2.9.1GR-1 Inspection of Boilers and Pressure VesselsA. All boilers and pressure vessels not exempted by the Act or by rules and regulations promulgated under the Act and which are subject to regular inspections, shall be prepared for such inspections as required in § 2.9.2 of this Part.B. Approved pressure vessels(hot water heaters listed by a nationally recognized testing agency), with approved safety devices including pressure temperature relief valve, with a nominal water containing capacity of one hundred twenty (120) gallons or less having a heat input of less than two hundred thousand (200,000) B.T.U. per hour, used solely for hot water supply at pressure of one hundred sixty (160) pounds per square inch or less, and at temperatures of two hundred ten degrees (210°) Fahrenheit or less, boilers having a heat input of less than 200,000 B.T.U. per hour, steam boilers having a generating capacity of less than 200 lbs. an hour provided; that such pressure vessels and boilers are not installed in places of public assembly such as schools, child care centers, public and private hospitals, nursing and boarding homes, churches, public buildings, or any similar place of public assembly (boilers which are less than 200,000 B.T.U. per hour or steam boilers which generate less than 200 lbs. per hour capacity and are included in these exemption categories will be considered residential type boilers and not subject to ASME-CSD-1 rules; these units must still conform to local code ordinance and manufacturer specifications for proper installation and use.). For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:1. "schools" and such other places of public assembly means every public, private, parochial or charter school recognized by any Rhode Island city or town school committee or by the Rhode Island Department of Education;2. "child care centers" and such other places of public assembly means any Family Child Care Home, Group Family Care Home, Child Day Care Center and Child Day Care Center (School Age) as defined by the State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families regulations for licensure (214-RICR- 40-00-1);3. "public and private hospitals" and such other places of public assembly means an Organized Ambulatory Care Facility-Freestanding, Ambulatory Surgery Center, a Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical Center, Emergency Care Facility, and a Hospital as defined by the State of Rhode Island Department of Health regulations for licensure for healthcare providers (see 216-RICR- 40-10) and R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-1 et seq. and any mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability residential treatment facility licensed or certified by the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health Care, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and any Adult Day Care Center licensed by the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs;4. "nursing homes" and such other places of public assembly means Adult Day Care centers, Assisted Living Residences, Hospice Inpatient Facilities, Nursing Home Facilities and Rehabilitation Hospital Centers as defined by the State of Rhode Island Department of Health regulations for licensure (see 216-RICR- 40-10) and R.I. Gen Laws § 23-17-1 et seq.;5. "boarding homes" means a residential house in which one or more rooms are rented to members of the general public by the week or month and where lodgers receive laundry and cleaning services and at least one meal per day;6. "churches" means a place of worship or location where a group of people or congregation comes to perform acts of religious study, honor or devotion;7. "public buildings" means any building owned, leased or controlled in whole or in part by the State of Rhode Island or any agency or political subdivision thereof;8. "similar place of public assembly" means those places specifically defined herein.2.9.2GR-2 Preparation for InspectionA. The owner or user shall prepare each boiler or pressure vessel for inspection, and shall prepare for and apply a hydrostatic or pressure test, whenever necessary, on the date arranged by the inspector which shall not be less than seven (7) days after the date of notification.1. Boilers - The owner or user shall prepare a boiler for internal inspection in the following manner: a. Water shall be drawn off and the boiler washed thoroughly;b. Manhole and hand-hole plates, washout plugs and inspection plugs in water column connections shall be removed as required by the inspector. The furnace and combustion chambers shall be cooled and thoroughly cleaned;c. All grates of internally fired boilers shall be removed;d. Insulation or brickwork shall be removed as required by the inspector in order to determine the condition of the boiler, headers, furnace, supports or other parts;e. Prior to the inspection, the owner/user shall make any and all preparations with regards to asbestos containing materials which are necessary to provide proper access to equipment and to control exposure to asbestos fibers during the inspection. The required preparatory work shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for Asbestos Control (216-RICR- 50-15-1 );f. The pressure gage shall be removed for testing as required by the inspector;g. Any leakage of steam or hot water into the boiler shall be prevented by disconnecting the pipe or valve at the most convenient point or any appropriate means approved by the inspector;h. Before opening the manhole or hand-hole covers and entering any parts of the steam generating unit connected to a common header with other boilers, the non-return and steam stop valves must be closed, tagged, and padlocked, and drain valves or cocks between the two valves opened. The feed valves must be closed, tagged, and padlocked, and drain valves or cocks located between the two valves opened. After draining the boiler, the blow-off valves shall be closed, tagged and padlocked. Blow-off lines, where practicable, shall be disconnected between pressure parts and valves. All drains and vent lines shall be opened.2. Pressure Vessels - Pressure vessels shall be prepared for inspection to the extent deemed necessary by the inspector and the applicable procedures outlined in § 2.9.2(A)(1) of this Part2.9.3GR-3 Boilers and Pressure Vessels Improperly Prepared for InspectionIf a boiler or pressure vessel has not been properly prepared for an internal inspection, or if the owner or user fails to comply with the requirements for a pressure test as set forth in these rules, the inspector may decline to make the inspection or test and the inspection certificate shall be withheld or right to operate revoked, until the owner or user complies with the requirements.
