Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 69A-51.050 - Inspection Requirements for Boilers in Public Assembly Locations

(1) Access for inspection. The authorized inspector shall have full access during mutually agreeable hours, to any place of public assembly in the State of Florida where a boiler is being constructed, installed or operated for the purpose of ascertaining whether such boiler is being constructed, installed, or operated in accordance with the requirements of this rule chapter. Immediate access shall be provided in the event of an accident.

(2) Inspection requirements. Each boiler used or proposed to be used in a place of public assembly within this state except boilers exempted under subsection 69A-51.045(5), F.A.C., shall be thoroughly inspected as to its construction, installation and condition as follows:

(a) Power boilers and high pressure, high temperature water boilers shall receive a certificate inspection annually. They shall be inspected annually both internally, where construction permits, and externally while under pressure. They shall also be inspected annually externally while under pressure, if possible, within six (6) months of the internal inspection.

(b) Heating boilers must receive a certificate inspection biennially. This inspection may be an external inspection unless an internal inspection is required by the authorized inspector.

(c) Hot water boilers and hot water supply boilers must receive a certificate inspection biennially with an internal inspection every four (4) years if the construction of the boiler so permits.

(d) Heating boilers and hot water supply boilers constructed of cast iron must receive a certificate inspection biennially.

(3) The Boiler Safety Program is responsible for providing for the safety of life, limb and property and therefore has jurisdiction over the interpretation and application of the inspection requirements as provided herein. Inspection during construction and installation shall certify as to the minimum requirements for safety as defined in the ASME Code. Inspections must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 554.108, F.S.

(4) The inspections herein required, including shop inspections, must be made by the authorized inspector.

(5) If, at the discretion of the authorized inspector, a hydrostatic test is be deemed necessary, the test must be performed and the expense shall be borne by the owner or user of the boiler and the test must be witnessed by the authorized inspector.

(6) All boilers installed in a place of public assembly in this state shall be inspected prior to use by an authorized inspector holding a valid certificate of competency issued by the Department.

(7) Inspection reports.

(a) Each boiler subject to inspection must be inspected within 30 days after the expiration of the boiler's certificate of operation. An inspection report must be received by the chief boiler inspector no later than 30 days after the projected expiration date of the certificate of operation. If, upon inspection, the authorized inspector finds that a boiler is in violation of any provision of the State Boiler Code, the authorized inspector must promptly notify the owner or user and state what repairs or other corrective measures are needed. An authorized inspector shall file a written report with the chief boiler inspector on each certificate inspection within 15 days after such inspection using the following forms:

1. For the first jurisdictional inspection, a special boiler inspector shall use the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors' Form NB-5, Boiler or Pressure Vessel Data Report (Rev. 1), Eff. 01/18.

2. For all subsequent inspections, a special boiler inspector shall use the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors' Form NB-6, Report of Inspection (Rev. 6), Eff. 01/18.

(b) Form NB-5 and Form NB-6 are hereby incorporated by reference. Form NB-5 is available at the following link: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13311. Form NB-6 is available at the following link: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13312. The forms are also available from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors' website at http://www.nationalboard.org/Index.aspx?pageID=113&ID=171.

(8) Upon a determination by the chief boiler inspector that a boiler cannot be safely operated, the boiler must immediately be shut down. The chief boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector shall attach a tag to the boiler indicating that the boiler has been shut down due to an unsafe condition. The boiler must remain shut down until a reinspection by the chief boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector determines that the boiler may be operated safely. A boiler that may not be safely operated, as determined by the chief boiler inspector, is deemed to constitute an imminent danger to the public health, safety, and welfare.

(9) If an insured boiler with a certificate of operation ceases to be insured, that certificate shall be valid until the indicated expiration date.

(10) A boiler insurance company shall notify the chief boiler inspector of the Boiler Safety Program by email (boiler.safety@myfloridacfo.com) within 30 days after the issuance of a new or renewal boiler and machinery insurancy policy, or the cancellation or nonrenewal of a boiler and machinery insurance policy, covering places of public assembly in this state.

(11) Inspection exemptions.

(a) Any authorized inspection agency licensed to sell boiler and pressure vessel insurance in this state and insuring a boiler in a place of public assembly located in the state shall inspect such boiler so insured.

(b) Such inspection shall be performed by a special inspector boiler holding a certificate of competency from this state.

(c) Upon filing of a report of satisfactory inspection with the Department, such boiler is exempt from inspection by the Department.

(12) Inspection numbers.

(a) Upon completion of installation and/or at the time of the first jurisdiction inspection, all boilers shall have attached, by the authorized inspector making the inspection, a metal non-corrosive tag which bears the Florida State serial number. The tags are to be attached in a conspicuous place where they cannot be easily removed, such as around the connecting water column pipes, steam gauge pigtail or siphon or around the piping connecting the boiler and its safety or relief valve.

