Current through September 24, 2024
(1) Notification of
Inspection.
(a) Certificate inspections, as
required, shall be carried out no more than two (2) months prior to the
expiration date of the certificate or within the two (2) month period following
the expiration date at a time mutually agreeable to the inspector and owner or
user.
(b) External inspections may
be performed by the inspector during reasonable hours and without prior
notification.
(c) When, as a result
of external inspection or determination by other objective means, it is the
inspector's opinion that continued operation of the boiler or pressure vessel
constitutes a danger to life or property, the inspector may order an internal
inspection or an appropriate pressure test, or both, to evaluate conditions. In
such instances, the owner or user shall prepare the boiler or pressure vessel
for such inspections or tests as the inspector designates.
(2) Frequency of Inspections. All boilers and
pressure vessels subject to inspection under the Act shall be inspected in
accordance with the requirements of T.C.A. §
68-122-110.
(3) Preparation for Inspection. The owner or
user shall prepare each boiler or pressure vessel for inspection on the date
assigned by the inspector. Whenever necessary, the owner or user shall prepare
for and apply a hydrostatic or pressure test on the inspection date. The date
of the inspection shall not be less than seven (7) days after the date of
notification.
(a) The owner or user shall
prepare a boiler for internal inspection in the following manner:
1. Draw off water and wash the boiler
thoroughly.
2. Remove manhole and
handhole plates, washout plugs and inspection plugs in water column connections
(as required by the inspector). Cool and clean the furnace and combustion
chambers.
3. Remove all grates of
internally fired boilers.
4. Remove
insulation or brickwork (as required by the inspector) in order to determine
the condition of the boiler, headers, furnace, supports or other
parts.
5. Remove the pressure gauge
for testing (as required by the inspector).
6. Prevent any leakage of steam or hot water
into the boiler by disconnecting the pipe or valve at the most convenient
point, or any other appropriate means approved by the inspector.
7. Before opening the manhole or handhole
covers and entering any parts of the steam-generating unit connected to a
common header with other boilers, close, tag and (preferably) padlock the
steam-stop valves; and open drain valves or cocks between the two (2) valves.
After draining the boiler, close, tag, and (preferably) padlock the blowoff
valves. Disconnect blowoff lines (where practicable) between pressure parts and
valves. Open all drains and vent lines.
(b) The owner or user shall prepare a
pressure vessel for inspection to the extent deemed necessary by the inspector
and in accordance with the applicable procedures outlined in subparagraph (a)
of this rule.
(c) No employee or
inspector shall be permitted to enter a boiler drum or pressure vessel until
the plant inspector or supervisor and the person entering the pressure vessel
have confirmed that all stop valves on inlet and outlet piping (not vented to
atmosphere) have been closed and tagged. When not valved, the piping shall be
disconnected or blanked. In addition, plant personnel shall make appropriate
tests to assure that there is no oxygen deficiency or hazardous or toxic gases
in the drums or pressure vessels to be entered by the inspector. The oxygen
content of the breathable atmosphere shall be between nineteen point five
percent (19.5%) and twenty-three point five percent (23.5%). See NBIC, Part 2,
Section 1.4.1
(4)
Boilers and Pressure Vessels Improperly Prepared for Inspection. The inspector
may decline to conduct an inspection or test, and withhold or suspend the
inspection certificate, if the owner or user:
(a) Fails to properly prepare a boiler or
pressure vessel for inspection; or
(b) Fails to comply with the requirements of
this Chapter pertaining to pressure testing.
(5) External Inspection Disclosure of
Defective Conditions.
(a) If, upon an
external inspection, there is evidence of a leak or crack, sufficient covering
of the boiler or pressure vessel shall be removed to permit the inspector to
determine satisfactorily the safety of the boiler or pressure vessel. If the
covering cannot be removed at that time, the inspector may order the operation
of the boiler or pressure vessel stopped until the covering can be removed and
proper examination made. The Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee
shall be notified immediately.
(b)
Jacketed. If a boiler or pressure vessel is jacketed so that the longitudinal
seams of shells, drums, or domes cannot be seen, the owner or user shall remove
sufficient jacketing, setting wall, or other form of casting of housing to
permit reasonable inspection of the seams and other areas necessary to
determine the condition and safety of the boiler or pressure vessel, provided
such information cannot be determined by other means.
