FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5040

                          C 183 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Modifying standards and requirements for the operation and inspection of boilers and other pressure vessels.

Sponsors:  Senators Fairley and Horn; by request of Department of Labor & Industries.

Senate Committee on Labor & Workforce Development

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Boilers and unfired pressure vessels are widely used in Washington industries such as pulp and paper refineries.  The Board of Boiler Rules is appointed by the Governor to represent specific categories of stakeholders and formulate rules for the safe construction, installation, repair, use, and operation of boilers and unfired pressure vessels.  The board may adopt the rules of AThe Boiler Construction Code of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers@ to make up a part or the whole set of rules.

Current law provides for boiler and unfired pressure vessel inspections either by the Department of Labor and Industries or special inspectors commissioned by the department.

Some boilers and unfired pressure vessels are exempt from all or some of the controlling laws, including some specified small or low pressure tanks, some boilers and unfired pressure vessels controlled by federal interstate commerce regulation, and some specified tanks used in residences.

The current Washington regulation was originally enacted in 1951 and generally has not been updated since 1974.  Changing industry practices and terminology are no longer accurately reflected in statute.

Summary:  The membership of the Board of Boiler Rules is modified.

Rules formulated by the board are to be based upon nationally or internationally accepted engineering standards.  Reference to AThe Boiler Construction Code of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers@ is deleted.

Unfired pressure vessels and hot water heaters that meet specified size and pressure restrictions and do not contain steam, lethal substances, or liquids with low flash points are exempt from regulation.  Special inspectors may inspect boilers in addition to unfired pressure vessels.

Technical changes eliminate references to a form that no longer exists, substitute a specific definition for the term Aambient temperature,@ raise the maximum permitted temperature of one type of exempt vessel from 200 to 210 degrees, and clarify the application of one section to unfired pressure vessels in addition to boilers.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 49 0

House     94 0 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1999