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ONTARIO HERITAGE BOILER ASSOCIATION

Back head view of boilerWHY WAS THE OHBA FORMED

Originally the association consisted of owners only. The first meeting in Blyth Ontario over 7 years ago was to discuss our concerns on how our equipments boiler was being inspected by our Provincial Government. In order to effecively seek out and clarify this information a committee was appointed to express our concerns and problems being encountered on Annual inspections. The purpose was (and still is) to approach the appropriate Department of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Pressure Vessels Branch. A line of direct communication was opened and the concerns of the owners were heard. Our concerns were addressed to mutual satisfaction at the time and the committee has stood for nearly 7 years.
Since that time the Technical Standards and Safety Authourity has been created and now perform the same required annual inspections on our boilers. The “Certification of Operators” has become a legal requirement in Ontario since June 2002 and is administrated by the TSSA. Despite little input to the development process of the certification process and study syllabus as set down by the TSSA, the OHBA supported it and welcomed the credibility that it would give our operators. In the interest of public safety, and the continued ongoing operation of our engines in public displays in a safe, responsible and professional manner we support and abide by it.


However excessively increasing costs associated with all aspects of the hobby we have chosen, which include:
· Annual boiler inspection fees.
· Exam fees to write exam.
· License processing fees after.
· Annual renewal fees of license.
· Plant registration fees for our boiler.
· Not to mention inspection travel time charges.
· Minimum charges and what we feel often constitutes over billing on multiple inspections at one location.

George White 25hp rear mount gears · The need for clarifications on issues of inspection for boilers of new “welded Design” still viewed as antique by inspectors.
Have forced us to band together and form a responsible on going accountable association that can express these concerns to the TSSA. Discuss our problems as we see them, get any necessary clarifications and see that ALL OF THIS INFORMTION is accurately passed on to all our members on a regular ongoing basis. Our objective is to insure our hobby survives for the next generation to learn and enjoy it. It must not become so unnecessarily expensive that dedicated people willing to invest in properly restored, legally operated, safe equipment are not deterred and the hobby does not die a bureaucratic death.

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