(c) Lap Seam Crack. A boiler or pressure
vessel shall be immediately discontinued from use if a lap seam crack is
discovered along a longitudinal riveted joint of the shell or drum. Patching
shall be prohibited. (A "lap seam crack" is a crack found in lap seams ,
extending parallel to the longitudinal joint and located either between or
adjacent to rivet holes.)
(6) Special Inspectors - Notification of
Unsafe Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
(a) If a
Special Inspector, upon first inspection of a new risk, finds that a boiler or
pressure vessel, or any appurtenance thereof, is in such condition that his
company would refuse insurance, the inspector shall immediately notify the
Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee and submit a report about the
defects.
(b) If, upon inspection, a
Special Inspector finds a boiler or pressure vessel to be unsafe for further
operation, he shall promptly notify the owner or user and state what repairs or
other corrective measures are required to bring the boiler or pressure vessel
into compliance with this Chapter. Unless the owner or user makes such repairs
or adopts other corrective measures promptly, the Special Inspector shall
immediately notify the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee. Until
such corrections have been made, no further operation of the boiler or pressure
vessel involved shall be permitted. If a certificate of inspection is required
and is in force, it shall be suspended by the Chief Inspector or Chief
Inspector's Designee. When a reinspection establishes that the boiler or
pressure vessel is safe to operate, the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's
Designee shall be notified. At that time, a certificate of inspection (where
applicable) may be issued.
(c) If a
Special Inspector, while making required inspections, becomes aware of any
other boiler or pressure vessel on the premises which are not registered in
accordance with applicable law, he shall report this information to the owner
or user of the boiler or pressure vessel and to the Chief Inspector or Chief
Inspector's Designee within thirty (30) days.
(7) Condemned Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
The Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee or a Deputy Inspector shall
stamp on any boiler or pressure vessel declared unfit for further service the
letters "XXX" on either side of the State number. Such stamping (XXX 00 XXX)
shall designate a condemned boiler or pressure vessel.
(8) Pressure Tests.
(a) A pressure test, when applied to boiler
or pressure vessels, shall not exceed one and one half (11/2) times the maximum
allowable working pressure. The pressure shall be under proper control so that
in no case shall the required test pressure exceed that which is allowed by the
applicable ASME Code of Construction.
(b) During a pressure test, the safety valve
or valves shall be removed, or each valve disc shall be held to its seat by
means of a testing clamp (not by screwing down the compression screw upon the
spring). A plug device designed for the purpose may be used.
(c) The temperatures of the water used to
apply a pressure test shall not be less than 70ºF and the temperature
during inspection shall not exceed 120ºF.
(d) When a pressure test is applied to
determine tightness, the pressure shall be equal to the normal operating
pressure, but need not exceed the release pressure of the safety valve having
the lowest release setting.
(e)
When the contents of the vessel prohibit contamination by any other medium or
when a pressure test is not possible, other testing media may be used provided
the precautionary requirements of the applicable section of the NBIC are
followed.
(9)
Notification of an Incident or Accident. The owner or user shall promptly
submit to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee a detailed report
of any incident or accident that occurs to a boiler or pressure vessel. In the
event of a personal injury, incident, accident, or explosion, the owner or user
shall immediately give notice to the office of the Chief Inspector or Chief
Inspector's Designee. Neither the boiler or pressure vessel, nor any parts
thereof, shall be removed or disturbed without the permission of the Chief
Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee, except for the purpose of saving human
life or limiting consequential damage.
(10) Inspection reports.
(a) Deputy and Special Inspectors shall
submit to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee on a form approved
by the Board, an initial inspection report for each boiler and pressure vessel
subject to inspection in this State. Complete data shall be submitted on a form
approved by the Board for each nonstandard boiler or pressure vessel.
(b) Deputy and Special Inspectors shall
submit to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee on a form approved
by the Board, reinspection reports of subsequent inspections of both standard
and nonstandard boilers and pressure vessels.
(c) Owner-User Inspection Agencies shall
submit reports in accordance with subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this rule. Said
reports shall be filed in accordance with Rule
0800-03-03-.06(2).
(d) Inspection reports required by
subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this rule shall be submitted within thirty
(30) days after the date of inspection.
Authority:
T.C.A. §§
4-5-202,
4-5-202(a)(3),
68-122-101,
68-122-102,
68-122-103,
68-122-104,
and
68-122-104(c)(1),
68-122-106,
68-122-107,
68-122-108,
and
68-122-110.
