Inspector Qualifications

(1) Insurance Inspectors (Authorized Inspection Agencies). (a) An insurance company shall notify the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee within thirty (30) days of all boilers or pressure vessels, on which insurance is written, cancelled, not renewed or suspended. (b) An insurance company shall conduct all required inspections to boilers and pressure vessels that are covered in the insurance policy, where premiums for specific inspection requirements are specified. (c) If a Special Inspector employed by the insurance company does not perform the inspection required in subparagraph (b) of this rule within ninety (90) days of the expiration date of the certificate of inspection, or required external inspection on a power boiler, a Deputy Inspector may be called upon by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee to perform such inspection to determine the safety compliance of such boiler or pressure vessel. In the event that a Deputy Inspector performs an inspection on an insured boiler or pressure vessel, the insurance company in question BOILER INSPECTIONS CHAPTER 0800-03-03 shall be assessed a special inspection fee set by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee in accordance with T.C.A. § 68-122-113. (2) Owner-User Inspection Agency. Each Owner-User Inspection Agency shall: (a) Conduct inspections of pressure vessels (not exempt under T.C.A. § 68-122-105), utilizing only qualified inspection personnel, as provided in this Chapter; (b) Retain on file where the equipment is inspected a true record or copy of each of the latest inspection reports submitted by the inspector; (c) Execute and deliver to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee and those responsible for the operation of the pressure vessel a true report of each inspection, together with appropriate requirements or recommendations that result from such inspections; (d) Promptly notify the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee of any pressure vessel which does not meet the applicable requirements; and (e) Maintain inspection records, which shall be readily available for examination by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee or his authorized representatives during business hours. Such records shall include: 1. A list of each pressure vessel covered by the Act, showing a serial number and such abbreviated descriptions as may be necessary for identification; and 2. The date of the last inspection of each unit, and the approximate date for the next inspection (arrived at by applying the appropriate rules to all data available when the inspection record is complete). (3) Examination for Certificate of Competency. (a) Unless other arrangements are made, the examination for an inspector’s certificate of competency shall be held in conjunction with a quarterly meeting of the Board at such location as it designates (see NB-411, Candidate Handbook for the Inservice Commission Examination Administered at a National Board Member Jurisdiction), or at an Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) location, or during the last day of the National Board Inservice Commission (IC) two-week course (see NB-461, Candidate Handbook for the Inservice Commission Examination). (b) An applicant for examination shall have education and experience equal to at least one (1) of the following: (See NB-263, Rules for National Board Inservice and New Construction Commissioned Inspectors.) 1. A degree from an accredited school in mechanical engineering, plus one (1) year of experience in design, construction, operation or inspection of high-pressure boilers and pressure vessels; 2. A degree from an accredited school in a branch of engineering other than mechanical engineering, or an associate degree in mechanical technology, plus two (2) years of experience in design, construction, operation or inspection of high-pressure boilers and pressure vessels; or 3. A high school education (or the equivalent) plus four (4) years of experience: (i) In high-pressure boiler and pressure vessel construction or repair; or BOILER INSPECTIONS CHAPTER 0800-03-03 (ii) As an operating engineer in charge of high-pressure boiler operation; or (iii) As an inspector of high-pressure boilers and pressure boiler operation (c) An application for examination shall be submitted on the form prescribed by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of examination. Each application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). (d) The Board may reject any application containing a willfully false or misleading statement. (e) The Board shall administer to qualified applicants a written examination dealing with the construction, maintenance, and repair of boilers and pressure vessels and their appurtenances. (f) The Board may waive examination of an applicant who holds a valid commission or certificate of competency from a state that has a standard of examination substantially equal to that of this State, and a valid commission and current commission card issued by the NB. (4) Certificate of Competency and Identification Card. (a) In order to be eligible to receive a certificate of competency, the applicant shall be in the regular employment of, and exclusively engaged by, an Authorized Inspection Agency or Owner-User Inspection Agency. (b) The request for a certificate of competency and identification card shall be submitted by the employer on the form prescribed by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee. The request shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). (c) When the holder of a certificate of competency ceases to be employed by the organization which requested the certificate, that organization shall return the certificate of competency and valid identification card to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector’s Designee. (d) Identification cards shall be renewable annually by application of the employer. The application shall be submitted not later than December 31 of each year, and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each card. (5) Conflict of Interest. An inspector shall not engage in the sale of any service, article or device relating to boilers, pressure vessels, or their appurtenances.