Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 4 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION › Chapter 65 - BOILERS › Subchapter R - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 65.614 - Authority to Set and Seal Safety Appliances

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) All safety and pressure relief valves for
				  ASME Sections I, IV, and VIII Division 1 boilers must be repaired, tested, set,
				  and sealed by one of the organizations listed in this section, provided the
				  scope of the issued certificate of authorization covers the work to be
				  performed.
(b) The following
				  organizations are authorized to set and seal safety appliances:
(1) an organization holding a valid V, HV, or
				  UV certificate of authorization, as appropriate, issued by the American Society
				  of Mechanical Engineers (ASME); or
(2) an organization holding a valid VR
				  certificate of authorization issued by the National Board of Boiler and
				  Pressure Vessel Inspectors; or
(3)
				  an organization holding a valid owner/operator certificate of authorization
				  issued by the department to repair, test, set and seal safety appliances for
				  boilers meeting the requirements of this chapter only at the approved
				  owner/operators facilities. Such authorization may be granted or withheld by
				  the department.
(A) If authorization is
				  granted and proper administrative fees as provided for in §
												RSA 65.300, are
				  paid, a certificate of authorization will be issued, expiring on the triennial
				  anniversary date. The certificate shall indicate authorization to repair ASME
				  Sections I, IV, or VIII valves, as verified by testing and as covered by the
				  repair organization's quality control manual.
(B) The applicant should apply to the
				  department for renewal of authorization and reissuance of the certificate six
				  (6) months prior to the date of expiration.
(C) The owner/operator certificate of
				  authorization is renewable every three (3) years. Before issuance or renewal of
				  the certificate of authorization, the repair organization and its facilities
				  are subject to a review and demonstration of its quality control system by an
				  inspector. Original code books and the National Board's Pressure Relief Device
				  Certifications (NB-18), as required to set and seal safety appliances, shall be
				  available during the review of the quality control system.
(D) Before the owner/operator certificate of
				  authorization may be issued or renewed, two valves which have been repaired by
				  the applicant must successfully complete operational verification tests as
				  follows:
(i) visual examination to ensure the
				  quality of material and workmanship;
(ii) verification that critical parts meet
				  the valve manufacturer's specifications. Critical parts that are replaced must
				  be fabricated to the valve manufacturer's specifications. Critical parts which
				  require repair shall meet the valve manufacturer's specifications;
(iii) tightness tests and verification;
				  and
(iv) set pressure test and
				  verification.
(E) The
				  purpose of the tests is to ensure that the function and operation of the valves
				  meet the requirements of the applicable section of the ASME Code to which they
				  are manufactured. Should any of the valves fail to meet the applicable
				  requirements, the test shall be repeated on two valves for each valve that
				  failed. Failure of any of these valves shall cause the applicant to investigate
				  and document the cause of failure and state what corrective action has been
				  taken to prevent future recurrences. Retest of the original valve is
				  acceptable. Following proper implementation of this corrective action and after
				  satisfactory performance, permission to receive the certificate of
				  authorization will be granted.
(F)
				  Field repairs are defined as any repair conducted outside a fixed repair shop
				  location. Field repairs may be conducted with the aid of mobile facilities with
				  repair capabilities with or without testing capabilities. Field repairs may be
				  conducted in owner/operator facilities without the use of mobile facilities.
				  Organizations that obtain the owner/operator certificate of authorization for
				  in-shop/plant repairs may also perform field repairs to safety and pressure
				  relief valves provided that:
(i) qualified
				  technicians perform such repairs;
(ii) an acceptable quality control system
				  covering field repairs is maintained; and
(iii) periodic audits of the work carried out
				  in the field are made by quality control personnel of the certificate of
				  authorization holder to ensure that the requirements of the quality control
				  system are met.
(G)
				  Provided the provisions in subparagraph (F)(i) - (iii) are met, verification
				  testing of field repaired valves shall not be required.
