260 R.I. Code R. 260-RICR-30-10-2.4

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 260-RICR-30-10-2.4 - DEFINITIONS

A. "Act" means the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act which was enacted as R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-25.

B. "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Division of Occupational Safety is appointed by the Director of Labor and is responsible for implementation and enforcement of all provisions under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-20.

C. "Alteration" means a change in any item described on the original Manufacturer's Data Report which affects the pressure capability of the boiler or pressure vessel. Non-physical changes such as an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external) or design temperature of a boiler or pressure vessel shall be considered an alteration. A reduction in minimum temperature such that additional mechanical tests are required shall also be considered an alteration.

D. "API-ASME code" means the American Petroleum Institute (API) in conjunction with the ASME Code as used in these rules and regulations shall mean the Code for unfired pressure vessels for petroleum liquids and gases.

E. "Approved" means approved by the Code Commission for Occupational Safety and Health.

F. "ASME" means the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 345 E. 47th Street, New York, New York 10017.

G. "Authorized inspection agency" means any of the following:

1. a department or division established by a jurisdiction which has adopted and does administer one or more sections of the ASME Code, one of which shall be Section I as a legal requirement, and whose inspectors hold valid commissions issued by The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors;

2. an insurance company which has been licensed or registered by the appropriate authority of a State of the United States or a Province of Canada to write and does write boiler and pressure vessel insurance and to provide inspection service of boilers and pressure vessels in such State or Province.

H. "Boiler" means a closed vessel in which water or other liquid is heated, steam or vapor is generated, steam or vapor is superheated, or any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum, for use external to itself, by the direct application of energy from combustion of fuels, electricity or solar energy. The term boiler includes fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water where these units are separate from processing systems and complete within themselves. The term boiler also shall include the apparatus used by which heat is generated and all controls and safety devices associated with such apparatus or the closed vessels.

1. "Power boiler" means a boiler in which steam or other vapor is generated at a pressure of more than 15 psi.

2. "High pressure boiler" or "High-temperature boiler" means a boiler in which water, oil, or other fluid is heated and intended for operation at pressures in excess of 160 psi and/or temperatures in excess of 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. "Heating boiler" means a steam or vapor boiler operating at a pressure not exceeding 15 psi steam pressure or a hot water boiler in which water or other fluid is heated and intended for operation at pressures not exceeding 160 psi or temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. "Electric boiler" means a power boiler or heating boiler in which the source of heat is electricity.

5. "Miniature boiler" means a power boiler or high-temperature water boiler which does not exceed the following limits:

a. 16" inside diameter of shell;

b. 20 sq. ft. heating surface (not applicable to electric boilers);

c. 5 cu. ft. gross volume exclusive of casing and insulation.

d. 100 psi maximum allowable working pressure.

6. "Unfired power boiler" means an unfired steam or other vapor generating system using heat from the operation of a processing system or other indirect heat source.

7. "Hot water supply boiler" means a boiler completely filled with water used for storage and/or supply of hot water to be used externally to itself at pressures not exceeding 160 psi or at temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit at or near the boiler outlet.

8. "Portable boiler" means a boiler which is primarily intended for temporary location and the construction and usage permits it to be readily moved from one location to another.

I. "Certificate of competency" means a certificate issued to a person who has passed the examination prescribed by the Administrator - See R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-4.

J. "Certificate of inspection" means a certificate issued by the Administrator for the operation of a boiler, pressure vessel or nuclear system as required by the Act.

K. "Certificate inspection" means an inspection, the report of which is used by the Administrator as justification for issuing, withholding or revoking the inspection certificate. This certificate inspection shall be an internal inspection when required; otherwise, it shall be as complete an inspection as possible.

L. "Internal inspection" means as complete an examination as can reasonably be made of the internal and external surfaces of a boiler or pressure vessel while it is shut down and manhole plates, handhole plates or other inspection opening closures are removed as required by the inspector.

M. "External inspection" means an inspection made when a boiler or pressure vessel is in operation, if possible.

N. "Chief inspector" means the Chief Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector in the Division of Occupational Safety is appointed by the Director of Labor and is charged to administer and implement the provisions of this Chapter. The Chief Inspector is responsible to the Administrator of Occupational Safety as outlined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-3.

O. "Commission-National Board" means the commission issued by The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to a holder of a certificate of competency who desires to make shop inspections or field inspections in accordance with the National Board Bylaws and whose employer submits the inspector's application to the National Board for such commission.

P. "Code commission" means the State of Rhode Island Code Commission on Occupational Safety and Health.

Q. "Condemned boiler" and "Condemned pressure vessel" means a boiler or pressure vessel that has been inspected and declared unsafe, or disqualified by legal requirements, by an inspector and a stamping or marking designating its condemnation has been applied by the Chief or Authorized Inspector.

