The new Power Engineers Regulation (Alberta Regulation 85/2003) replaces the Engineers’ Regulations (AR 319/75). Many of the requirements are unchanged, but the information has been reorganized and revised for clarity. The following is information on changes and additions of note.

Definitions

“Act” means Safety Codes Act. (The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Act is no longer referenced in the Regulation). A new term “overall supervision” means the duties of a chief power engineer as set out in the Regulation.

Supervision

Sections 2 to 6 detail the supervision requirements for a power plant, thermal liquid heating system and heating plant, and detail the responsibilities of a chief power engineer, a power engineer and a shift operator.

Certificate of Competency

Sections 8 and 9 define the limits of supervision authorized for each certificate of competency with reference to the Schedule of tables at the back of the Regulation.

Sections 14(6) and 14(7) require that a chief power engineer or power engineer in charge be present at the plant during regular working hours. This is interpreted as Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Qualifications, Equivalencies and Applications for Certificates

The pass mark for all power engineering examinations is now 65%. The averaging of marks will now be discontinued.

Section 20(1) has new requirements for a 5th Class Power Engineer. To qualify to take a 5th Class examination, a candidate must have:

a) operated a power plant or heating plant boiler for a period of 6 months AND successfully completed an acceptable course in power and heating plant operation leading to a 5th Class examination

OR

b) operated a power plant boiler for a period of 6 months and operated a heating plant boiler for a further period of 6 months. Section 28 sets administrative requirements for examinations.

Section 28(g) disqualifies a candidate who fails any three consecutive examinations from writing another examination for a period of 12 months. Section 28(h) prohibits a candidate who fails any examination from applying to write another examination for a period of 30 days from the date of the failed examination.