Minnesota Session Laws - 1989, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1989 

                         CHAPTER 71-H.F.No. 85 
           An act relating to public safety; regulating boiler 
          operation and inspections; amending Minnesota Statutes 
          1988, sections 183.42; and 183.45. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 183.42, is 
amended to read: 
    183.42 [INSPECTION EACH YEAR.] 
    Every owner, lessee, or other person having charge of 
boilers, pressure vessels or any boat subject to inspection 
under this chapter shall cause the same them to be inspected by 
the division of boiler inspection.  Boilers and boats subject to 
inspection under this chapter shall must be inspected at least 
annually and pressure vessels inspected at least every two years 
except as provided under section 183.45.  A person who fails to 
have the inspection required by this section shall pay to the 
commissioner a penalty in the amount of the cost of inspection 
up to a maximum of $1,000. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 183.45, is 
amended to read: 
    183.45 [INSPECTION.] 
    Subdivision 1.  All boilers and steam generators shall must 
be inspected by the division of boiler inspection before same 
they are used and all boilers shall must be inspected at least 
once each year thereafter except as provided under subdivision 2.
Inspectors may subject all boilers to hydrostatic pressure or 
hammer test, and shall ascertain by a thorough internal and 
external examination that they are well made and of good and 
suitable material; that the openings for the passage of water 
and steam, respectively, and all pipes and tubes exposed to 
heat, are of proper dimensions and free from obstructions; that 
the flues are circular in form; that the arrangements for 
delivering the feed water are such that the boilers cannot be 
injured thereby; and that such boilers and their connections may 
be safely used without danger to life or property.  Inspectors 
shall ascertain that the safety valves are of suitable 
dimensions, sufficient in number, and properly arranged, and 
that the safety valves are so adjusted as to allow no greater 
pressure in the boilers than the amount prescribed by the 
inspector's certificate; that there is a sufficient number of 
gauge cocks, properly inserted, to indicate the amount of water, 
and suitable gauges that will correctly record the pressure; and 
that the fusible metals are properly inserted where required so 
as to fuse by the heat of the furnace whenever the water in the 
boiler falls below its prescribed limit; and that provisions are 
made for an ample supply of water to feed the boilers at all 
times; and that means for blowing out are provided, so as to 
thoroughly remove the mud and sediment from all parts when under 
pressure.  
     Subd. 2.  [QUALIFYING BOILER.] (a) "Qualifying boiler" 
means a boiler of 200,000 pounds per hour or more capacity which 
has an internal continuous water treatment program approved by 
the department and which the chief boiler inspector has 
determined to be in compliance with paragraph (c). 
    (b) A qualifying boiler must be inspected at least once 
every 24 months internally and externally while not under 
pressure, and at least once every 18 months externally while 
under pressure.  If the inspector considers it necessary to 
conduct a hydrostatic test to determine the safety of a boiler, 
the test must be conducted under the direction of the owner, 
contractor, or user of the equipment under the supervision of an 
inspector. 
    (c) The owner of a qualifying boiler must keep accurate 
records showing the date and actual time the boiler is out of 
service, the reason or reasons therefor, and the chemical 
physical laboratory analysis of samples of the boiler water 
taken at regular intervals of not more than 48 hours of 
operation which adequately show the condition of the water, and 
any elements or characteristics of the water capable of 
producing corrosion or other deterioration of the boiler or its 
parts. 
    (d) If an inspector determines there are substantial 
deficiencies in equipment or in boiler water treatment operating 
procedures, inspections of a qualifying boiler may be required 
once every 12 months until the chief boiler inspector finds that 
the substantial deficiencies have been corrected. 
    Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
enactment. 
    Presented to the governor May 5, 1989 
    Signed by the governor May 8, 1989, 2:23 p.m.