Canadian Registration Numbers(CRNnumbers) identify unique pressureequipment designs for use inCanada, and must meetrequirements. Each design concepthas a unique number. One CanadianRegistration Number can representmillions of individual items, each witha different serial number, that allconform to the CRN design.Canadian provincial regulatoryauthorities have cooperated to helpensure CRN numbers are trackednationwide, and identifiable acrossprovincial boundaries. CRN numbersare required to be stamped onequipment or, in the case of verysmall fittings, trackable with otheridentification markings.CSA B51, the Canadian “Boiler,Pressure Vessel, and Pressure PipingCode”, describes the required rules ofCRN use in detail. Part 1, Clause 4specifies that pressure fittings,pressure vessels, and boilers areassigned CRN numbers with theacceptance of regulatory authoritiesin provinces where the equipment isto be used.Vessel and boiler CRN numbers neverstart with a “0”. Fitting CRN numbersalways do.All CRN numbers have a decimalpoint that follows the prefix assignedby the regulatory authority.For fittings, the letter following the“0” in the prefix corresponds to CSAB51 Table 1, and is used byregulatory authorities at theirdiscretion to categorize the fittingaccording to type:
- Pipe fittings
- Flangesline
- Valves
- Flexible connections
- Strainers, filters, separators, traps
- Instrumentation
- Over pressure protection devices
- Items not in categories A to G
Subsequent characters in the prefixthat precede the decimal, aresequentially assigned by theregulatory authority. For some fittingcategories, five digits follow the letternoted above that precede thedecimal. For vessels, analphanumeric (unless the registrationis really old) and four digitalcharacters precede the decimal.Following the decimal, thegeographical region in which thedesign was first registered isidentified with a character listed inClause 4.3.2.:1 British Columbia2 Alberta3 Saskatchewan4 Manitoba5 Ontario6 Quebec7 New Brunswick8 Nova Scotia9 Prince Edward IslandO NewfoundlandYYukonThe prefix, decimal, and characterafter the decimal identifies a uniquedesign.To indicate all of Canada, the letter“C” is subsequently used. To indicateall regions in Canada which requireregistration, the “CL” is used.Subsequent digits identify otherregions in which the design has beenregistered, in no particular order.Here are some examples of CRNnumbers:
- B1234.256pressure vessel design initiallyregistered in Alberta, and alsoregistered in Quebec and Ontario
- B1234.265same CRN number as noted in 1above despite reversal of “65”
- B1234.465pressure vessel design different fromitems 1 and 2, and registered first inManitoba
- 0B1234.265flange design registered first inAlberta
- 0B1234.165flange design different from thatidentified in item 4, and registeredfirst in British Columbia
- 0B1234.2Cflange design as noted in item 4, butregistered in all Canadian regions
- 0B1234.2CLflange design as noted in item 4above, but registered in all Canadianregions except those whereregistration is not required
Give Cammar Corporation a call todiscuss anyCRN requirementquestions that you might have!