R. "Director" means the Director of Labor or his duly authorized representative.

S. "Division" means the Division of Occupational Safety within the State Department of Labor.

T. "Existing installation" means any boiler or pressure vessel constructed, installed, placed in operation, or contracted for before July 1, 1985.

U. "Inspector" means the Chief Inspector, or any Authorized Inspector, or Owner-User Inspector.

1. "Chief inspector" means the Chief Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector appointed under the Act.

2. "Authorized inspector" means an Inspector employed by the State of Rhode Island or an Authorized Insurance Company holding a Rhode Island Certificate of Competency, and who is regularly employed by the State or an Insurance Company authorized to insure against loss from explosion of boilers or pressure vessels in this State.

3. "Owner-user inspector" means an Inspector who holds a valid National Board Owner-User Commission who has passed the examination prescribed by the Administrator and who is continuously employed as an inspector by an owner-user inspection agency.

V. "Jurisdiction" means a State, commonwealth, county or municipality of the United States or a Province of Canada which has adopted one or more sections of the ASME Code, one of which is Section I, and maintains a duly constituted department, bureau or division for the purpose of enforcement of such Code.

W. "Lined potable water heater" means a water heater with a corrosion resistant lining used to supply potable hot water.

X. "National Board" means the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, (NB) 1055 Crupper Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229, whose membership is composed of the Chief Inspectors of jurisdictions who are charged with the enforcement of the provisions of the ASME Code.

Y. "National Board inspection code" means the manual for boiler and pressure vessel inspectors published by the National Board from which copies may be obtained.

Z. "New boiler" or "New pressure vessel installation" means all boilers and pressure vessels constructed, installed, placed in operation or contracted for after July, 1986.

AA. "Nonstandard boiler or pressure vessel" means a boiler or pressure vessel that does not bear the ASME stamp, the API-ASME stamp, or the stamp of any jurisdiction which has adopted a standard of construction equivalent to that required by the Department.

BB. "Owner" or "User" means any person, firm or corporation legally responsible for the safe installation, operation and maintenance of any boiler or pressure vessel within the jurisdiction.

CC. "Owner-user inspection agency" means an owner or user of pressure vessels who maintains a regularly established inspection department, whose organization and inspection procedures meet the requirements of the National Board rules and are acceptable to the Division.

DD. "Pressure vessel" means a vessel in which the pressure is obtained from an external source, or by the application of heat from an indirect source, or from a direct source other than those boilers defined in § 2.4(H) of this Part.

EE. "PSI" means pounds per square inch gauge.

FF. "Reinstalled boiler" or "Reinstalled pressure vessel" means a boiler or pressure vessel removed from its original setting and reinstalled at the same location or at a new location without change or ownership.

GG. "Relief valve" means a pressure relief valve actuated by inlet static pressure having a gradual lift generally proportional to the increase in pressure over opening pressure. It may be provided with an enclosed spring housing suitable for closed discharge system application and is primarily used for liquid service.

HH. "Repair" means the work necessary to restore a boiler or pressure vessel to a safe and satisfactory condition, provided there is no deviation from the original design.

II. "Repair of pressure relief valve" means the replacement, re-machining or cleaning of any critical part, lapping of seat and disk or any other operation which may affect the flow passage, capacity function or pressure retaining ability of the valve. Disassembly, reassembly and/or adjustments which affect the pressure relief valve function are also considered a repair.

JJ. "Safety relief valve" means a pressure relief valve characterized by rapid opening or pop action, or by opening in proportion to the increase in pressure over opening pressure, depending on application.

KK. "Safety valve" means a pressure relief valve actuated by inlet static pressure and characterized by rapid opening or pop action.

LL. "Second-hand boiler" or "Second-hand pressure vessel" means a boiler or pressure vessel which has changed both location and ownership since primary use.

MM. "Standard boiler" or "Standard pressure vessel" means a boiler or pressure vessel which bears the stamp of this State, the ASME stamp, the API-ASME stamp, both the ASME and National Board stamp, or the stamp of another jurisdiction which has adopted a standard of construction equivalent to that required by the Board.

NN. "Water heater" means a closed vessel used exclusively to supply potable water which is heated by the combustion of fuels, electricity or any other source and withdrawn for use external to the system at pressures not exceeding 160 psi and shall include all controls and devices necessary to prevent water temperatures from exceeding 210 degrees Fahrenheit as well as storage vessel connected to the water.

260 R.I. Code R. 260-RICR-30-10-2.4

Amended effective 4/28/2019