Haw. Code R. § 12-223.1-7 - Instruments, fittings, and controls

(a) The following shall apply to steam heating boilers:

(1) Gages. The following shall apply to gages:

(A) Each steam boiler shall have a steam gage, or a compound steam gage connected to its steam space or to its water column or to its steam connection. The gage or connection shall contain a siphon or equivalent device that will develop and maintain a water seal that will prevent steam from entering the gage tube. The connection shall be so arranged that the gage cannot be shut off from the boiler except by a cock placed in the pipe at the gage and provided with a tee-handle or lever-handle arranged to be parallel to the pipe in which it is located when the cock is open. The connections to the boiler shall be not less than NPS 1/4. Where steel or wrought iron pipe or tubing is used, the connection and external siphon shall be not less than NPS 1/2. The minimum size of a siphon, if used, shall be NPS 1/4. Ferrous and nonferrous tubing having inside diameters at least equal to that of standard pipe sizes listed above may be substituted for pipe; and

(B) The scale on the dial of a steam boiler gage shall be graduated to not less than thirty (30) psig nor more than sixty (60) psig. The travel of the pointer from zero (0) psig to thirty (30) psig pressure shall be at least three (3) inches;

(2) Water gage glasses. The following shall apply to water gage glasses:

(A) Each steam boiler shall have one or more water-gage glasses attached to the water column or boiler by means of valved fittings not less than NPS 1/2, with the lower fitting provided with a drain valve of a type having an unrestricted drain opening not less than NPS 1/4 to facilitate cleaning. Gage glass replacement shall be possible under pressure. Water glass fittings may be attached directly to a boiler. Heating boilers having an internal vertical height of less than ten (10) inches should be equipped with a water level indicator of the glass bulls-eye type provided the indicator is of sufficient size to show the water at both normal operating and low-water cutoff levels;

(B) The lowest visible part of the water-gage glass shall be at least one (1) inch above the lowest permissible water level recommended by the boiler manufacturer. With the boiler operating at this lowest permissible water level, there shall be no danger of overheating any part of the boiler;

(C) In electric heating boilers of the submerged electrode type, the water-gage glass shall be so located to indicate the water levels both at startup and under maximum steam load conditions as established by the manufacturer;

(D) In electric heating boilers of the resistance element type, the lowest visible part of the water gage shall be located at least one (1) inch above the lowest permissible water level specified by the manufacturer. Each electric boiler of this type shall also be equipped with an automatic low-water cutoff on each boiler so located as to automatically cut off the power supply to the heating elements before the surface of the water falls below the visible part of the glass;

(E) Tubular water glasses on electric heating boilers having a normal water content not exceeding 100 gallons shall be equipped with a protective shield; and

(F) Transparent material other than glass may be used for the water gage provided that the material will remain transparent and has proved suitable for the pressure, temperature, and corrosive conditions expected in service;

(3) Water column and water level control pipes.

The following shall apply to water column and water level control pipes:

(A) The minimum size of ferrous or nonferrous pipes connecting a water column to a steam boiler shall be NPS 1. No outlet connections, except for damper regulator, feedwater regulator, steam gages, or apparatus that does not permit the escape of any steam or water except for manually operated blowdown, shall be attached to a water column or the piping connecting a water column to a boiler for introduction of feedwater into a boiler. If the water column, gage glass, low-water fuel cutoff, or other water level control device is connected to the boiler by pipe and fittings, no shutoff valves of any type shall be placed in such pipe and a cross or equivalent fitting to which a drain valve and piping may be attached shall be placed in the water piping connection at every right angle turn to facilitate cleaning and inspection. The water column drain pipe and valve shall be not less than 3/4-inch diameter; and

(B) The steam connections to the water column of a horizontal firetube wrought boiler shall be taken from the top of the shell or the upper part of the head, and the water connection shall be taken from a point not above the center line of the shell. For a cast-iron boiler, the steam connection to the water column shall be taken from the top of an end section or the top of the steam header, and the water connection shall be made on an end section not less than six (6) inches below the bottom connection to the water-gage glass;

(4) Pressure control. The following shall apply to pressure control:

(A) Each automatically fired steam boiler shall be protected from overpressure by two pressure-operated controls. Each individual steam boiler or each system of commonly connected steam heating boilers shall have a control that will cut off the fuel supply when the steam pressure reaches an operating limit, which shall be less than the maximum allowable pressure;

