Technical Competency 1.1 for P.Eng. Licensing: Canadian Regulations, Codes and Standards and Regulations

Adherence to regulations, codes, and standards is fundamental to protecting public interests and ensuring that products, services, and processes meet the highest standards of safety and reliability. Canadian regulations, codes, and standards set requirements for engineering practice that align with international best practices. These requirements undergo rigorous review by subject matter experts and government authorities, significantly impacting how engineering organizations, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors conduct business within their jurisdictions. 

Description of Technical Competency 1.1: 

The description of Technical Competency 1.1 as outlined in the Competency-based Assessment (CBA) guidelines published by the majority of Canadian professional engineering regulators using the 34-competency framework is as follows:

"Demonstrate your knowledge and awareness of Canadian regulations, codes, and standards. This includes local engineering procedures and practices as applicable."

The other regulators that use the 22-competency framework, such as Alberta (APEGA), Engineers Yukon and Northwest Territories, and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) define the above competency as follows:

"...knowledge of regulations, codes, and standards as they directly relate to your technical work. You must reference specific codes and their application to your technical work, demonstrating your knowledge of technical codes or regulations and their applications

To demonstrate competency within 1.1, it is essential to first understand the definition of standards, codes, and regulations, recognize their differences, and understand their application at the workplace.

Standards:

A standard is a technical document that provides an agreed and consistent way of “how” an engineering work should be performed. Standards are developed by qualified professionals recognized as subject matter experts and approved by a recognized body. In Canada, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) coordinates the development and approval of national standards. It accredits organizations that develop standards, ensuring they follow internationally recognized processes.

"A standard is a document that provides guidelines, characteristics, or requirements for products, processes, or services. It is developed by a committee or group of stakeholders and approved by a recognized body." Standards Council of Canada. (n.d.). - retrieved from Standards Council of Canada.

 Standards are essential to ensure the safety and reliability of engineering products, services, and processes while ensuring their integration with other standard-compliant equipment. Standards can be voluntary or mandatory, which, in this case, would become the requirement under codes or regulations.

Codes:

A code is essentially a technical standard enforced under law by authorities with jurisdiction. Compared to a technical standard that outlines details on “how” an engineering work should be performed, the code would focus on “what” is required to be followed. Codes generally have a broader scope and are legally required to be followed by professionals like engineers, manufacturers, builders, and other stakeholders as required by the code.

 "A code is a standard that has been enacted into law by local, regional, or national authorities having jurisdiction so that people like engineers or building contractors are legally compelled to comply with a code. The code may be an industry or government based standard. An example of a code in Ontario is the Ontario Building Code." Georgian College. (n.d.) - retrieved from Georgian College Library Standards and Codes.

Codes can be enforced at the national, provincial, and/ or territorial levels in Canada. The codes at national levels are called Model Codes or simply Codes Canada and are used to set industry-wide expectations, while the provincial or territorial governments can customize the Model Codes to suit their specific needs. Examples of model codes include the Building, Fire, Plumbing, and Energy Codes, while examples of provincial codes include Electrical and Gas Codes.

Regulations:

Regulations are detailed directives issued by Government authority under the framework of an act. While the regulations focus on the legal enforcement of the directive, the code focuses on the technical and procedural details of those directives necessary for compliance and uniformity in specific fields.

 "Regulations are the rules used to carry out the intent of statutes (Acts) enacted by the Parliament of Canada. They are instruments of legislative power and have the force of law." Government of Canada. (n.d.) - retrieved from Canada.ca.

Guidelines for Demonstrating Technical Competency 1.1

Candidates working under different capacities may have different levels of familiarity with Canadian standards, codes, and regulations. While some candidates working directly with the Standard Development Organizations (SDO) may very well be involved in developing or improving standards themselves, the other engineers on the user side may apply these standards in their day-to-day work schedules. The candidates working within their capacity of practice should be able to identify how to best apply relevant regulations, codes, and standards. For instance, a consulting engineering graduate assigned to produce an environmental assessment report for a specific site should demonstrate their ability to balance client requirements by adhering to local regulations and technical standards while also addressing the needs of indigenous communities and following directives from conservation authorities, as necessary. 

Similarly, candidates working in design engineering roles should be able to incorporate detailed knowledge of codes and regulations into their design materials. When designing systems such as HVAC, adherence to specific aspects of ASHRAE standards (e.g., ASHRAE 90.1 for energy efficiency) and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) would be required. The candidate should be able to balance code compliance with practical constructability, ensuring designs are feasible, safe, and in line with regulatory requirements.  

Candidates working in the field or directly at the site should ensure all construction activities comply with design standards and codes. One way to demonstrate competency is to conduct regular inspections and audits, verify that materials and construction methods meet specified standards, and document any deviations for correction. Define what processes were followed to document compliance findings, how, and what engineering issues were addressed.

Specific Example for Internationally Trained Engineers

When demonstrating technical competence as an international engineer, it is essential to illustrate your use of relevant codes, standards, and practice guidelines applicable to your jurisdiction of practice. For example, if you have applied IEEE 1547, an internationally well-known standard for the interconnection of distributed energy resources (DERs) to the power grid, you should also relate it to Canadian standards such as CSA C22.3 No. 9 to demonstrate its relevance in application.

IEEE 1547 provides technical requirements for DERs, including performance, operation, and testing criteria to ensure grid reliability and safety. While both IEEE 1547 and CSA C22.3 No. 9 standards address DER integration and safety, CSA standards may include specific requirements tailored to the Canadian electrical grid or environmental conditions. In your example, describe how you applied the IEEE standard and identify any differences or similarities between IEEE 1547 and CSA C22.3 No. 9. You may also demonstrate how Canadian standards like CSA C22.3 No. 9 would apply if the projects were to be conducted in Canada. This comparison demonstrates your ability to integrate and adapt international and Canadian standards, reflecting a thorough understanding of the international and Canadian environment. 

If your project occurred in a region without established codes or standards, discuss how you adhered to best practices to ensure safety, reliability, and quality. Explain the importance of these practices and the potential consequences of failing to follow them. 

Conclusion:

As one of the Canadian environment competencies, it is essential for engineering graduates to have a good degree of understanding of Canadian standards, codes, and regulations. Building this particular competency requires much attention to detail regarding applying specific standards in specific environments and an intimate understanding of how local codes and regulations influence a particular engineering decision. An effective approach to building this competency is maintaining an updated library of an approved set of standards and keeping yourself updated in case of any amendments. Participating in different volunteer programs aiming to develop or review standards also provides you with the resources and mentorship needed to build competency in Canadian standards, codes, and regulations.

List of Canadian Engineering Regulators:

• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
• Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS)
• Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia
• Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba
• Engineers and Geoscientists New Brunswick
• Engineers Nova Scotia
• Engineers PEI
• Engineers Yukon
• Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG)
• Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)
• Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL)
• Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)