Washington Administrative Code

When amendments are adopted to the SEPA guidelines the department shall adopt all amendments to this chapter within one hundred twenty days to bring this chapter into conformance with the SEPA guidelines as amended.[Order 76-16, § 296-07-100, filed 5/20/76.]

In promulgating rules in compliance with the SEPA guidelines and any environmental, social, health, safety, or other standards connected therewith, the department shall, pursuant to chapter 117, Laws of 1975-'76 2nd ex. sess., give appropriate consideration to economic values alo…

The following rules and regulations apply to all boilers and unfired pressure vessels except those exempt under RCW 70.79.080. Boilers and unfired pressure vessels listed under RCW 70.79.090 are exempt from inspection and fees, but shall comply with all rules for construction, in…

"Accident" shall mean a failure of the boiler or unfired pressure vessel resulting in personal injury or property loss or an event which renders a boiler or unfired pressure vessel unsafe to return to operation."Agriculture purposes" shall mean any act performed on a farm in prod…

The board of boiler rules shall hold its regular meetings quarterly. The time, place, and date of each regular meeting shall be set by the department, approved by the board chair and published annually. Special meetings may be called by the chair.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.…

Should any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, provision or exemption of these rules be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portion or provisions.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030 and 70.79.040. WSR 98-2…

(1) Any person desiring clarification or interpretation and/or application of the rules in this chapter shall submit a request in writing to the chief inspector upon the "chief inspector clarification and interpretation request form." The chief inspector shall issue a written dec…

Stakeholders may request a Washington state special or an extension of inspection frequencies for boilers and pressure vessels by submitting a written request to the board of boiler rules. The request shall be in writing upon the appropriate form furnished by the chief inspector …

(1) "Boiler/pressure vessel, water heater installation or reinstallation permit" shall mean a permit approved by the chief inspector and submitted by the installer prior to starting installation or reinstallation of any boiler/pressure vessel or water heater within the jurisdicti…

Manufacturers' data report for new "standard boilers and unfired pressure vessels" shall be registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030, 70.79.040, 70.79.150, 70.79.290, 70.79.330, 70.79.350, and chapter 70.79 RC…

When an accident occurs which renders a boiler or unfired pressure vessel inoperative, the owner or user shall notify the chief inspector, and submit a detailed report of the accident. In cases of accidents, such as explosions or those resulting in personal injury, notice to the …

In the event that a boiler or unfired pressure vessel is unsafe to operate, the inspection certificate shall be suspended. Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation causing such objects to be operated under pressure without a valid certificate of inspection shall be in violat…

Inspectors commissioned by the state of Washington shall not engage in the sale of any service, article, or device or promote any other activity for personal gain relating to boilers or unfired pressure vessels or their appurtenances.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030 and 70.79.…

In-service reports of inspections of boilers and unfired pressure vessels shall be submitted within thirty days of inspection. Inspectors shall submit reports of inspections directly into the state's electronic inspection report system.If an authorized in-service inspection agenc…

All insurance companies shall notify the chief inspector within thirty days of all boiler and/or unfired pressure vessel risks written, canceled, not renewed or suspended. Special inspectors shall perform all in-service inspections of boilers and unfired pressure vessels insured …

Application for examination for a Washington state certificate of competency shall be in writing upon a form to be furnished by the chief inspector stating the school and education of the applicant, a list of employers, period of employment and position held with each employer. A…

The chief inspector shall issue a commission as a deputy or special inspector in accordance with RCW 70.79.120 and 70.79.130.The deputy inspector commission shall be held by the chief inspector. The deputy inspector commission shall be valid for one year and may be renewed annual…

A commission as a deputy inspector of boilers and/or unfired pressure vessels may be issued by the chief inspector to an inspector complying with WAC 296-104-065 (1) or (4). Upon the request of a boiler insurance company authorized to insure and insuring against loss from explosi…

In accordance with RCW 70.79.080, 70.79.090, and 70.79.240 the following inspection requirements shall apply:(1) Power boilers shall be inspected:(a) Externally while under pressure - Annually.(b) Internally and externally while not under pressure - Annually, except as noted in (…

Where a conflict exists between the requirements of the standards listed below and this chapter, this chapter shall prevail. The duties of the in-service inspector do not include the installation's compliance with other standards and requirements (environmental, construction, ele…

Seven days will be considered sufficient notification. The owner or user shall prepare each boiler and unfired pressure vessel for internal inspection and shall prepare for and apply a hydrostatic pressure test whenever necessary on the date specified by the inspector.[Statutory …

Upon inspection of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel or appurtenances, if an inspector finds hazardous conditions such that it is unsafe to operate under pressure, remedial action shall be initiated at once. A red tag indicating "unsafe - do not use" shall be attached to the pr…

If upon an external inspection there is evidence of a leak or crack, enough of the covering of the boiler or unfired pressure vessel shall be removed to satisfy the inspector in order to determine the safety of the boiler or unfired pressure vessel. If the covering cannot be remo…

Before a certificate of inspection as defined in RCW 70.79.290 is issued, a boiler or unfired pressure vessel must be inspected by an inspector and have all necessary permits. In addition, the owner or user shall pay the fees scheduled in WAC 296-104-700 directly to the chief ins…

An inspection certificate, issued in accordance with RCW 70.79.290, shall be valid until expiration unless some defect or condition affecting the safety of the boiler or unfired pressure vessel is disclosed or the conditions of RCW 70.79.300 apply.When an agreement exists between…

