11-08-2012, 12:15 PM
BOILERS
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What Is A Boiler?
A boiler is defined as…“a closed vessel in which water or other liquid is heated, steam or vapor is
generated, steam is superheated, or any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum, for use external
to itself, by the direct application of energy from the combustion of fuels, from electricity or nuclear
energy.”
Also included are fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water where these units are
separate from processing systems and are complete within themselves. This definition includes; water
heaters that exceed 200,000 Btu/hr heat input, or 200 degrees Fahrenheit at the outlet, or 120 gallons
nominal water containing capacity.
North Carolina Boiler Law
The North Carolina General Assembly first enacted a law instituting regulation of high-pressure boilers in
1935. Since then, coverage has expanded to include low-pressure boilers and pressure vessels. In
1975, the General Assembly enacted the Uniform Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act, codified as Chapter
95, Article 7A, of the General Statutes.
What Are The Construction And Installation Requirements For My Boiler?
Boilers installed after 1935 must be constructed in accordance with the ASME (American Society of
Mechanical Engineers) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code:
· Section I is for the high-pressure boilers. Additionally, ASME B31.1 is the required code for
power piping installation for high-pressure boilers.
· Section IV is for low-pressure steam and hot water heating (building heat), and hot water supply
boilers.
How Often Do I Have To Have My Boiler Inspected?
· High Pressure Boilers
o Internal inspection annually
o External inspection three to nine months after internal inspection
· Heating Boilers/Hot Water Supply Boilers/Commercial Water Heaters
o External inspection every two years
Who Can Legally Inspect My Boiler?
North Carolina law allows for three types of pressure vessel inspectors. They are:
· Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspector – an employee of the North Carolina Department of Labor,
Boiler Safety Bureau. Authorized to inspect any boiler or pressure vessel subject to the Uniform
Boiler & Pressure Vessel Act.
· Special Inspector – an employee of an insurance company authorized to underwrite in this State
boiler and machinery insurance. Authorized to inspect only what their company insures.
· Owner-User Inspector – an employee of a company operating boilers or pressure vessels, the
company must have an inspection program that is under the supervision of one or more
engineers having qualifications satisfactory to and approved by the Commissioner of Labor.
All Inspectors Must:
· Have passed an examination set by the National Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessel inspectors
· Hold a certificate of competency issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel
inspectors
· Hold a commission issued by the North Carolina Department of Labor.
Note: Any person who knowingly and willfully misrepresents himself as an authorized inspector
in North Carolina is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (GS 95-69.18)
Why Are Boiler Inspections Necessary?
Boilers, storage tanks and other pressure equipment are potentially dangerous objects. While operating,
they contain large amounts of energy, which when they fail, is released instantaneously, usually with
devastating results. When water changes from liquid to steam it expands 1600 times its original volume.
In other words, one cubic foot of water instantly converts to 1600 cubic feet of steam. A small boiler
having a volume of 10 cubic feet and operating at a pressure of 100 psi (pounds per square inch) has an
explosive equivalent of 2278 grams of TNT approximately equal to the anti-tank mine used during Desert
Storm.
In order to ensure the continued safety of pressure equipment; it is inspected by qualified commissioned
inspectors on a periodic basis. The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that such accidents do not
happen. Since inspections are a snapshot in time and can only tell how safe the vessel is at the time of
the inspection, there is an implied duty on the owner/operator of the vessel to keep it in safe and proper
working order.
What Is An Inspection Certificate And Why Do I Need One?
The inspection certificate is evidence that the Boiler has been inspected and is safe to operate under the
pressure and temperatures noted on the certificate.
North Carolina law states that no boiler or pressure vessel may be operated without a current inspection
certificate, operating without a current certificate is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Boiler Owner Responsibilities
Within the North Carolina Boiler Code are the owner’s responsibilities for:
· Obtaining periodic boiler inspections provided by commissioned boiler inspectors either in the
employ of the North Carolina Department of Labor or in the employ of the boiler insurance
company. Note: The inspector is not responsible for scheduling inspections. It is the owner’s
responsibility to ensure that a current Certificate of Inspection is in force.
· Paying the required fees for the Certificate of Inspections.
· Posting the current and valid Certificate of Inspection under a transparent cover in the boiler
room.
· Obtaining proper repairs and involving the commissioned inspector in all repairs.
· Notifying the Boiler Safety Bureau in the event of an accident.
What Do I Do About Repairs To My Boiler?
The boiler rules state that a repair company must be authorized to perform repairs by the National Board
of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and hold an “R” stamp.
In all cases, the owner and the repair company must consult an inspector before the repair is attempted
and the completed repair is subject to the inspector’s acceptance.
What Do I Do In The Event Of An Accident?
The rules state that the owner must notify the Boiler Safety Bureau by submitting a detailed report of the
accident. In the event of personnel injury or any explosion, notice shall be given immediately by
telephone, telegraph, or messenger, and neither the boiler, nor any parts shall be removed or disturbed
before permission has been given by the Chief Inspector, except for the purpose of saving human life and
limiting consequential damage.
Is There A Fee For The Inspection?
The Boiler Safety Bureau is fee funded and does not receive any money from the legislature. Therefore,
the Bureau charges a fee for its services. The fee is dependent upon the complexity of work and the time
spent inspecting the object it ranges between $40 to $400 per object inspected. The fees cover the
inspection activity, the maintenance of a data storage system and the issuance of the inspection
certificate.