(B) Each individual automatically fired steam boiler shall have a safety limit control, with a manual reset that will cut off the fuel supply to prevent steam pressure from exceeding the fifteen (15) psig maximum allowable working pressure of the boiler. Each control shall be constructed to prevent a pressure setting above fifteen (15) psig;

(C) Shutoff valves of any type shall not be placed in the steam pressure connection between the boiler and the controls described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). These controls shall be protected with a siphon or equivalent means of maintaining a water seal that will prevent steam from entering the control. The connections to the boiler shall not be less than NPS 1/4 for lengths up to five (5) feet, but where steel or wrought iron pipe or tubing is used, they shall not be less than NPS 1/2 for lengths up to five (5) feet, and not less than NPS 1 for lengths over five (5) feet. The minimum size of an external siphon shall be NPS 1/4 or 3/8 inch outside diameter nonferrous tubing. For manifold connections, the minimum size shall be as specified in the original code of construction; and

(D) Pressure controls should have separate connections, however, manifolding is permitted. When multiple pressure controls are connected to the boiler with a common manifold, the connection at the boiler up to and including the entire manifold, for pipe of nonferrous material, shall not be less than NPS 1/2 for lengths up to five (5) feet, and not less than NPS 3/4 for lengths over five (5) feet. For manifolds using ferrous material, the connection at the boiler up to and including the entire manifold shall not be less than NPS 3/4 for lengths up to five (5) feet, and not less than NPS 1-1/4 for lengths over five (5) feet. Individual controls are to be piped from the manifold according to the provisions of subparagraph (C);

(5) Automatic low-water fuel cutoff and water feeding devices. The following shall apply to automatic low-water fuel cutoff and water feeding devices:

(A) Each automatically fired steam boiler shall have an automatic low-water fuel cutoff. The low-water fuel cutoffs must be located to automatically cut off the fuel supply when the surface of the water falls to a level not lower than the lowest visible part of the water-gage glass. If a water feeding device is installed, it shall be so constructed that the water inlet valve cannot feed water into the boiler through the float chamber and so located as to supply requisite feedwater;

(B) Such a fuel cutoff or water feeding device may be attached directly to a boiler. A fuel cutoff or water feeding device may also be installed in the tapped openings available for attaching a water glass directly to a boiler, provided the connections are made to the boiler with nonferrous tees or Y fittings not less than NPS 1/2 between the boiler and water glass so that the water glass is attached directly and as close as possible to the boiler; the run of the tee or Y-fitting shall take the water glass fittings, and the side outlet or branch of the tee or Y-fittings shall take the fuel cutoff or water feeding device. The ends of all nipples shall be reamed to full-size diameter;

(C) In addition to the requirements in subparagraphs (A) and (B), a secondary low-water fuel cutoff with manual reset shall be provided on each automatically fired steam boiler; and

(D) Fuel cutoffs and water feeding devices embodying a separate chamber shall have a vertical drain pipe and a blowoff valve not less than NPS 3/4, located at the lowest point in the water equalizing pipe connections so that the chamber and the equalizing pipe can be flushed and the device tested.

(b) Hot-water heating or hot-water supply boilers. The following shall apply to hot-water heating or hot-water supply boilers:

(1) Pressure or altitude gages:

(A) Each hot-water heating or hot-water supply boiler shall have a pressure or altitude gage connected to it or to its flow connection in such a manner that it cannot be shut off from the boiler except by a cock with tee or lever handle, placed on the pipe near the gage. The handle of the cock shall be parallel to the pipe in which it is located when the cock is open;

(B) The scale on the dial of the pressure or altitude gage shall be graduated approximately to not less than one and a half (1-1/2) nor more than three and a half (3-1/2) times the pressure at which the safety relief valve is set; and

(C) Piping or tubing for pressure or altitude gage connections shall be of nonferrous metal when smaller than NPS 1;

(2) Thermometers: each hot-water heating or hot-water supply boiler shall have a thermometer so located and connected that it shall be easily readable. The thermometer shall be so located that it shall always indicate the temperature of the water in the boiler at or near the outlet;

(3) Temperature controls. Each automatically fired hot-water heating or hot-water supply boiler shall be protected from over-temperature by two temperature-operated controls. The following shall apply to automatically fired hot-water heating and hot-water supply boilers:

