Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 25, December 15, 2023
A. Internal
Inspection.
(1) Unless an internal inspection
is required by law or by an inspector at the inspector's discretion, a:
(a) Hot water boiler requires only an
external inspection for certificate purposes; and
(b) Pressure vessel requires only an external
inspection for certificate purposes.
(2) At least 7 days before an internal
inspection, the inspector shall notify the owner of the inspection
date.
B. The owner of a
boiler shall prepare the boiler for internal inspection and hydrostatic test,
if necessary, by:
(1) Drawing off water and
washing the boiler thoroughly;
(2)
Removing manhole and handhole plates, washout plugs, and inspection plugs in
water column connections;
(3)
Cooling and thoroughly cleaning furnace and combustion chambers;
(4) Removing all grates of internally fired
boilers;
(5) Removing the pressure
gage for testing;
(6) Disconnecting
the pipe or valve at the most convenient point to prevent leakage of steam or
hot water into the boiler;
(7)
Performing the following procedures before opening a manhole or handhole cover
and entering any part of a steam-generating unit connected to a common header
with other boilers:
(a) Close, tag, and
preferably padlock:
(i) Non return and steam
stop valves, and
(ii) Feed and
check valves;
(b) Open
drain valves or cocks between:
(i) Non return
and steam stop valves, and
(ii)
Feed and check valves; and
(c) After draining the boiler:
(i) Close and padlock the blowoff
valves,
(ii) Where practicable,
disconnect blowoff lines at a point between pressure parts and valves,
and
(iii) Open all drains and vent
lines.
C. The owner of a pressure vessel shall
prepare the pressure vessel for inspection to the extent required by the
inspector, using the applicable procedures set out in §B of this
regulation.
D. Removal of Covering
During Inspection.
(1) At each annual
inspection, brickwork shall be removed, as required by the inspector, to
determine the condition of the boiler, headers, furnace, supports, or other
parts.
(2) Unless the information
can be obtained by other means, if boiler or pressure vessel jacketing conceals
the longitudinal seams of a shell, drum, or dome, sufficient jacketing, setting
wall, or other casing or housing shall be removed to permit:
(a) Reasonable inspection of the seams;
and
(b) Determination of:
(i) The size and pitch of the rivets,
and
(ii) Other data necessary to
ascertain the safety of the boiler or pressure vessel.
(3) When an external inspection
discloses evidence of a leak or crack:
(a)
Sufficient covering shall be removed from the boiler or pressure vessel to
permit the inspector to make a safety determination; and
(b) If the covering cannot be removed during
the inspection, the inspector may order use of the boiler or pressure vessel
discontinued until:
(i) The covering can be
removed, and
(ii) Proper inspection
can be made.
E. Hydrostatic Pressure Test.
(1) A hydrostatic pressure test of a boiler
or pressure vessel may not exceed:
(a) 1-1/2
times the maximum allowable working pressure; or
(b) The required test pressure by more than 2
percent.
(2) During a
hydrostatic test:
(a) Each safety valve shall
be removed; or
(b) Each valve disk
shall be held to its seat by a testing clamp, and not by tightening the
compression screw on the spring.
(3) Water used to apply a hydrostatic test
shall have a:
(a) Recommended minimum
temperature of 70°F; and
(b)
Maximum temperature of 140°F.
(4) When a hydrostatic test is applied to an
existing installation to determine:
(a)
Tightness, test pressure shall equal the release pressure of the safety valve
having the lowest release setting; and
(b) Safety, test pressure shall equal 1-1/2
times the maximum allowable working pressure.
F. If a boiler or pressure vessel is not
properly prepared for internal inspection, or if the owner fails to comply with
the requirements for a hydrostatic test as set out in this regulation:
(1) The inspector may refuse to conduct the
inspection or test; and
(2) If the
inspector refuses, the chief boiler inspector shall withhold the inspection
certificate until the owner complies with the requirements.
G. An inspector is authorized to:
(1) Conduct inspections in accordance with
Public Safety Article, §
12-909,
Annotated Code of Maryland ; and
(2) Review and verify records required by
Public Safety Article, Title 12, Subtitle 9, Annotated Code of Maryland, and by
Codes referenced in Regulation .01-1 of this chapter.
Regulation
.14-1 amended effective
45:8
Md. R. 419, eff. 4/23/2018