Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pressure vessel?
A
pressure vessel is defined as…"a
vessel in which the pressure is obtained
from an indirect source or by the application
of heat from an indirect source or a direct
source. The vessel proper terminates at:
(a) the first circumferential joint for
welded end connections; (b) the face of
the first flange in bolted flange connections;
or (c) the first threaded joint in threaded
connections." Pressure vessels include
but are not limited to compressed gas
storage tanks (i.e., air, oxygen, nitrogen
tanks, etc.), anhydrous ammonia tanks,
hydro pneumatic tanks, autoclaves, hot
water storage tanks, chemical reactors
and refrigerant vessels, designed for
a pressure greater than 15 psi and a volume
greater than 5 cubic feet in volume or
one and one-half cubic feet in volume
with a pressure greater than 600 psi.
North
Carolina pressure vessel law
The
North Carolina General Assembly first
enacted a law instituting regulation of
high-pressure boilers in 1935. Since then,
legislation has been adopted to include
low-pressure boilers and pressure vessels.
In 1975, the General Assembly enacted
the Uniform Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Act, codified as Chapter 95, Article 7A,
of the General Statutes.
What
are the construction and installation
requirements for my pressure vessel?
Hot
water storage tanks installed after 1951
and all other pressure vessels installed
after 1975, must be constructed to the
applicable ASME Code requirements.
How
often do I have to have my rressure vessel
inspected?
Periodic
inspection requirements are in the North
Carolina Administrative Code, Title 13,
Chapter 13, Paragraph .0211. They are:
-
Hydro
pneumatic tanks -
external inspections
every five years.*
-
All
other pressure vessels
- external inspections
every two years.*
-
Internal
inspections are conducted
if considered necessary
by the inspector of
record.
Who
can legally inspect my pressure vessel?
North
Carolina law allows for three types of
pressure vessel inspectors. They are:
-
Boiler
& Pressure Vessel
Inspector - an employee
of the North Carolina
Department of Labor,
Boiler Safety Bureau.
Authorized to inspect
any boiler or pressure
vessel subject to
the Uniform Boiler
& Pressure Vessel
Act.
-
Special
Inspector - an employee
of an insurance company
authorized to underwrite
in this State boiler
and machinery insurance.
Authorized to inspect
only what their company
insures.
-
Owner-User
Inspector - an employee
of a company operating
boilers or pressure
vessels, the company
has an inspection
program that is under
the supervision of
one or more engineers
having qualifications
satisfactory to and
approved by the Commissioner
of Labor.
All
inspectors must:
-
Have
passed an examination
set by the National
Board of Boilers and
Pressure Vessel inspectors
-
Hold
a certificate of competency
issued by the National
Board of Boiler and
Pressure Vessel inspector
-
Hold
a commission issued
by the North Carolina
Department of Labor.
Note: Any person who
knowingly and willfully
misrepresents himself
as an authorized inspector
in North Carolina
is guilty of a Class
2 misdemeanor. (GS
95-69.18)
Why
are pressure vessel inspections necessary?
Pressure
vessels usually fail in a catastrophic
manner, releasing vast stores of energy
and contents. The results are manifold:
-
A
shock wave of the
vessel contents
-
Either
result can have devastating
consequences. Pressure
vessels and storage
tanks can fall into
several different
categories, each with
its own risk. However,
the end result is:
-
Failure
poses safety
risk to
personnel.
-
Failure
may jeopardize
other critical
components.
-
Failure
may result
in the release
of hazardous
or toxic
contents, Environmental
pollution,
or loss
of production,
may occur.
The
potential dangers are major:
For example, an 80-gallon air
tank operating at 200 psi has
the equivalence of 393 grams
of TNT - enough force to destroy
a average business and harm
its employees. Inspections ensure
that such accidents do not happen.
Since inspections are a snapshot
in time and can only determine
how safe the vessel is at the
time of the inspection, owners/operators
must keep their pressure vessels
properly maintained.
What
is an inspection certificate
and why do I need one?
The
inspection certificate is evidence
that the Boiler has been inspected
and is safe to operate under
the pressure and temperatures
noted on the certificate.
North
Carolina law states that no
boiler or pressure vessel may
be operated without a current
inspection certificate, operating
without a current certificate
is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Pressure
vessel owner responsibilities
Under
the state's Boiler Code, the
owner's responsibilities include:
-
Obtaining
periodic
inspections
provided
by commissioned
boiler inspectors
with the
North Carolina
Department
of Labor
or with
a boiler
insurance
company.
Note: Inspectors
are not
responsible
for scheduling
inspections.
Owners must
ensure that
a current
Certificate
of Inspection
is in force.
-
Paying
the required
fees for
the Certificate
of Inspections.
-
Posting
the current
and valid
Certificate
of Inspection
under a
transparent
cover in
the boiler
room. Obtaining
proper repairs
and involving
the commissioned
inspector
in all repairs.
-
Notifying
the Boiler
Safety Bureau
in the event
of an accident.
What
do I do about repairs to my
pressure vessel?
The
boiler and pressure vessels
rules state that a repair company
must be authorized to perform
repairs by the National Board
of Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Inspectors and hold an "R" stamp.
In all cases, the owner and
the repair company must consult
an inspector before the repair
is attempted. The completed
repair is subject to the inspector's
acceptance.
Is
there a fee for the inspection?
The
Boiler Safety Bureau is fee
funded and does not receive
any money from the legislature.
Therefore, the Bureau charges
a fee for its services. The
fee is dependent upon the complexity
of work and the time spent inspecting
the object it ranges between
$30 to $150 per object inspected.
The fees cover the inspection
activity, the maintenance of
a data storage system and the
issuance of the inspection certificate.
What
do I do in the event of an accident?
A
detailed report of the accident
must be submitted to the Boiler
Safety Bureau immediately (phone
and fax number are provided
in this pamphlet). In the event
of personnel injury or any explosion,
neither the vessel, nor any
parts shall be removed or disturbed
before permission has been given
by the Chief Inspector, except
for the purpose of saving human
life and limiting consequential
damage.
How
do I contact the boiler safety
bureau if I have more questions?
Where can I get a copy of the
law and the rules?
The Boiler Safety Bureau is
open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00
p.m. Monday through Friday except
for legal holidays. Copies of
the law and the rules are available
at a moderate fee. The Chief
Inspector and Bureau staff are
eager to help you maintain your
compliance with the law and
to be of service to you. Our
telephone number is (919) 807-2760.
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