(A) Each individual hot-water heating or hot-water supply boiler or each system of commonly connected heating boilers shall have at least one control that will cut off the fuel supply when the water temperature reaches an operating limit, which shall be less than the maximum allowable temperature; and

(B) Each individual automatically fired hot-water heating or hot-water supply boiler shall have a safety limit control with manual reset that will cut off the fuel supply to prevent the water temperature from exceeding the maximum allowable temperature at the boiler outlet;

(C) Each operating and safety limit control shall have its own sensing element and operating switch; and

(D) Alternately, integrated controls with multiple sensors may be used to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B);

(4) Low-water fuel cutoff. The following shall apply to automatically fired hot-water heating boilers:

(A) Each automatically fired hot-water heating boiler shall have an automatic low-water fuel cutoff with manual reset. The low-water fuel cutoff shall be designed for hot-water service, and it shall be so located as to automatically cut off the fuel supply when the surface of the water falls to the level established in subparagraph (B);

(B) As there is no normal waterline to be maintained in a hot-water boiler, any location of the low-water fuel cutoff above the lowest safe permissible water level established by the boiler manufacturer is satisfactory;

(C) In lieu of the requirements for low-water fuel cutoffs in subparagraph (A), heating boilers requiring forced circulation to prevent overheating of the tubes, coils, or vessel, shall have an accepted flow-sensing or temperature-sensing device to prevent burner operation at a flow rate inadequate to protect the boiler unit against overheating at all allowable firing rates. This safety control(s) shall shut down the burner and prevent restarting until an adequate flow is restored and shall be independent of all other controls; and

(D) A means shall be provided for testing the operation of the external low-water fuel cutoff without resorting to draining the entire system. Such means shall not render the device inoperable except as follows: if the means temporarily isolates the device from the boiler during this testing, it shall automatically return to its normal position. The connection may be so arranged that the device cannot be shut off from the boiler except by a cock placed at the device and provided with a tee or lever-handle arranged to be parallel to the pipe in which it is located when the cock is open;

(c) Potable water heaters. The following shall apply to potable water heaters:

(1) Temperature controls. The following shall apply to the temperature controls of potable water heaters:

(A) Each individual automatically fired water heater, in addition to the operating control used for normal water heater operation, shall have a separate high limit temperature actuated combustion control that will automatically cut off the fuel supply. The temperature range of the high limit temperature actuated control shall not allow a setting over 210 degrees Fahrenheit;

(B) Gas-fired water heaters: the high limit temperature control when actuated shall shut off the fuel supply with a shutoff means other than the operating control valve. Separate valves may have a common body;

(C) Electrically heated water heaters: the high limit temperature control when actuated shall cut off all power to the operating controls;

(D) Oil-fired water heaters: the high limit temperature control when actuated shall cut off all current flow to the burner mechanism; and

(E) Indirect water heating systems: the high limit temperature control when activated shall cut off the source of heat;

(2) Pressure or altitude gages. The following shall apply to pressure or altitude gages:

(A) Each potable water heater shall have a pressure or altitude gage connected to it or to its flow connection in such a manner that it cannot be shut off from the boiler except by a cock with tee or lever handle placed on the pipe near the gage. The handle of the cock shall be parallel to the pipe in which it is located when the cock is open;

(B) The scale on the dial of the pressure or altitude gage shall be graduated approximately to not less than one and a half (1-1/2) nor more than three (3) times the maximum allowable working pressure; and

(C) Piping or tubing for pressure or altitude gage connections shall be of nonferrous metal when smaller than 1-inch pipe size;

(3) Thermometers: each installed water heater shall have a thermometer so located and connected that it shall be easily readable. The thermometer shall be so located that it shall always indicate the temperature of the water in the water heater at or near the outlet; and

(4) Flow-sensing device: potable water heaters requiring forced circulation to prevent overheating of the tubes, coils, or vessel should have an acceptable flow-sensing device or temperature-sensing device to prevent burner operation at a flow rate inadequate to protect the water heater unit against overheating at all allowable firing rates. This safety controls shall shut down the burner and prevent restarting until an adequate flow is restored and shall be independent of all other controls.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 12-223.1-7

[Eff and comp 12/21/2019] (Auth: HRS § 397-4) (Imp: HRS § 397-4) Am and comp 9/8/2024