North Dakota Administrative Code
Title 33.1 - Department of Environmental Quality
Article 33.1-14 - NORTH DAKOTA BOILER RULES
Chapter 33.1-14-05 - POWER BOILERS - EXISTING INSTALLATIONS
Section 33.1-14-05-15 - Blowoff valves and piping

1. A "blowoff" means a pipe connection provided with valves through which the water in the boiler may be blown out under pressure, excepting drains such as are used on water columns, gauge glasses, or piping of feedwater regulators, etc., used for the purpose of determining the operating condition of such equipment. Piping connections used primarily for continuous operation, such as deconcentrators on continuous blowdown systems, are not classed as blowoffs but the pipe connections and all fittings up to and including the first shutoff valve must be equal at least to the pressure requirements for the lowest set pressure of any safety valve on the boiler drum and with the corresponding saturated-steam temperature.

2. A surface blowoff may not exceed two and one-half inch [63.5 millimeter] pipe size, and the internal and external pipes, when used, must form a continuous passage, but with clearance between their ends and arranged so that the removal of either will not disturb the other.

3. Each boiler, except high temperature water boilers, must have a bottom blowoff pipe fitted with a valve or cock in direct connection with the lowest water space practicable.

4. All waterwalls and water screens which do not drain back into the boiler, and all integral economizers must be equipped with blowoff valves.

5. Except as permitted for miniature boilers, the minimum size of pipe and fittings is one inch [25.4 millimeters], and the maximum size is two and one-half inches [63.5 millimeters], except that for boilers with one hundred square feet [9.29 square meters] of heating surface or less, the minimum size of pipe and fittings is three-fourths inch [19.05 millimeters].

6. Condensate return connections of the same size or larger than the size herein specified may be used, and the blowoff may be connected to them. In such case the blowoff must be so located that the connection may be completely drained.

7. A bottom blowoff pipe when exposed to direct furnace heat must be protected by firebrick or other heat-resisting material which is so arranged that the pipe may be inspected.

8. An opening in the boiler setting for a blowoff pipe must be arranged to provide free expansion and contraction.

9. On a boiler having multiple blowoff pipes, a single master valve may be placed on the common blowoff pipe from the boiler, in which case only one valve on each individual blowoff is required. In such a case either the master valve or the individual valves or cocks must be of the slow-opening type.

10. Two independent slow-opening valves, or a slow-opening valve and a quick-opening valve or cock, may be combined in one body and may be used provided the combined fitting is the equivalent of two independent slow-opening valves, or a slow-opening valve and a quick-opening valve or cock and provided further that the failure of one to operate cannot affect the operation of the other.

11. The bottom blowoff pipes of every traction or portable boiler must have at least one slow-opening or quick-opening blowoff valve or cock conforming to the requirements of section 33.1-14-05-15.

12. Only one blowoff valve, which must be of a slow-opening type, is required on forced circulation and electric boilers having a normal water content not exceeding one hundred gallons [378.54 liters].