Blue Bulletin
Majors Industries
March 2026
Work on gas appliances and gas systems: certified skills are essential
In many sectors, natural gas appliances and systems play a critical role in industrial production, thermal processes, institutional buildings, commercial facilities and complex internal systems. Despite their strategic importance, the obligations governing their maintenance or commissioning are often not well known within organizations. Yet Quebec regulations are clear:
Only individuals holding a valid certificate of competency may work on gas appliances, burners or systems. This is a fundamental principle intended to ensure the safety, compliance and performance of installations.
The contribution of the École de technologie gazière (ETG)
The ETG enables organizations to have qualified, autonomous personnel who meet the regulatory requirements of the gas industry by offering:
- Training leading to certificates of qualification such as TERAG, ITG and TAG-1
- Specialized advanced training, including on pipeline purging and startup
- Technical modules on topics such as basic combustion for industrial burners
- Personalized support to adapt training to the realities of specific installations
- Group or customized training for businesses
Training for prevention: a strategic investment
Employee qualification remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risks associated with gas appliances and systems. It helps:
- Strengthen employee safety
- Improve regulatory compliance
- Limit unexpected interruptions
- Optimize energy performance
- Reduce the costs associated with incidents and service calls
Here is a selection of three relevant training courses for major industries clients.For a complete list of the training programs and services offered by the ETG, please visit the ETG website.
The certificate in restricted gas appliance maintenance techniques (TERAG) is one of the key elements of the regulatory framework governing large organizations. It allows an employee to perform a range of certain routine maintenance tasks on gas appliances, within the limits set out by law. In other words, the certificate in restricted gas appliance maintenance techniques is mandatory for anyone who starts up, maintains, repairs or removes any type of gas appliance installed on their employer’s property.
This certificate:
- Authorizes certain preventive interventions
- Governs simple but potentially critical mechanical tasks
- Ensures a minimum understanding of gas-related risks
- Ensures that permitted actions are carried out in compliance with regulations
For organizations that choose to carry out part of their gas equipment maintenance themselves, the TERAG qualification is not only a regulatory requirement but a way to reduce risk and increase team autonomy as well.
In French only
Pipeline purging and startup are highly technical operations. Operations such as connecting a new appliance, replacing a section of the system, isolating a section or returning it to service pose significant risks if not performed correctly.
Workers need specialized training to:
- Understand how gas behaves in gas systems
- Purge systems safely, in a controlled manner
- Prevent hazardous gas accumulations
- Carry out startup gradually, in accordance with standards and best practices
- Use the appropriate analysis and measurement instruments
For companies operating internal gas systems, this training is an essential component of operational risk management.
In French only
In industrial settings, burner performance depends on precise adjustment and a solid understanding of combustion principles. A poorly adjusted burner leads to:
- Excessive gas consumption
- Higher pollutant emissions
- Increased risk of instability or flashback
- Premature equipment wear
Basic industrial combustion training enables workers to:
- Understand the basics of combustion for natural gas.
- Be familiar with the different types of industrial burners and their applications.
- Identify the factors that influence a device’s combustion efficiency
For companies operating thermal processes or high capacity equipment, this competency directly improves operational efficiency.
In French only