Fittings with CRNs FAQ

FAQ

Why does this list exist? It is hard to find CRN registered components. If you are designing a new product for the Canadian market, or converting a standard product into something that can be used in Canada, finding fittings with CRNs is one of your hardest tasks. Once found, getting the required information from the manufacturer can be even harder – more below.

I am a designer, what do I need to know to use a CRN product? Unfortunately this list only gives you the name of a manufacturer and a link to their website. At the time it was entered on the list it had a CRN. Obviously you need to know the products model number and pressure temperature rating (P&T) or class. Watch out, the required P&T rating is the one registered which can be different from the manufacturers catalog rating, and can vary by province. Additionally you will require the material grade that the product is made from (not general info like stainless or 304 stainless, but very specific information like SA-479 304 stainless). Review the expiry date so that it will not expire during registration or construction, and check what standard it was registered under. 

I am a manufacturer, what do my customers need to know to use my product? Having a current CRN number is just the start; see above for the list of customer requirements. Usually the combination of the letter of registration and the statutory declaration provides this information. For complex catalog product line registrations, additional charts with Pressure Temperature ratings are required. Your customers can not get this information from the jurisdictions, and if you are not able to provide it, they cannot use your product.

Is there any place to get registration information? Yes, most manufacturers listed on this page have their products registered in Atlantic Canada so they have a listing with ACI Canada (www.ACICRN.com). All listings provide expiry dates and code of registration, some provide registered P&T ratings, some provide material information. Unfortunately, in its current design it is impossible to search the ACI CRN listings to find product categories. It is also impossible for us to link directly to the ACI listings, but once you find a manufacturer on the list on this site, it is easy to search for more information through the ACI CRN site.

Example: if you are looking for B16.9 butt weld fittings, a number of manufacturers are listed under category A on the listings on this page. Picking one at random, Flowline is listed as having a CRN. On www.ACICRN.com (left side navigation bar, “Search CRN Registration Database”), more information about the company’s registered products can be found: the expiry date, the code of construction and what materials are registered. Pressure rating is listed “same as straight pipe” so no special calculations or ratings apply, just use as required by the vessel or piping code you are using to design your product that adopts the B16.9 standard. If your product will end up in one of the ACI member provinces, all the required information has been found. If it is for some other province, the manufacturer needs to be contacted to make sure that the product is registered, the expiry date, and that the standard P&T ratings and listed materials still apply. This is usually worthwhile because most fittings registered with ACI are also registered in other Canadian provinces.

Unfortunately non ACI member provinces do not release this vitally important information. The jurisdictions have this information, and need to make it available, but have not done so yet. For now we make do.

Update Nov 2016: ABSA has released a preliminary database of products registered in Alberta.  More info here.  Unfortunately this preliminary tool can only be used to verify that a CRN number is valid in Alberta.  It cannot be used to search for products or manufacturers.  But it can be used to check that products registered by ACI can also be used in Alberta, which is also a hint that they might be available Canada wide.

How important is the registration expiry date? Very important! Two dates apply: 1) the registration date. Without a current CRN, registration of a vessel or piping system is not possible. It is your job to know the expiry date, not the reviewers, but some reviewers check. 2) For piping systems, when complete, the shop will sign off on the certificate of compliance portion of the piping registration form. Typical wording (from Ontario form PV 09052 05/09)

“All valves and fittings have been duly registered, are of correct schedule and/or ANSI service rating and compatible with the required service condition.”

An expired fitting is not duly registered. If the expiry date is close to the expected product ship date, contact the manufacturer to make sure they are renewing the CRN.

After fabrication is finished and signed off, the registration can expire. It is the duty of the owner to keep the system in fit operating order, including replacing registered components with identical parts, expired or not. In other words, in the field, you must replace a fitting with an identical fitting, even if the CRN has expired. If the fittings need to be changed, then the system design registration needs to be updated including information on the new parts which need current CRNs.

My product is not listed here, why not? Because you didn’t ask. It’s free, see the contact information to the right.

I am a manufacturer, why should I list my products here? Did we mention it is free? Seriously, even in its preliminary form, about 800 viewers a month look at this page (Aug 2016, continuously increasing). They are trying to find CRN listed fittings. To be truly useful, we need more manufacturers on this list, and the manufacturers need to post more information required by users.

I have registered my fittings and have a CRN number, how do I mark the parts? Fittings require markings to be applied as per CSA B51.  CSA B51 states that “Fittings shall be permanently marked as required by MSS SP-25”.  MSS SP-25 allows the use of cast, forged or stamped identification markings, or the attachment of an identification plate, or both.  The manufacturer’s name or trademark that was used on the Statutory Declaration during the CRN registration process must be used as the marking on each part.  The CRN number itself does not have to be on the part, but some provinces do specify to identify it “whenever physically possible”.