2.9.4GR-4 Removal of Covering to Permit InspectionIf the boiler or pressure vessel 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 shall be removed to permit reasonable inspection of the seams and other areas necessary to determine the condition and safety of the boiler or pressure vessel, provided such information cannot be determined by other means.
2.9.5GR-5 Lap Seam CrackThe shell or drum of a boiler or pressure vessel, in which a lap seam crack is discovered along a longitudinal riveted joint, shall be immediately discontinued from use. Patching is prohibited. (By lap seam crack is meant a crack found in lap seams, extending parallel to the longitudinal joint and located either between or adjacent to rivet holes.)
2.9.6GR-6 Pressure TestA. A hydrostatic pressure test, when applied to boilers or pressure vessels, shall not exceed 1-1 /2 times the maximum allowable working pressure. The pressure shall be under proper control so that in no case shall the required test pressure be exceeded by more than 2 percent.B. During a hydrostatic test the safety valve or valves shall be removed or each valve disc shall be held to its seat by means of a testing clamp and not by screwing down the compression screw upon the spring. A plug device designed for this purpose may be used.C. It is suggested that the minimum temperature of the water used to apply a hydrostatic test shall be not less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but the maximum temperature during inspection shall not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.D. When a hydrostatic test is applied to determine tightness, the pressure shall be equal to the normal operating pressure but need not exceed the release pressure of the safety valve having the lowest release setting.E. When the contents of the vessel prohibit contamination by any other medium or when a hydrostatic test is not possible, other testing media may be used providing the precautionary requirements of the applicable section of the ASME Code are followed. In such cases, there shall be agreement between the owner and the inspector.2.9.7 GR-7 Automatic Low Water Fuel Cutoff and/or Water Feeding DeviceA. Each automatically fired steam or vapor system boiler shall be equipped with an automatic low water fuel cutoff so located as to automatically cut off the fuel supply when the surface of the water falls to the lowest safe water line. 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 feed-water. The lowest safe water line should not be lower than the lowest visible part of the water glass.B. Such fuel or feed-water control device may be attached direct to a boiler or for low pressure boilers to the tapped openings provided for attaching a water glass direct to a boiler, provided that such connections from the boiler are nonferrous tees or Y's not less than 1/2 in, pipe size between the boiler and the water glass, so that the water glass is attached direct and as close as possible to the boiler; the straightway tapping of the Y or tee to take the water glass fittings, the side outlet of the Y or tee to take the fuel cutoff or water feeding device. The ends of all nipples shall be reamed to full size diameter.C. Designs embodying a float and float bowl shall have a vertical straight away valve drain pipe at the lowest point in the water equalizing pipe connections by which the bowl and the equalizing pipe can be flushed and the device tested.2.9.8GR-8 Pressure Reducing ValvesA. Where pressure reducing valves are used, one or more safety or safety relief valves shall be provided on the low pressure side of the reducing valve when the piping or equipment on the low pressure side does not meet the requirements for the full initial pressure. The safety or safety relief valves shall be located adjoining or as close as possible to the reducing valve. Proper protection shall be provided to prevent injury or damage caused by the escaping fluid from the discharge of safety or safety relief valves if vented to the atmosphere. The combined discharge capacity of the safety or safety relief valves shall be such that the pressure rating of the lower pressure piping or equipment shall not be exceeded in case the reducing valve fails in the open position.B. The use of hand controlled bypasses around reducing valves is permissible. If a bypass is used around the reduction valve, the safety valve required on the low pressure side shall be of sufficient capacity to relieve all the fluid that can pass through the bypass without over-pressuring the low pressure side.C. A pressure gage shall be installed on the low pressure side of a reducing valve.2.9.9GR-9 Boiler Blow-off EquipmentA. The blow-down from a boiler or boilers that enters a sanitary sewer system or blow-down which is considered a hazard to life or property shall pass through some form of blow-off equipment that will reduce pressure and temperature as required hereinafter.B. The temperature of the water leaving the blow-off equipment shall not exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit.C. The pressure of the blow-down leaving any type of blow-off equipment shall not exceed 5 psi.D. All blow-off equipment shall be fitted with openings to facilitate cleaning inspection.E. Blow-off equipment shall conform to the provisions set forth in the recommended rules for National Board Boiler Blow-off Equipment.2.9.10GR-10 Location of Discharge Piping OutletsThe discharge of safety valves, blow-off pipes and other outlets shall be located and supported as to prevent injury to personnel.
