Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Labor & Workplace Standards Committee |
SB 6240
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Regarding miniature hobby boilers.
Sponsors: Senators Sheldon, Angel, Rolfes and Van De Wege.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/15/18
Staff: Sydney Sullivan (786-7290) and Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
Boilers and unfired pressure vessels must be operated under a certificate of inspection issued by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). A certificate of inspection signifies that a boiler is in compliance with all governing American Society of Mechanical Engineers' rules, regulations, and that the required fees have been paid..
Once an initial certificate of inspection is issued for a boiler, an owner or user must continue to have an internal and external inspection of the boiler to maintain his or her inspection certificate. The internal and external inspections must be completed every one to two years, depending on the qualities of the boiler.
If an owner or user of a boiler does not have a certificate of inspection, the certificate is expired, or there has been a change in the boiler's conditions since the certificate was issued, the boiler's owner or user is liable for civil penalties that L&I may impose for each day the boiler's certificate is not current.
A miniature hobby boiler is a boiler that does not comply with all the code requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, but a miniature hobby boiler may still be issued a certificate of inspection if the boiler meets the following restrictions:
the inside diameter of the boiler's shell is not more than sixteen inches;
the total heating surface of the boiler is not more than twenty square feet;
the gross volume of the boiler's vessel is not more than five cubic feet;
the boiler's maximum allowable working pressure is not more than 150 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG);
the boiler is not operated for commercial or industrial use; and
L&I has inspected the operation of the boiler and determined it is not unsafe.
Summary of Bill:
A miniature hobby boiler is not required to have periodic inspections if the boiler was certified by an inspector prior to the effective date of the bill, or the boiler is certified by the Chief Inspector of the Board of Boiler Rules prior to use.
"Miniature hobby boiler" means a boiler that does not comply with the code requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and does not exceed the following limitations:
the inside diameter of the boiler's shell is not more than sixteen inches;
the total heating surface of the boiler is not more than twenty square feet;
the gross volume of boiler's vessel is not more than five cubic feet;
the boiler's maximum allowable working pressure is not more than 150 PSIG; and
the boiler is not operated for commercial or industrial use.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.