offers this alternative:
"4.(2) A person who submits a design submission for registration may commence construction of the boiler, pressure vessel, fitting or piping before the submission is registered if the person assumes all risks related to the construction, whether for an installation or alteration."
The CRN can usually be applied for at any point in the construction, the risk is that if any changes are required from the review, the vessel will need to be reworked or scrapped. The earlier the CRN can be applied for, the better. Where possible, I have included how long it takes to get a CRN in the contact information below (registration times vary a lot depending upon workloads and the jurisdiction doing the registration - some offer expedited reviews at higher charges). Many Canadian manufacturers really do not wait for their CRN before starting production - it takes too long.
(See the TSSA or Alberta Boilers Safety Association web site for more useful information.)