2014 Delaware Code
Title 7 - Conservation
CHAPTER 74B. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE BOILER SAFETY PROGRAM
§ 7402B. Definitions

(a) "Boiler" shall mean a closed vessel in which water is heated, steam is generated, steam is superheated, or any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum for use externally to itself by the direct application of heat from the combustion of fuels, or from electricity or nuclear energy. The term "boiler" shall include fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water, where these units are separate from processing systems, and are complete within themselves.

(1) "Heating boiler" shall mean a steam boiler operating at pressures not exceeding 15 psi, or a hot water boiler operating at pressures not exceeding 160 psi and/or temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit which is supplied to an external heating system.

(2) "High temperature water boiler" shall mean a water boiler operating at a pressure exceeding 160 psi and/or temperatures in excess of 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

(3) "Hot water supply boiler" shall mean a vessel used to heat water for purposes other than space heating, where the water is used external to itself, at pressures not exceeding 160 psi, and/or temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit at or near the boiler outlet. American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Stamping would be "ASME Section IV, H."

(4) "Jacketed cooking kettle" shall mean a gas or electrically fired jacketed cooking kettle built and stamped "ASME Section VIII, Division 1." ASME stamping would be "U."

(5) "Pool heater" shall mean an appliance designed for heating nonpotable water stored at atmospheric pressure such as water in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and similar applications.

(6) "Power boiler" shall mean a vessel in which steam or other vapor is generated at a pressure of more than 15 PSIG.

(7) "Thermal fluid heater" shall mean a boiler used to heat an organic fluid for heating and or processing that does not vaporize in the process. Object is considered a boiler in the State of Delaware and is required to be built to Section I of the ASME Construction Codes and registered with the National Board. Overpressure protection will be in accordance with ASME Section I Part PVG.

(8) "Water heater" shall mean a closed vessel in which water is heated by gas, oil, electric, or some other fuel supply, and the water is used externally to itself for potable water supply, or used for potable water and space heating, operating at pressures not exceeding 160 psi and water temperatures not in excess of 210 degrees Fahrenheit. ASME Stamping would be "ASME Section IV, HLW."

(b) "Council" shall mean the Governor's Council on Boiler Safety.

(c) "Department" shall mean the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

(d) "National Board" shall mean the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

(e) "NBIC" shall mean the National Board Inspection Code. The manual for boiler and pressure vessel inspectors, published by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. The NBIC is recognized for Repairs and Alterations, and Antique (Historical) boilers only (Part 3 only).

(f) "Place of public assembly" shall mean any establishment, building, location or any portion thereof within this State intended and used for occupation by persons while employed therein for compensation of any kind, any commercial structure and/or location to which the public has access.

(g) "Pressure vessel" shall mean containers for the containment of pressure, either internal or external. The pressure may be obtained from an external source or by the application of heat from a direct or indirect source, or any combination thereof.

(h) "PSI" or "psi" shall mean pounds per square inch.

(i) "PSIG" or "psig" shall mean pounds per square inch gauge.

(j) "Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

(k) "Shop review" shall mean a general survey and examination of a boiler or pressure vessel manufacturing or repair firm's facilities, methods and records. The examination is performed by a designee of the ASME, and/or the National Board.

78 Del. Laws, c. 127, § 7.;

§ 7403B Program duties and responsibilities.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7401B(c) of this title, the Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have immediate access to the premises for investigation purposes in the event of an accident related to the construction, operation, maintenance or repair of a boiler, pressure vessel or nuclear installation.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, any heating and hot water supply boiler located in an apartment complex or residence of 6 or less living units, or any heating or hot water supply boiler located in and used to heat a single unit, where the heat input does not exceed 100,000 Btu/hr., shall be exempt from field inspection only.

(c) The Boiler Safety Program shall have the authority to specify minimum standards for the fabrication, construction, installation, operation, inspection and repair of all boilers, pressure vessels and nuclear installations in this State.

(d) The Boiler Safety Program, with the approval of the General Assembly, shall establish appropriate fees for all activities and services provided by the Program, including, but not limited to, commissions, inspections and examinations.

(e) The Boiler Safety Program shall act as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and National Board designees when performing ASME shop reviews and the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBPVI) shop reviews of those manufacturers and repair companies of boilers and pressure vessels in this State.

(f) The Boiler Safety Program shall have the authority to require that all boilers and pressure vessels in this State be inspected by persons commissioned as boiler and pressure vessel inspectors in this State, and to issue a certificate of inspection for all boilers and pressure vessels that meet state installation guidelines, except those exempt under § 7401B(c) of this title and by regulation. The Program shall be responsible for inspecting uninsured boilers and pressure vessels as well as boilers and pressure vessels that the insurer has failed to inspect. The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have immediate access to the site of all installations for inspection purposes and in the event of an accident. Inspection requirements shall be contained in rules and regulations.