(H) Organizations that perform field repairs
				  only must demonstrate field repair capabilities to an inspector before the
				  certificate of authorization may be issued or renewed. Two valves must be
				  repaired in the field and successfully complete verification tests as described
				  in subparagraph (D) and (E). A quality control manual as required in
				  subparagraph (J), must be prepared describing all field repair
				  activities.
(I) Repair of a safety
				  and pressure relief valve is considered to be the replacement, remachining, or
				  cleaning of any part, lapping of seat and disc, or any other operation which
				  may affect the flow passage, capacity, function, or pressure retaining
				  integrity. Disassembly, reassembly, and/or adjustments which affect the safety
				  or pressure relief valve function are also considered a repair. The initial
				  installation, testing, and adjustments of a new safety valve or a pressure
				  relief valve in a boiler are not considered a repair.
(J) In general, the quality control system
				  shall describe and explain what documents and procedures the owner/operator
				  will use to validate a valve repair. Before issuance or renewal of the
				  owner/operator certificate of authorization, the applicant must meet all
				  requirements, including an acceptable written quality control system. The basic
				  elements of a written quality control system shall be those described in §
												RSA
				  65.615, Exhibit 9.
(i) The written quality control system shall
				  also include provisions for making revisions, enabling the system to be kept
				  current as required.
(ii) A review
				  of the applicant's quality control system will be performed by an inspector.
				  The review will include a demonstration of the implementation of the
				  applicant's quality control system.
(iii) Each applicant to whom a certificate of
				  authorization is issued, shall maintain thereafter a controlled copy of the
				  accepted quality control manual with the inspector. Except for changes which do
				  not affect the quality control program, revisions to the quality control manual
				  shall not be implemented until such revisions are acceptable to the
				  inspector.
(K) It is
				  essential that owner/operator valve repair organizations ensure that personnel
				  making repairs to safety and pressure relief valves are knowledgeable and
				  qualified. The owner/operator shall provide documented training with minimum
				  qualification requirements for the valve repair position. Specific requirements
				  to be included in an individual's training are as follows:
(i) working knowledge of the organization's
				  quality control manual;
(ii)
				  working knowledge of the applicable requirements; and
(iii) working knowledge of the technical
				  aspects and mechanical skills for valves being repaired or tested.
(L) Performance testing of
				  repaired valves.
(i) For shop valves, a test
				  stand shall be used. The test stand shall be of a size and design to ensure
				  clean, consistent, and repetitive pop action and response to blowdown
				  adjustment, if possible. Test gages shall be connected to the test stand in
				  such a manner as to indicate true pressure at the inlet of the valve being
				  tested. Test gages shall be maintained and calibrated, at least every ninety
				  (90) days, to a minimum of one-half of 1.0% accuracy over the upper 80% of full
				  scale range. The use of digital gages is acceptable. All calibrations shall be
				  documented and traceable to national standards.
(ii) Valves marked for liquid service shall
				  be set according to the applicable manufacturer's specification.
(iii) Valves marked for steam service or
				  having special internal parts for steam should be tested with steam. However,
				  valves for steam service may be tested with air or nitrogen for correct opening
				  (popping), pressure setting, and, if possible, blowdown adjustment, provided
				  the differential in popping pressure between steam and air or nitrogen, as
				  specified in the quality control manual, are applied to the popping
				  point.
(iv) Valves which are
				  repaired in place shall be tested to demonstrate set pressure.
(v) For valves which are repaired in place, a
				  device (hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.) may be used to apply an auxiliary lifting
				  load on the spring to a valve for testing purposes and/or making adjustments.
				  Calibrated testing equipment shall be used and detailed testing procedures
				  followed. In such cases, the manufacturer's recommendations shall be used to
				  establish blowdown.
(M)
				  When a safety or pressure relief valve is repaired, a metal repair tag, as
				  described in the quality control manual, shall be attached to the valve. As a
				  minimum, the information on the tag will include the valve identification
				  number, set pressure, date of repair, and certificate of authorization
				  number.