Code of Massachusetts Regulations
522 CMR - BOARD OF BOILER RULES
Title 522 CMR 4.00 - Heating Boilers and Other Heat Storage Sources
Section 4.05 - Inspection
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 146, § 2, the Board adopts 2019 NBIC Part 2.
(1) Field Inspection. All Low Pressure/Heating Boilers and heat storage sources, except those listed as exempt in 522 CMR 4.05(2), shall be thoroughly inspected externally at least once a year and as follows:
The First Inspection for the installation of a Hot Water - Low Pressure/Heating Boiler or heat storage source covered by 522 CMR 4.05 may be made by either a District Engineering Inspector or by an Authorized Inspector. The first part of the inspection on steel field-erected Boilers shall be completed before the system is filled with the fluid to be heated.
The First Inspection for the installation of a steam Boiler covered by 522 CMR 4.05 shall be made by a District Engineering Inspector.
(2) Exempt from Inspection. The following Low Pressure/Heating Boilers shall be constructed in accordance with 522 CMR 4.00, but are exempt from required inspections:
(3) Certificate to Be Posted.
(4) Application. Whoever owns or uses or causes to be used a Low Pressure/Heating Boiler that comes within the scope of M.G.L. c. 146, § 6, shall make application for inspection prior to installation and operation to the Chief in a format approved by the Department.
(5) Preparation of Inspection. The Owner/User of a Boiler which requires an Internal Inspection by a District Engineering Inspector or an Authorized Inspector shall prepare the Boiler for inspection by cooling (blanking off connections to adjacent Boilers, if necessary); removing all soot and ashes from tubes, heads, shell, furnace, and combustion chamber; drawing off the water; removing the handhole and manhole plates; removing grate bars from internally fired Boilers; and removing the steam gauge for testing as well as following 2019 NBIC, Part 2.
If a Boiler has not been properly cooled or otherwise prepared for inspection, the District Engineering Inspector or Authorized Inspector shall decline to inspect the Boiler until the Boiler has been properly prepared.
(6) Inspection Reporting. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 146, § 10, whoever owns or uses or causes to be used any Low-pressure Heating Boiler, shall report to the Chief the location of such Boiler, before the work of installation of such Boiler, and annually thereafter; provided, that the Owner/User of an insured Boiler shall report immediately in writing to the Chief whenever the insurance company ceases for any cause to inspect the Boiler.
(7) Reporting by Insurance Companies.
The Authorized Inspector shall notify the Chief or his or her designee immediately in writing if the Authorized Inspector finds that an unsafe and dangerous condition exists resulting in the removal of the Certificate.
(8) Massachusetts Heat Boilers, Inspection and Stamping. Massachusetts Heat Boilers shall be inspected during construction by a National Board Commissioned Inspector. Each Boiler shall be stamped MASS. HEAT and shall display the following data:
(9) Installation of Used Boilers in the Commonwealth. Whoever owns and operates a Boiler not in the Commonwealth which was not shop inspected and stamped in accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IV, Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers, but bears the stamping of another state or political subdivision which has adopted a standard of construction equivalent to that of Massachusetts, and wishes to operate said steam Boiler within the Commonwealth, may petition the Board for permission to do so. Such petition shall be accompanied by the following:
If upon review of this information, the Board finds that the Boiler is in compliance with the Massachusetts requirements with regard to material, construction, and workmanship, and further finds that the Boiler is in safe working condition and equipped with all necessary appendages, the Board shall issue a Certificate establishing the safe working pressure.
(10) Atmospheric Boilers. Boilers that are vented directly to the atmosphere, where it is not possible for the Boiler to build up any pressure above atmospheric pressure, shall be exempt from 522 CMR 4.00 provided they do not have any valves, flaps, louvers or dampers in the vent line which could have the capacity to freeze in place, thereby causing the Boiler to build pressure. Any atmospheric boiler that has such valve, flap, louvers, dampers or any Appurtenance that can result in a blockage of the vent line shall be constructed in accordance with 2019 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section IV, Rules for Construction of Heating Boilers.
(11) Shutdown Switches and Circuit Breakers. A manually operated remote heating plant automatic shutdown device including, but not limited to, a shutdown switch or circuit breaker, shall be located adjacent to the boiler room door, marked for easy identification. Consideration should also be given to the type and location of the switch to safeguard against tampering. In the event that the boiler room door is located on the building exterior, the shutdown device shall be located adjacent to the interior of the door. Where entrance may be gained to the boiler room through two or more separate doors, each door shall be outfitted with a shutdown device adjacent to the door. Alternate locations of remote emergency switch(es) may be approved by the Board through the variance process in 522 CMR 1.04: Department Jurisdiction.