(b) A block of Florida State serial numbers will be furnished, upon request, by the chief boiler inspector to authorized inspection agencies for use by special boiler inspectors. The furnishing and installing of non-corrosive tags is the responsibility of the authorized inspection agency. The approximate size of the non-corrosive tag shall be one inch by three inches (1''xx 3'').

(c) Boilers which are brought into the state for temporary use shall be assigned Florida State serial numbers.

(d) It shall be the duty of every authorized inspector, at the time of the certificate inspection, to determine if the boiler has the required metal non-corrosive tag bearing the Florida State serial number attached.

(e) Florida State serial numbers 0001 through 49,999 shall be referred to as high pressure numbers and used for power boilers and high pressure, high temperature water boilers. Florida State serial numbers 50,000 and above shall be referred to as low pressure numbers and used for low pressure steam, heating boilers and hot water supply boilers.

(f) Stamping of Florida State serial numbers on non-corrosive tags shall be as follows:

FL000000

Florida State serial numbers shall be stamped with numbers and letters not less than 5/16'' in height.

(13) Types of authorized inspection agencies.

(a) The Department's Boiler Safety Program.

(b) The authorized inspection agencies defined in Section 554.1021(2), F.S.

(14) Existing non-standard boilers.

(a) Non-standard boilers which were installed in the state prior to October 1, 1987, are subject to the provisions of the ASME Code, Section I, paragraphs A-33 and A-36 (1989 edition), which are hereby incorporated by reference. The factor of safety for boilers shall not be less than the following:

1. 5.0 for boilers 20 to 25 years old. The existing factor of safety may be continuous if subparagraph 2., below, has been complied with.

2. For each five (5) years thereafter, the factor of safety of boilers shall be increased by not less than five-tenths (5/10); provided, however, that after a thorough internal and external inspection and a hydrostatic test to one and one-half (1 1/2) times the pressure allowed, during which no distress or leakage develops, the pressure allowed may be continued at its present factor of safety. The owner or user of such boiler shall prepare the boiler for hydrostatic pressure test by uncovering all riveted joints.

3. When boilers of the horizontal return tubular, flue, cylinder, or locomotive type having a longitudinal lap joint reach the age of 35 years, the maximum allowable working pressure shall not be in excess of 15 pounds per square inch.

4. In no case may the maximum allowable working pressure on a non-standard boiler be increased, unless it is being operated at a lesser pressure than would be allowed for ASME Code Boilers.

5. Any non-standard boiler which has been or is now located in a place of public assembly within this state, and which is removed from and returned to the state, cannot be used in Florida for permanent service, but is subject to the rules in this rule chapter governing temporary boilers if it is to be operated in Florida.

(b)

1. The ASME standards referenced in paragraph (14)(a) are copyrighted materials and cannot be copied, but may be obtained by contacting: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey 07424 or WWW.ASME.Org; Phone: 1(800)THE-ASME.

2. The copyrighted ASME standards referenced in paragraph (14)(a) may be viewed, during regular business hours, at the offices of:

a. The Boiler Safety Program, Bureau of Fire Prevention, Division of State Fire Marshal, 325 John Knox Road, Third Floor, Atrium Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32303, Phone: (850)413-3614/3723; or

b. The Florida Administrative Code and Register, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250, Phone (850)245-6270.

(15) Boilers brought into the state for temporary use.

(a) Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to bring a non-standard boiler into this state for temporary use at a place of public assembly shall contact the chief boiler inspector by email (boiler.safety@myfloridacfo.com) to schedule an inspection prior to using such boiler, stating the location where the boiler is to be used, and the approximate length of time it is to be used.

(b) No temporary boiler may be operated in a place of public assembly within this state until an internal inspection has been made, a hydrostatic pressure test has been applied, a report has been submitted to the chief boiler inspector, and a certificate of operation has been issued.

(c) This inspection must consist of an internal and external inspection, together with an operational hydrostatic test. The boiler must be operated at a pressure not greater than that permitted by the authorized inspector at the time of inspection and stipulated on the certificate of operation.

(d) The boiler may be inspected by the chief boiler inspector, a special boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector. The inspection must be made at the time the boiler is first brought into Florida and before being put into service, provided an inspection of it has not been made and a hydrostatic test applied within the preceding 30 days. In such cases, a copy of the inspection report together with the required certificate of inspection fee shall be forwarded to the Department within three (3) days and, if the condition of the boiler warrants, a certificate of operation will be issued.

(e) When a temporary boiler is examined by the chief boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector, the fee required by Section 554.111, F.S., must be paid and forwarded to the Department.

(f) Temporary boilers shall not be assigned a Florida State serial number.

(16) Additional inspections.

