Inspection Requirements

(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. BOILER INSPECTIONS CHAPTER 0800-03-03 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, BOILER INSPECTIONS CHAPTER 0800-03-03 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 (1½) 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 70°F and the temperature during inspection shall not exceed 120°F. (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. BOILER INSPECTIONS CHAPTER 0800-03-03 (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.