NAC455C.156. Frequency and scope of inspections; authority to require preparation for inspection; authorization to change interval between inspections.

     1. A power boiler or a high-pressure, high-temperature water boiler must be inspected upon installation and must have an internal inspection, if the construction and design of the boiler so allows, at least once each year thereafter, and an external inspection approximately 6 months after the date of the internal inspection. If an internal inspection is not possible, such a boiler must have an external inspection at least once every 6 months.

     2. A low-pressure steam heating boiler must be inspected upon installation and at least once each year thereafter. The inspection must be:

     (a) An internal inspection, if the construction and design of the boiler so allows and the inspector or special inspector so requests; or

     (b) An external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices.

     3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, a low-pressure hot water heating boiler and a hot water supply boiler must be inspected upon installation and at least once every 2 years thereafter. The inspection must be:

     (a) An internal inspection, if the construction and design of the boiler so allows and the inspector or special inspector so requests; or

     (b) An external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices.

     4. A lined potable water heater must have an external inspection at least once every 2 years. The external inspection must include operational testing of all controls and safety devices if the installation and construction of the lined potable water heater so allows.

     5. Any other fired pressure vessel for which a frequency of inspection is not specified in subsections 1 to 4, inclusive, must be inspected upon installation and at least once each year thereafter. The inspection must be:

     (a) An internal inspection, if the construction and design of the pressure vessel so allows;

     (b) An external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices, if the installation and construction of the pressure vessel so allows; or

     (c) An external inspection that includes operational testing of each control and safety device that it is possible to test given the installation and construction of the pressure vessel.

     6. An unfired pressure vessel must be inspected upon installation and at least once every 4 years thereafter. The inspection must be:

     (a) An internal inspection, if the construction and design of the pressure vessel so allows; or

     (b) An external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices.

     7. A refrigeration pressure vessel must be inspected upon installation and at least once every 4 years thereafter. The inspection must be:

     (a) An internal inspection, if the construction and design of the pressure vessel so allows; or

     (b) An external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices.

     8. A boiler or pressure vessel installed or used in a single-family residence must be inspected by an inspector upon installation. The inspection must include a preliminary and a final inspection and must be an internal inspection, if the construction and design of the boiler or pressure vessel so allows, or an external inspection that includes operational testing of all controls and safety devices. If the owner of the boiler or pressure vessel wishes to have an inspector perform any subsequent inspections of the boiler or pressure vessel, he or she must submit a written request for such an inspection to the Enforcement Section.

     9. An inspector or special inspector may require any boiler or pressure vessel to be prepared for inspection in the manner set forth in NAC 455C.158 if, in his or her opinion, an inspection is necessary to determine whether the boiler or pressure vessel is operating in a safe manner.

     10. An inspection organization that has been authorized by the Enforcement Section to inspect its boilers and pressure vessels may request approval from the Enforcement Section to inspect its boilers and pressure vessels at a different interval.

     11. Upon application from a petroleum company, chemical plant, public utility or other employer considered by the Enforcement Section as having a program acceptable to the Enforcement Section for preventive maintenance and examination, an operating permit that allows an extension of time between required internal inspections may be granted if the power boiler is inspected by external inspections at intervals of approximately 6 months. The application for the operating permit that allows an extension of time must be submitted in writing at least 45 days before the required internal inspection. The application must include the history of the power boiler or, if the power boiler is newly installed, of a similar boiler, substantiating that there is no significant deterioration from scaling, corrosion, erosion or overheating. Points of reference established by the owner of the power boiler or an authorized inspection entity at the time of the first inspection must be used to determine the thickness of the walls of the power boiler. If the application is approved after the internal inspection of each power boiler, a record showing the total corrosion and any other conditions that need correction must be submitted to the Enforcement Section.

     12. An operating permit issued pursuant to subsection 11 expires 1 year after the date of an internal inspection. Before the expiration of the permit, the boiler must be inspected by an external inspection conducted by an inspector or special inspector who will review the operation logs and records of water treatment. If the owner of the power boiler or his or her agent applies for an extension of an operating permit issued pursuant to subsection 11, the inspector or special inspector shall submit a report of inspection and recommendations to the Enforcement Section. If the Enforcement Section approves the application, it may extend the operating permit for a period not to exceed 6 months. Before the expiration date of the extension, the owner or his or her agent must apply again for an extension and the boiler must again be inspected by an external inspection conducted by an inspector or special inspector. A second extension may be issued for an additional period of 6 months after which the boiler must be inspected by an internal inspection.

     (Added to NAC by Div. of Industrial Relations by R101-02, eff. 12-15-2004)