SENATE BILL REPORT
ESB 5780
AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 12, 1993
Brief Description: Authorizing the board of boiler rules to prescribe extended inspection schedules for power boilers.
SPONSORS: Senators Sutherland, Hochstatter, Snyder, Sellar, Amondson, Vognild and Bauer
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Jesernig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Roach, A. Smith, Vognild, West, and Williams.
Staff: Erika Lim (786‑7488)
Hearing Dates: February 25, 1993
BACKGROUND:
Power boilers must be inspected annually by the state. It has been suggested that more time between inspections would not compromise safety.
SUMMARY:
Power boilers are inspected annually except that the Board of Boiler Rules has the discretion to provide for longer periods between inspections. The board may consider the contents, history, or operation of the boiler in determining the interval between inspections. The inspection procedures are not changed.
No more than two months longer than the period between inspections prescribed by the board may pass between internal and external inspections of a boiler while not under pressure.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: requested February 22, 1993
TESTIMONY FOR:
Having to shut down boilers annually for inspection causes unnecessary disruption of service and incurs unnecessary costs because safety is not compromised by longer intervals between inspections.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Ron Newbry, Pacificorp; Jerry Bridgewater, Pacificorp; Collins Sprague, Washington Water Power; Joe Brewer, Department of Labor and Industries