North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 13 - LABOR › Chapter 13 - BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL › Section .0200 - ADMINISTRATION › Section 13 .0211 - CERTIFICATE INSPECTIONS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a) A commissioned
				inspector shall inspect all boilers and pressure vessels at the time of
				installation and at regular intervals thereafter, as provided in this
				Rule.
(b) Subject to the exceptions
				in Paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Rule, and after seven days' notice is given
				to the owner or user, an inspector shall conduct an internal inspection of a
				high pressure boiler at the time of installation and annually thereafter. An
				external inspection shall be conducted a minimum of once every 12 months while
				the boiler is in operation. The inspector shall ensure that the safety controls
				are operating as required. Issuance of the inspection certificate shall be
				based on the results of the internal inspection; however, if the inspector
				determines during the external inspection that an imminent danger exists, the
				inspector shall notify the Chief Inspector pursuant to
				13 NCAC
				13 .0301(d).
(c) In place of the first internal inspection
				of a new high pressure boiler, an inspector may conduct an external inspection
				if the inspector determines that data sufficient to determine compliance with
				the rules of this Chapter can be gathered from an external inspection. This
				shall not apply to relocated used boilers or those for which extended
				inspection certificates are being requested.
(d) Miniature boilers, coil-type watertube
				boilers, and boilers heating a fluid other than water which do not produce
				steam or vapor operating as high pressure boilers shall undergo an external
				inspection annually. Miniature boilers, coil-type watertube boilers, and
				boilers heating a fluid other than water operating as heating boilers shall
				undergo an external inspection biennially. Hobby boilers, locomotive boilers,
				and exhibition boilers shall be inspected annually, at the beginning of the
				season when they are anticipated to be operated.
(e) Low pressure boilers and pressure
				vessels, except hydropneumatic storage tanks, shall undergo an external
				inspection biennially while in operation.
(f) Owner-user inspectors shall conduct
				inspections for pressure vessels as prescribed in this Rule.
(g) Inspectors may order coverings removed,
				internal inspections, external inspections, removal of internal parts, testing
				or calibration of controls, indicating and safety devices and pressure tests
				whenever conditions warrant further evaluation of the pressure equipment. The
				inspector may also require the boiler to be started to verify the operating
				controls.
(h) Hydropneumatic
				storage tanks shall undergo an external inspection every four years while in
				operation.
(i) When the inspector
				or Chief Inspector determines that a certificate cannot be issued as a result
				of an inspection, the boiler or pressure vessel shall be reinspected after the
				necessary repairs are made.
(j)
				Inspections shall be conducted in accordance with the National Board Inspection
				Code. The inspector may require controls, indicating, and safety devices to be
				disassembled, tested, checked, or calibrated as necessary to ensure their
				proper operation.
(k) The Chief
				Inspector may extend an existing inspection certificate for a high pressure
				boiler for a period not exceeding 90 days beyond the certificate expiration
				date. The owner or user shall submit a written request to extend an existing
				inspection certificate, providing justification for an extension. The request
				shall include a report from a commissioned inspector of an external inspection
				which shall have been conducted no earlier than 60 days before the certificate
				expiration date, and the inspection report shall include a recommendation from
				the inspector for an extension to the inspection certificate.
(l) The inspection frequency established by
				this Rule may be modified by the Chief Inspector for individual boilers and
				pressure vessels if the Chief Inspector determines the frequency established
				herein is not appropriate, and that the safety attained by the normal
				inspection frequency will be otherwise obtained. Requirements for extended
				certificates for pressure equipment are detailed in Rule .0214 of this Chapter.
				Pressure vessels in "Locked High Radiation" areas may be certified for up to
				five years and may be inspected in accordance with Paragraph (m) of this
				Rule.
(m) Pressure retaining items
				which contain highly hazardous chemicals or biological elements that require
				level B personal protective equipment, or are in highly hazardous areas or
				pressure retaining items containing radioactive materials causing the pressure
				equipment to be classified as "Locked High Radiation," may be inspected
				remotely by video provided:
(1) there is a
				listing of all the items under this criterion at the site. The list shall be
				kept current by the owner/user and any additions or deletions shall be kept
				current. Prior to inspection the inspector shall review the last inspection
				certificate, the ASME data report, any National Board ("NB") repair/alteration
				forms and any records of testing performed during the certificate
				period;
(2) each item shall be
				inspected by means of live video feed that is monitored by the inspector. The
				inspector shall remain in radio contact with the individual operating the video
				equipment;
(3) the inspector shall
				be in proximity to the item and shall witness the video equipment operator
				enter the location of the item;
(4)
				a scan as complete as possible (within the limitations of the equipment) of all
				the pressure boundaries shall be witnessed by the inspector;
(5) the ASME nameplate shall be viewed as
				well as the ASME/NB nameplate on any pressure relieving device on the
				item;
(6) follow up inspections to
				verify the correction of deficiencies can be performed with a video inspection
				using the items outlined herein by the inspector;
(7) the inspector shall submit an inspection
				report for each pressure retaining item at intervals specified in this Rule and
				the report shall be annotated indicating that the item was inspected pursuant
				to this Paragraph; and
(8) any
				incident that renders the item inoperative shall be reported to the Bureau by
				the owner/user or the inspector within 24 hours.