16 TAC §§65.20, 65.60, 65.65, 65.80, 65.100
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation adopts amendments
to §§65.20, 65.60, 65.65, 65.80, and 65.100, concerning the certification
of boilers. These sections are adopted without changes to the proposed text
as published in the December 5, 1997 issue of the
Texas Register
(22 TexReg 11907) and will not be republished.
The amendments to §65.20 clarify the intent of subsection (a) by defining
the responsibility of inspection by insurance inspection agencies and the
state.
The amendments to §65.60 provide a mandatory indoctrination for inservice
boiler inspectors prior to issuance of a commission.
The amendment to §65.65 revises the previous division name to correspond
with the existing division name.
The amendments to §65.80 provide for a change in power boiler inspection
fees due to a change in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section I regarding a change from the usage
of boiler heating surface to capacity in establishing the system design of
a boiler.
The amendments in §65.100 provide for the use of remote water level
indicators in lieu of a direct reading water gage glass on certain unfired
steam boilers as shown in Exhibit 5A of the boiler rules, 16 Tex. Admin. Code
§65 (1996).
The amendments will function by increasing program integrity. One comment
was received which suggested rewording the amendment to §65.100(c)(4)
for clarification; however, the department considers that the intent is clear
with the current wording.
The amendments are adopted under the Texas Health and Safety
Code Annotated §755 (Vernon 1997), which provides the Texas Department
of Licensing and Regulation the authority to promulgate and enforce a code
of rules in keeping with standard usage for the construction, inspection,
installation, use, maintenance, repair, alteration, and operation of boilers.
The Code affected by the amendments is Texas Health & Safety Code Annotated
§755 (Vernon 1997) .
§65.20.Licensing/certification/registration requirements.
(a)
Inspection of all boilers.
(1)
All boilers not exempted by the Texas Health and Safety
Code, Annotated §755.022 shall be inspected in accordance with the Texas
Health and Safety Code, Annotated §755.025 and/or §755.026, or with
requirements specified under the applicable rules.
(2)
Boilers shall be inspected by the inspection agency
where the boiler is insured. All uninsured boilers shall be inspected by the
chief inspector or deputy inspector.
(b)-(i)
(No change.)
§65.60.Responsibilities of the department.
(a)
(No change.)
(b)
Commissions.
(1)
(No change.)
(2)
Authorized inspector.
(A)-(E)
(No change.)
(F)
When a request is for new issuance or reinstatement as
described in §65.20(g)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of this title (relating to licensing/certification/registration
requirements), the inspector will attend a mandatory indoctrination period
of one and one-half days prior to issuance of the commission.
(c)-(g)
(No change.)
§65.65. Boiler Board.
(a)
(No change.)
(b)
Recommendations of the board will be transmitted to the
commissioner by the chairman of the board through the director of code review
and inspections.
(c)-(d)
(No change.)
§65.80. Fees.
(a)
Certificate/inspection fees.
(1)
(No change.)
(2)
Inspection by deputy inspector. The owner or operator
shall make payment of the appropriate fee as shown below.
(A)
The inspection fees for all boilers other than heating
boilers shall be $110.
(B)
(No change.)
(3)
(No change.)
(b)-(f)
(No change.)
§65.100. Technical requirements.
(a)-(b)
(No change.)
(c)
Low-water fuel cutoffs and water feeding devices.
(1)-(3)
(No change.)
(4)
All newly installed automatically fired hot water
heating boilers, when installed in a forced circulation system and not under
continuous attendance, shall be equipped in the manner described in this subsection.
A coil-type boiler or a water-tube boiler requiring forced circulation to
prevent overheating of the coils or tubes shall have a device which is listed
by a nationally recognized testing agency to prevent burner operation at a
flow rate inadequate to protect the boiler unit against overheating.
(5)-(6)
(No change.)
(d)
(No change.)
(e)
Unfired steam boilers.
(1)-(2)
(No change.)
(3)
Requirements for water level indicators for unfired
steam boilers as shown in Exhibit 5A are given in §65.100(h)(3)(D).
(f)-(g)
(No change.)
(h)
Power boilers.
(1)-(2)
(No change.)
(3)
Water level indicators.
(A)-(C)
(No change.)
(D)
Each steam drum of an unfired steam boiler, irrespective
of pressure and temperature, as shown in Exhibit 5A shall be provided with
one direct reading water level indicator (water gage glass) or two independent
remote level indicators that are maintained in simultaneous operation while
the boiler is in service.
(E)
In all installations where direct visual observations
of the water gage glass(es) cannot be made, two remote level indicators shall
be provided at operational level.
(F)
The gage cock connections shall not be less than 1/2 inch
pipe size.
(G)
No outlet connections, except for damper regulator, feedwater
regulator, drains, steam gages, or apparatus of such form as does not permit
the escape of an appreciable amount of steam or water therefrom, shall be
placed on the pipes connecting a water column or gage glass to a boiler.
(H)
The water column shall be fitted with a drain cock or
drain valve of at least 3/4 inch pipe size. The water column blowdown pipe
shall not be less than 3/4 inch pipe size and shall be piped to a safe point
of discharge.
(I)
Connections from the boiler to remote level indicators
shall be at least 3/4 inch pipe size to, and including the isolation valve
and at least 1/2 inch OD tubing from the isolation valve to the remote level
indicator. These connections shall be completely independent of other connections
for any function other than water level indication.
(4)-(6)
(No change.)
(i)-(l)
(No change.)
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February
3, 1998.
TRD-9801503
Tommy Smith
Executive Director
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Effective date: March 1, 1998
Proposal publication date: December 5, 1997
For further information, please call: (512) 463-7348