(a) This rule is intended to provide reasonable and adequate requirements for the construction, maintenance, inspection, and use of boilers, and to provide for the inspection during fabrication, repair, or alteration of those pressure vessels that are required by the owner and/or user to:

1. Meet ASME Code and National Board Inspection Code requirements; and

2. Be stamped as meeting those requirements.

(b) This rule is not designed to provide an inspection program for unfired pressure vessels, except as provided for by Chapter 554, F.S. However, inspections will be provided when requested by the owner or the user. This rule is intended to promote uniform standards for the design, fabrication, repair, alteration and inspection of steam and hot water boilers, and the inspection during fabrication, repair, or alteration of those pressure vessels that are required by the owner or user to:

(1) meet ASME Code and National Board Inspection Code requirements; and

(2) be stamped as meeting those requirements.

(17) Notice of internal inspection of boilers. The owner or user of a boiler not exempted by Chapter 554, F.S., or by subsection 69A-51.045(5), F.A.C., shall be given 14 days notice of an impending internal inspection, by the responsible authorized inspector. No such notice may be required for external inspections.

(18) Preparation for internal inspection.

(a) The owner or user shall prepare each boiler for internal inspection, and shall prepare for and apply a hydrostatic pressure test, whenever necessary, on the date arranged by the authorized inspector. The boiler shall be prepared for internal inspection in accordance with National Board Inspection Code, Part 2, Section 2.2.6, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C., as follows:

1. The fuel supply and ignition system shall be locked out.

2. The boilermust be sufficiently cooled for inspection.

3. Water must be drawn off and the water side thoroughly washed out.

4. The manhole and handhole plates, washout plugs, as well as inspection plugs in water column connections, must be removed as required by the authorized inspector.

5. All grates of internally fired boilers must be removed.

6. Insulation and brickwork must be removed as required by the authorized inspector in order to determine the condition of the boiler, headers, furnace, supports, or other parts.

7. The pressure gauge must be removed for testing when required by the authorized inspector.

8. Any leakage of steam or hot water into the boiler must be prevented by disconnecting the pipe or valve at the most convenient point or any appropriate means approved by the authorized inspector.

9. Before opening the manhole(s) or handhole covers and entering any part of a boiler which is connected to a common header with other boilers, the required steam or water system stop valves shall be closed, tagged, and padlocked, and the drain valves or cocks between the two closed stop valves opened. The feed valves must be closed, tagged, and padlocked. Alternatively, lines may be blanked or sections of pipe removed. Blowoff lines, where practicable, shall be disconnected between pressure parts and valves. All drains and vent lines shall be open. The owner shall comply with any other safety operation required by the authorized inspector.

10. No owner or user shall permit entry into a boiler, nor shall an employee or authorized inspector enter a boiler, until the plant inspector or supervisor and the person entering the boiler have confirmed that all stop valves on inlet and outlet piping (not vented to the atmosphere) have been closed and tagged. Where not valved, the piping must be disconnected or blanked. In addition, plant personnel shall make appropriate tests to ensure that there is no oxygen deficiency or hazardous or toxic gasses in the drums to be entered by the authorized inspector.

(b) All automatic low water fuel cutoff and water feeding devices must be examined to ensure that they are properly installed; and must have the float chamber types or control devices disassembled and the float linkage and connections examined for wear. The float chamber must be examined to ensure that it is free of sludge or other accumulation. Any necessary corrective action must be taken before the device is placed back in service.

(19) Boilers improperly prepared for inspection. If a boiler has not been properly prepared for an internal inspection, or if an owner or user has failed to comply with the requirements for a pressure test as set forth in this rule, the authorized inspector may decline to make the inspection or test, and the certificate of operation will be withheld or suspended until the owner or user complies with the requirements.

(20) Removal of covering to permit inspection. If a boiler is jacketed so that the longitudinal seams of shells, drums or domes cannot be seen, sufficient jacketing, setting wall, or other form of casing or housing must be removed to permit reasonable inspection of the seams and other areas necessary to determine the condition and safety of the boiler, provided such information cannot be determined by other means.

(21) Inspection of power boilers. The internal and external inspection of power boilers must meet the requirements of the ASME Code, Section VII, Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers; and the National Board Inspection Code, which are incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(22) Inspection of heating, supply and potable water boilers. The internal (when required), and external inspections of steam and hot water heating, hot water supply, and potable water heaters (lined storage water heaters), must meet the guidelines of the ASME Code, Section VI, Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers; and the National Board Inspection Code, which are incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 69A-51.050

Rulemaking Authority 554.103, 554.108(6) FS. Law Implemented 554.103, 554.108, 554.109, 554.1101, 554.114 FS.

New 2-27-89, Amended 10-23-00, Formerly 4A-51.050, Amended by Florida Register Volume 42, Number 061, March 29, 2016 effective 4/10/2016, Amended by Florida Register Volume 47, Number 144, July 27, 2021 effective 8/10/2021.

New 2-27-89, Amended 10-23-00, Formerly 4A-51.050, Amended 4-10-16, 8-10-21.