2.9.11GR-11 SupportsEach boiler and pressure vessel shall be supported by masonry or structural supports of sufficient strength and rigidity to safely support the boiler or pressure vessel and its contents. There shall be no excessive vibration in either the boiler, pressure vessel or its connecting piping.
2.9.12GR-12 Boiler Door LatchesA. A water-tube boiler shall have the firing doors of the inward opening type, unless such doors are provided with substantial and effective latching or fastening devices or otherwise so constructed as to prevent them, when closed, from being blown open by pressure on the furnace side.B. These latches or fastenings shall be of the positive self locking type. Friction contacts, latches, or bolts actuated by springs shall not be used. The foregoing requirements for latches or fastenings shall not apply to coal openings of downdraft or similar furnaces.C. All other doors, except explosion doors, not used in the firing of the boiler, may be provided with bolts or fastenings in lieu of self locking latching devices.D. Explosion doors, if used and if located in the setting walls within 7 ft. of the firing floor or operating platform, shall be provided with substantial deflectors to divert the blast.2.9.13GR-13 ClearanceWhen boilers are replaced or new boilers are installed in either existing or new buildings, a minimum height of at least 3 ft. shall be provided between the top of the boiler proper and the ceiling and at least 3 ft. between all sides of the boiler and adjacent walls or other structures. Boilers and pressure vessels having manholes shall have 5 ft. clearance from the manhole opening and any wall, ceiling or piping that will prevent a person from entering the boiler or vessel. All boilers and pressure vessels shall be so located that adequate space will be provided for the proper operation of the boilers and pressure vessels and their appurtenances, for the inspection of all surfaces, tubes, water-walls, economizers, piping, valves and other equipment, and for their necessary maintenance and repair and replacement of tubes.
2.9.14GR-14 Ladders and RunwaysWhen necessary for safety, there shall be a steel runway or platform of standard construction installed across the tops of adjacent boilers or pressure vessels or at some other convenient level for the purpose of affording safe access. All walkways shall have at least two means of exit, each to be remotely located from the other.
2.9.15GR-15 Exit from Boiler RoomAll boiler rooms exceeding 500 square feet floor area and containing one or more boilers having a fuel burning capacity of 1,000,000 BTU, or equivalent electrical heat input, shall have at least two means of exit. Each exit shall be remotely located from the other. Each elevation in such boiler room shall have two means of exit, each remotely located from the other.
2.9.16GR-16 Suggestions for OperationsIt is suggested that the Recommended Rules for Care of Power Boilers, Section VII and the Recommended Rules for Care and Operation of Heating Boilers, Section VI of the ASME Code, be used as a guide for proper and safe operating practices
. 2.9.17GR-17 Air and Ventilation Requirements - Combustion Air Supply and Ventilation of Boiler RoomA. A permanent source of outside air shall be provided for each boiler room to permit satisfactory combustion of the fuel as well as proper ventilation of the boiler room under normal operating conditions.1. The total requirements of the burners for all fired pressure vessels in the boiler room must be used to determine the louver sizes whether fired by coal, oil or gas; however, the minimum net free louvered area must not be less than one square foot. The following table or formula shall be used to determine the net louvered area in square feet: INPUT | REQUIRED AIR | MIN. NET LOUVERED |
BTU/HOUR | CU/FT/MIN. | AREA SQ. FT. |
500,000 | 125 | 1.0 |
1,000,000 | 250 | 1.0 |
2,000,000 | 500 | 1.6 |
3,000,000 | 750 | 2.5 |
4,000,000 | 1,000 | 3.3 |
5,000,000 | 1,250 | 4.1 |
6,000,000 | 1,500 | 5.0 |
7,000,000 | 1,750 | 5.8 |
8,000,000 | 2,000 | 6.6 |
9,000,000 | 2,250 | 7.5 |
10,000,000 | 2,500 | 8.3 |
(BTU/10,000) X 2.5 = CFM 500CFM | per sq. ft. of net req. area |
2. When mechanical ventilation is used in lieu of § 2.9.17(A)(1) of this Part the supply of combustion and ventilation air to the boiler room and the firing device will not operate with the fan off. The velocity of the air through the ventilating fan shall not exceed 500 feet per minute and the total air delivered shall be equal to or greater than shown in § 2.9.17(A)(1) of this Part above.2.9.18GR-18 Gas BurnersFor installations which are gas fired, the burners used shall conform to the applicable requirements of the American Gas Association or other nationally recognized standards.
2.9.19GR-19 Conditions Not Covered by These Rules and RegulationsFor any conditions not covered by these requirements, the applicable provisions of the 2017 ASME Code or the 2017 NATIONAL BOARD INSPECTION CODE shall apply.
260 R.I. Code R. 260-RICR-30-10-2.9
Amended effective 4/28/2019