When the stamping on a boiler or unfired pressure vessel becomes indistinct the inspector shall instruct the owner or user to have it restamped. Request for permission to restamp the boiler or unfired pressure vessel shall be made to the chief inspector and proof of the original …

Upon completion of the installation, all boilers and unfired pressure vessels shall be inspected by an inspector as defined in WAC 296-104-100. At the time of this inspection, each boiler or unfired pressure vessel shall be marked with a serial number of the state of Washington f…

A group of unfired pressure vessels operating as a single unit such as the vessels in a refrigeration system, evaporators, ironers and paper machines shall have an individual state serial number marked on each boiler or unfired pressure vessel. The marking should be conspicuously…

Unfired steam boilers as defined in WAC 296-104-010 operating at pressures of 50 psi or more shall be inspected as power boilers. Unfired steam boilers operating at less than 50 psi shall be inspected as unfired pressure vessels.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030, 70.79.040, 70.…

Every rental boiler used in the state of Washington will have an internal inspection as defined in WAC 296-104-010 witnessed by an inspector once a year. An external inspection as defined in WAC 296-104-010 shall be witnessed by an inspector at each and every rental location befo…

The owner or user has the responsibility to prepare a pressure-retaining item for internal inspection. Requirements of occupational safety and health regulations (federal, state, local, or other), as well as the owner or user's own safety program and the safety program of the ins…

If a boiler or unfired pressure vessel has not been properly prepared for an internal inspection, or the owner or user fails to comply with the requirements for hydrostatic test as set forth in these rules, the inspector may decline to make the inspection or test and the certific…

If the boiler or unfired pressure vessel is jacketed such that the longitudinal seams of shells, drums, or domes cannot be seen, or if pertinent information cannot be determined by other means, the following may be ordered by the inspector: Enough of the jacketing, setting wall, …

Shop inspections shall be as required in the standards of construction as adopted in WAC 296-104-200. Only inspectors and supervisors of inspectors holding a national board commission with the appropriate endorsements shall make shop inspections in this state. Upon request from a…

An alternative means of inspection is allowed when a pressure vessel has radioactive contamination that would not allow entering for visual inspection. The inspector and owner shall work out a program of nondestructive examination that shall ascertain the condition of the vessel …

The standards for new construction are:(1) ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, current edition, Sections I, III, IV, VIII, Division 1, 2, 3, X, XII, XIII;(2) ASME PVHO-1 Safety Standard for Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy, current edition; and(3) Standards of construction …

Nonstandard boilers and unfired pressure vessels that are not to be constructed to the codes adopted in WAC 296-104-200 may be treated as special designs at the discretion of the board. Nonstandard construction shall not be permitted to avoid standard construction.[Statutory Auth…

Boilers and unfired pressure vessels of special design require a special certificate granted by the board of boiler rules. At a minimum the following information shall be supplied to obtain board approval for special designs: Construction drawings, design calculations, material s…

Nonstandard boilers and unfired pressure vessels, other than historical boilers and pressure vessels may be used provided they have not been moved from their original setting since January 1, 1952.[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.79 RCW. WSR 13-10-018, § 296-104-215, filed 4/23/1…

Nonstandard second hand boilers and unfired pressure vessels constructed after January 1, 1952, cannot be used in this state without prior approval of the board of boiler rules. At a minimum the following information shall be supplied to obtain board approvals: Construction drawi…

Historical boilers and pressure vessels not previously registered may be used in this state provided they meet all the requirements for historical boilers in the National Board Inspection Code and have prior approval of the board of boiler rules.Historical boilers and pressure ve…

Steam or hot water combustible fluid heaters shall be so designed and constructed that in the event of failure of any part, the combustible fluid cannot enter the boiler water.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030 and 70.79.040. WSR 96-21-081, § 296-104-245, filed 10/16/96, effecti…

Where a conflict exists between the requirements of the standards listed below and this chapter, this chapter shall prevail. The duties of the in-service inspector do not include the installation's compliance with other standards and requirements (environmental, construction, ele…

When boilers are replaced or new boilers installed in either existing or new buildings, a minimum top clearance as specified below shall be provided between the top of boiler proper and ceiling. Sufficient access must be provided for inspection, maintenance, operations, and repai…

When unfired pressure vessels are replaced or new vessels are installed in either existing or new buildings, clearances shall be provided to allow access for safe operation, inspection, maintenance, and/or repair. Passageways around all sides of pressure vessels shall have an uno…

Unfired pressure vessels installed underground shall comply with the following requirements:(1) A pit with concrete or masonry sides and floor shall enclose the underground portion of the unfired pressure vessel.(2) Pit covers shall be removable.(3) Clearances shall be as require…

Variances from WAC 296-104-255, 296-104-260, and 296-104-265 may be requested. The variance request shall be in writing on an appropriate form approved by the chief inspector, and shall specify how equivalent safety is to be maintained. The chief inspector may grant the variance …

When a stationary standard boiler or unfired pressure vessel is moved and reinstalled it must be inspected and documented on the inspection report by an inspector. The following will be required:(1) An installation permit must be submitted in accordance with WAC 296-104-020.(2) T…

Provide substantial deflectors to divert the blast when explosion doors are located within seven feet of the firing floor or an operating platform.[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.79.030, 70.79.040, 70.79.150, 70.79.290, 70.79.330, 70.79.350, and chapter 70.79 RCW. WSR 02-23-036, rec…

All automatically fired steam, vapor, or hot water boilers except boilers having a constant attendant who has no other duties while the boiler is in operation, shall be equipped with:(1) An automatic low-water fuel cutoff; and(2) An automatic water feeding device. (3) All devices…