What does TSANB inspect during a home renovation in NB?

TSANB — the Technical Safety Authority of New Brunswick — is the provincial body responsible for inspecting all electrical, plumbing, gas, and pressure systems work on NB renovation projects. Every new circuit, rough-in plumbing line, gas appliance, or fuel-burning system installed during a renovation must be inspected and approved by a TSANB inspector before it is covered by drywall or otherwise concealed.

This matters practically because the inspection sequence controls your renovation timeline. If your contractor installs framing, vapour barrier, and drywall before calling TSANB for the rough-in inspection, the inspector will require the work to be exposed. That is not a hypothetical — it happens on NB job sites when contractors rush the schedule or assume inspections are a formality. Budget for the inspection stages and build them into your project timeline from the beginning.

For electrical work, TSANB inspects at the rough-in stage (wiring run through framing, boxes set, before insulation and drywall) and typically does a final inspection once the panel work and fixture connections are complete. The inspector checks wire gauge for circuit load, proper circuit breaker sizing, grounding and bonding, AFCI and GFCI protection requirements (which have expanded significantly under the current Canadian Electrical Code), and proper box fill calculations. All electrical work in NB must be performed by an electrician licensed under the NB Electrical Act — homeowner self-performed electrical work is not permitted under NB law and is not insurable.

For plumbing work, TSANB inspects rough-in drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping before the floor or wall is closed, and often conducts a pressure test of supply lines. The inspector verifies proper slope on drain lines (typically 1/4 inch per foot for horizontal runs), correct vent stack sizing and termination height above the roof, trap placement, cleanout locations, and water supply pipe sizing. In NB basements — where spring snowmelt raises the water table seasonally — the inspector will want to see any floor drain and sump pit properly configured. Plumbing work must be performed by a licensed plumber under the NB Plumbers Licensing Act.

For gas work, TSANB inspects gas line rough-in, appliance connections, and combustion air supply for fuel-burning appliances. This includes natural gas furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, and BBQ rough-ins. The inspector performs a pressure test on the gas line and verifies the appliance installation meets the manufacturer's specifications and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) requirements. Gas work must be performed by a TSANB-licensed gas fitter — this is non-negotiable, and not a task for even the most capable general contractor who is not specifically licensed for gas.

For most residential renovations in NB, TSANB inspections are straightforward and pass without issue when the work is done correctly. The process is: the licensed trade contractor applies for the permit, performs the work, calls TSANB to schedule an inspection, the inspector visits, approves the work or identifies corrections, and issues a certificate of inspection. That certificate should go in your home's renovation file — it is documentation that the work was done to code, which matters for insurance and for disclosure when you sell the home.

From a homeowner's perspective, the key things to know are: confirm your contractor is applying for TSANB permits as part of their scope (it should be in the written contract), do not allow work to be concealed before the rough-in inspection is passed, and keep copies of all inspection certificates. A contractor who says TSANB permits are unnecessary for electrical, plumbing, or gas work in NB is not someone you want doing that work. For any renovation involving these trades, WorkSafeNB coverage and TSANB licensing are the two baseline checks to make before any contract is signed.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations