BILL REQ. #:  Z-0467.1 

Read first time 01/20/09.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to making technical changes to boiler and unfired pressure vessel statutes; amending RCW 70.79.060, 70.79.070, 70.79.080, 70.79.090, and 70.79.240; and repealing RCW 70.79.210.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 70.79.060 and 1984 c 93 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no power boiler, low pressure boiler, or unfired pressure vessel which does not conform to the rules and regulations formulated by the board governing new construction and installation shall be installed and operated in this state after twelve months from the date upon which the first rules and regulations under this chapter pertaining to new construction and installation shall have become effective, unless the boiler or unfired pressure vessel is of special design or construction, and is not covered by the rules and regulations, nor is in any way inconsistent with such rules and regulations, in which case ((a special installation and operating permit)) an inspection certificate may at its discretion be granted by the board.
     (2) ((A special permit)) An inspection certificate may also be granted for boilers and pressure vessels manufactured before 1951 which do not comply with the code requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers adopted under this chapter, if the boiler or pressure vessel is operated exclusively for the purposes of public exhibition, and the board finds, upon inspection, that operation of the boiler or pressure vessel for such purposes is not unsafe.

Sec. 2   RCW 70.79.070 and 1995 c 41 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All boilers and unfired pressure vessels which were in use, or installed ready for use in this state prior to the date upon which the first rules and regulations under this chapter pertaining to existing installations became effective, or during the twelve months period immediately thereafter, shall be made to conform to the rules and regulations of the board governing existing installations, and the formulae prescribed therein shall be used in determining the maximum allowable working pressure for such boilers and unfired pressure vessels.
     (2) This chapter shall not be construed as in any way preventing the use or sale of boilers or unfired vessels as referred to in subsection (1) of this section, provided they have been made to conform to the rules and regulations of the board governing existing installations, and provided, further, they have not been found upon inspection to be in an unsafe condition.
     (3) ((A special permit)) An inspection certificate may also be granted for miniature hobby boilers that do not comply with the code requirements of the American society of mechanical engineers adopted under this chapter and do not exceed any of the following limits:
     (a) Sixteen inches inside diameter of the shell;
     (b) Twenty square feet of total heating surface;
     (c) Five cubic feet of gross volume of vessel; and
     (d) One hundred fifty p.s.i.g. maximum allowable working pressure, and if the boiler is to be operated exclusively not for commercial or industrial use and the department of labor and industries finds, upon inspection, that operation of the boiler for such purposes is not unsafe.

Sec. 3   RCW 70.79.080 and 2005 c 22 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     This chapter shall not apply to the following boilers, unfired pressure vessels and domestic hot water tanks:
     (1) Boilers and unfired pressure vessels under federal regulation or operated by any railroad subject to the provisions of the interstate commerce act;
     (2) Unfired pressure vessels meeting the requirements of the interstate commerce commission for shipment of liquids or gases under pressure;
     (3) Air tanks located on vehicles operating under the rules of other state authorities and used for carrying passengers, or freight;
     (4) Air tanks installed on the right-of-way of railroads and used directly in the operation of trains;
     (5) Unfired pressure vessels having a volume of five cubic feet or less when not located in places of public assembly;
     (6) Unfired pressure vessels designed for a pressure not exceeding fifteen pounds per square inch gauge;
     (7) Tanks used in connection with heating water for domestic and/or residential purposes;
     (8) Boilers and unfired pressure vessels in cities having ordinances which are enforced and which have requirements equal to or higher than those provided for under this chapter, covering the installation, operation, maintenance and inspection of boilers and unfired pressure vessels;
     (9) Tanks containing water with no air cushion and no direct source of energy that operate at ((a)) ambient temperature ((of one hundred thirty degrees Fahrenheit or less));
     (10) Electric boilers:
     (a) Having a tank volume of not more than one and one-half cubic feet;
     (b) Having a maximum allowable working pressure of one hundred pounds per square inch or less, with a pressure relief system to prevent excess pressure; and
     (c) If constructed after June 10, 1994, constructed to American society of mechanical engineers code, or approved or otherwise certified by a nationally recognized or recognized foreign testing laboratory or construction code, including but not limited to Underwriters Laboratories, Edison Testing Laboratory, or Instituto Superiore Per La Prevenzione E La Sicurezza Del Lavoro;
     (11) Electrical switchgear and control apparatus that have no external source of energy to maintain pressure and are located in restricted access areas under the control of an electric utility;
     (12) Regardless of location, unfired pressure vessels ((and hot water heaters)) less than one and one-half cubic feet (11.25 gallons) in volume ((with a safety valve setting of one hundred fifty pounds per square inch gauge (psig) or less,)) or less than six inches in diameter ((and less than five cubic feet (37.5 gallons) in volume with a safety valve set at any pressure, or less than fifteen psig containing substances other than steam, lethal substances, or liquids with low flash points)) with no limitation on the length of the vessel or pressure;
     (13) Domestic hot water heaters less than one and one-half cubic feet (11.25 gallons) in volume with a safety valve setting of one hundred fifty pounds per square inch gauge or less.

Sec. 4   RCW 70.79.090 and 2005 c 22 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The following boilers and unfired pressure vessels shall be exempt from the requirements of RCW 70.79.220 and 70.79.240 through 70.79.330:
     (1) Boilers or unfired pressure vessels located on farms and used solely for agricultural purposes;
     (2) Unfired pressure vessels that are part of fertilizer applicator rigs designed and used exclusively for fertilization in the conduct of agricultural operations;
     (3) Steam boilers used exclusively for heating purposes carrying a pressure of not more than fifteen pounds per square inch gauge and which are located in private residences or in apartment houses of less than six families;
     (4) Hot water heating boilers carrying a pressure of not more than thirty pounds per square inch and which are located in private residences or in apartment houses of less than six families;
     (5) Approved pressure vessels (hot water heaters, hot water storage tanks, hot water supply boilers, and hot water heating boilers listed by a nationally recognized testing agency), with approved safety devices including a pressure relief valve, with a nominal water containing capacity of one hundred twenty gallons or less having a heat input of two hundred thousand b.t.u.'s per hour or less, ((used for hot water supply)) at pressure of one hundred sixty pounds per square inch or less, and at temperatures of two hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit or less: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such pressure vessels are not installed in schools, child care centers, public and private hospitals, nursing and boarding homes, churches, public buildings owned or leased and maintained by the state or any political subdivision thereof, and assembly halls;
     (6) Unfired pressure vessels containing only water under pressure for domestic supply purposes, including those containing air, the compression of which serves only as a cushion or airlift pumping systems, when located in private residences or in apartment houses of less than six families, or in public water systems as defined in RCW 70.119.020;
     (7) Unfired pressure vessels containing liquified petroleum gases.

Sec. 5   RCW 70.79.240 and 1993 c 391 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each boiler and unfired pressure vessel used or proposed to be used within this state, except boilers or unfired pressure vessels exempt in RCW 70.79.080 and 70.79.090, shall be thoroughly inspected as to their construction, installation, condition and operation, as follows:
     (1) Power boilers shall be inspected annually both internally and externally while not under pressure, except that the board may provide for longer periods between inspections where the contents, history, or operation of the power boiler or the material of which it is constructed warrant special consideration. Power boilers shall also be inspected annually externally while under pressure if possible;
     (2) Low pressure heating boilers shall be inspected both internally and externally biennially where construction will permit, except that the board may, in its discretion, provide for longer periods between internal inspections;
     (3) Unfired pressure vessels subject to internal corrosion shall be inspected both internally and externally biennially where construction will permit, except that the board may, in its discretion, provide for longer periods between internal inspections;
     (4) Unfired pressure vessels not subject to internal corrosion shall be inspected externally at intervals set by the board, but internal inspections shall not be required of unfired pressure vessels, the contents of which are known to be noncorrosive to the material of which the shell, head, or fittings are constructed, either from the chemical composition of the contents or from evidence that the contents are adequately treated with a corrosion inhibitor, provided that such vessels are constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board or in accordance with standards substantially equivalent to the rules and regulations of the board, in effect at the time of manufacture.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   RCW 70.79.210 (Inspectors -- Performance bond required) and 1951 c 32 s 35 are each repealed.