(1) All owners, users and/or contractors, who are responsible for the installation of boilers or pressure vessels in this State, shall obtain a certificate of inspection from the Boiler Safety Program prior to the operation of the boiler or pressure vessel. Notwithstanding this provision, any newly installed boiler or pressure vessel may be operated for testing necessary for issuance of a certificate of inspection.

(2) Failure to obtain the required certificate of inspection shall subject the owner, user and/or contractor to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 for the first offense and $2,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The Justice of the Peace Courts shall have jurisdiction over all violations of this subsection.

(g) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have the authority to issue a commission to an applicant as an inspector of boiler and pressure vessels who meets the following criteria:

(1) Shall file a notarized application with the Secretary or the Secretary's designee and pay the fee established by the Program;

(2) Shall obtain a passing score on the validated examination for inspector;

(3) Shall possess a valid, current commission issued by the NBBPVI; and

(4) Shall not have been the recipient of any administrative penalties regarding the applicant's inspection practices in any other jurisdiction where the applicant has held, or currently holds, a commission.

The applicant shall be responsible for providing proof of a valid commission in all state jurisdictions where the applicant holds or has held a commission as boiler inspector.

(h) All inspections of repairs and alterations shall be performed by a Delaware-commissioned inspector following the provisions of the NBIC and the Delaware rules and regulations.

(i) The Secretary shall promulgate and enforce rules and regulations, which shall be binding on all persons commissioned by the Program, including manufacturers and users of boilers and pressure vessels. The rules and regulations shall conform, insofar as possible, to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the NBBPVI's Inspection Code. The rules and regulations shall further the purposes and objectives of this chapter and particularly as stated in § 7401B(b) of this title.

(j) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have the authority to grant a variance, on a case by case basis, to those rules and regulations that pertain to the installation of new boilers to replace existing boilers.

(k) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall designate, contract, approve and arrange for the administration of all examinations. The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have the following powers, duties and functions relating to the administration of Delaware examinations:

(1) Deposit all fees received for testing to be used to cover the costs of all expenses directly related to the administration of examinations;

(2) Review, approve and execute all contracts for examination services;

(3) Review and approve the content and validity of any examination; and

(4) Supervise the administration and proctoring of all tests.

(l) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall:

(1) Have the power of a constable pursuant to § 2902(d) of Title 10, for the sole purpose of executing and serving the administrative inspection warrants, subpoenas and summons issued under the authority of this State and pursuant to the performance of their duties; and

(2) Have the power to shut down unsafe boilers or pressure vessels pursuant to this chapter.

(m) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall have the power to suspend or revoke a state commission for a finding of improper conduct. Where an application has been refused or rejected for a commission as inspector in this State or where a commission has been suspended for improper conduct by the Secretary's designee, the applicant may appeal to the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

(n) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee shall establish a process for handling citizen complaints regarding the unsafe operation of boilers and pressure vessels in this State, which process shall be promulgated in rules and regulations.

(o) All commissions issued previously by the Division of Boiler Safety shall remain valid as if they had been issued by the Program, and the Program shall have all powers and jurisdiction over such commissions the same as if the commissions had been issued by the Program in the first instance.

78 Del. Laws, c. 127, § 7.;

§ 7404B Council on Boiler Safety.

(a) There is established the Council on Boiler Safety.

(b) The Council on Boiler Safety shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretary or the Secretary's designee and shall consider matters relating to the sale, operation, construction and use of boilers in this State and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Governor, or the Secretary of the Department. The Council may study, research, plan and advise the Secretary, the Secretary's designee, the Boiler Safety Program, and the Governor on matters it deems appropriate to enable the Program to function in the best possible manner.

(c) The Council on Boiler Safety shall be composed of 5 members who shall be appointed for terms of 3 years by the Governor. The Council shall be composed of 5 members; and, preferably 1 shall be a representative of a company licensed to insure boilers and pressure vessels in Delaware, another, a manufacturer who shall have been actively engaged in the manufacture of boilers, another, a user of boilers, another, a mechanical engineer and the fifth, a licensed stationary engineer.

(d) No more than 3 of the newly appointed members shall be affiliated with the same political party. Any person who declines to announce a political affiliation shall also be eligible for appointment as a member of the Council.

(e) Members of the Council shall serve without compensation except that they may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses incident to their duties as members of the Council.

(f) A Chairperson of the Council shall be chosen by the members of the Council from among its members and shall serve in that capacity for a term of 1 year and shall be eligible for re-election.

(g) Any appointment, pursuant to this section, to replace a member whose position becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the member's term shall be filled only for the remainder of that term.

78 Del. Laws, c. 127, § 7.;