NDAC 33.1-14-03-07
Automatic low-water fuel cutoff or water-feeding device
Cite as N.D. Admin. Code ยง 33.1-14-03-07
1.
Each automatically fired steam or vapor system boiler must be equipped with an automatic
low-water cutoff located to automatically cut off the fuel supply when the surface of the water
falls to the lowest safe waterline. For other than electric and miniature boilers, each
automatically fired steam or vapor system boiler must be equipped with at least two low-water
fuel cutoffs, one of which must be readily testable. One low-water fuel cutoff must be set to
function ahead of the other. Functioning of the lower of the controls shall cause safety
shutdown and lockout. The manual reset may be incorporated into the lower cutoff control.
Where a reset device is separate from the low-water fuel cutoff, a means shall be provided to
indicate actuation of the low-water fuel cutoff. The manual reset device may be of the
instantaneous type or may include a time delay of not more than three minutes after the fuel
has been cut off. A system may incorporate a time delay component with the low-water fuel
cutoff device to prevent short cycling. A time delay must not exceed the manufacturer's
recommended timing, or ninety seconds, whichever is less. A high-pressure boiler regularly
attended by a full-time operator is not considered as automatically fired, and is not required to
be equipped with low-water fuel cutoffs. For other than electric boilers, the primary low-water
fuel cutoff for low pressure steam boilers must be a float type that can be readily tested.
2.
If a water-feeding device is installed, it must be constructed so that the water inlet valve
cannot feed water into the boiler through the float chamber and located to supply requisite
feedwater. The lowest safe waterline should not be lower than the lowest visible part of the
water glass.
3.
Such fuel or feedwater control device may be attached directly to a boiler or to the tapped
openings provided for attaching a water glass directly to a boiler, provided that for low
pressure boilers such connections from the boiler are nonferrous tees or Ys not less than
one-half-inch [12.7 millimeter] pipe size between the boiler and the water glass, so that the
water glass is attached directly and as close as possible to the boiler; the straight tapping of
the Y or tee to take the water glass fittings, and the side outlet of the Y or tee to take the fuel
cutoff or water-feeding device. The ends of all nipples must be reamed to full-size diameter.
4.
Designs embodying a float and float bowl must have a vertical straight drainpipe at the lowest
point in the water equalizing pipe connections by which the bowl and the equalizing pipe can
be flushed and the device tested. This drainpipe and connections must be not less than
national pipe standard (NPS) three-quarters inch [19.05 millimeter].