TSSA is the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, Ontario’s not-for-profit public safety regulator. Through its Fuels Safety program, it registers contractors and certifies gas technicians (G1, G2 and G3). Under Ontario law, furnaces and other fuel-fired appliances must be installed, serviced and maintained by a TSSA-registered contractor using TSSA-certified technicians.
What Is TSSA Registration?
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is the body that runs public safety programs under Ontario’s Technical Standards and Safety Act. Across the province, it regulates amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers and ski lifts.
For heating and cooling, the part that matters is Fuels Safety. TSSA handles two things here. It registers contractor businesses for fuels work, and it certifies the individual technicians who do the work. A registered contractor’s work, and the work of its technicians, is subject to TSSA audits for safety compliance.
| Full name | Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Ontario’s not-for-profit public safety regulator |
| Legal basis | Technical Standards and Safety Act; technician certificates under Ontario Regulation 215/01 |
| Business credential | Registration as a fuels contractor (natural gas, propane or fuel oil) |
| Technician credentials | G3 (entry level, supervised), G2 (minimum to work on gas appliances unsupervised), G1 (unrestricted) |
| Scale in Ontario | About 9,000 registered contractors and 60,000 certified professionals, according to TSSA |
| Public lookup | TSSA’s online fuels contractor lookup, or 1-877-682-8772 |
Why TSSA Registration Is Needed
This one is not optional. TSSA states that in Ontario, only TSSA-registered contractors and certified fuel technicians are legally allowed to install, service or maintain fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, boilers and water heaters. TSSA regularly prosecutes people who do this work without registration.
It’s the law
Fuels work on furnaces and other gas appliances must be done by a registered contractor with certified technicians.
Carbon monoxide safety
Poor gas work can lead to serious risks, including carbon monoxide poisoning. Certified technicians are trained to prevent this.
Easy to check
Anyone can confirm a contractor’s status online before letting work begin.
Where TSSA Applies to Our Services
Duct cleaning and furnace work often go together, because the ductwork connects straight to the furnace or air handler. TSSA registration lets us look after the fuel-fired side of your system properly, in homes and in commercial buildings:
Seasonal cleaning and maintenance of furnace components, blower areas and AC coils. See AC & furnace maintenance.
Many commercial rooftop units include a gas-fired heating section. See roof top service & maintenance.
If something on your appliance needs attention, we explain what we found and why, before any extra work is done.
How to Verify a TSSA-Registered Contractor
TSSA encourages homeowners to check credentials before hiring anyone for fuel-related work. It takes a few minutes:
Ask for the registration details
Ask the company for its TSSA contractor registration and which fuels it covers.
Use TSSA’s lookup tool
Search the company on TSSA’s online fuels contractor lookup at tssa.org.
Check the technician
Ask the technician on site to show a current gas technician certificate and its level (G1, G2 or G3).
Call if unsure
Call TSSA at 1-877-682-8772 to confirm a company or a technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TSSA registration required for furnace maintenance in Ontario?
What is the difference between G1, G2 and G3?
Does duct cleaning need TSSA registration?
How do I check a contractor’s TSSA registration?
What should I do if work was done by an unregistered contractor?
Information about TSSA is summarized from the organization’s own public materials. Last reviewed November 2026.
