Special Boiler License Study Material

Statutes
326B.95 DEFINITIONS.

Certificate of inspection. Certificate of inspection means a sticker attached to

the boiler or pressure vessel which documents the month and year of the
inspection and the employer of the inspector performing the inspection.

Certificate of registration. Certificate of registration means a document

that has been made available on the department's Web site that lists all
registered boilers and pressure vessels at a location, including the last inspection
date, the certificate expiration date, and the maximum allowable working
pressure for each boiler or pressure vessel.

High-pressure boiler. High-pressure boiler means a boiler operating at a

steam or other vapor pressure in excess of 15 psig, or a water or other liquid
boiler in which the pressure exceeds 160 psig or the temperature exceeds 250
degrees Fahrenheit.

Inspection due date. Inspection due date means the last possible date
that the inspection can be completed within the time limits in this chapter.

Insurance company boiler inspector. Insurance company boiler inspector

means a national board-commissioned inspector who holds a current certificate
of competency issued by the state.

Low-pressure boiler. Low-pressure boiler means a boiler operating at a

steam or other vapor pressure of 15 psig or less, or a water or other liquid boiler
in which the pressure does not exceed 160 psig and the temperature does not
exceed 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

National board. National board means the National Board of Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Inspectors, which is an organization comprised of chief
Inspectors for the states, cities, and territories of the United States and provinces
and territories of Canada.

National Board commissioned inspector. National board commissioned

inspector means an individual who has been examined and found qualified to
inspect in-service boilers and pressure vessels by the national board, and who
holds a current commission issued by the national board.

National Board Inspection Code; NBIC. National Board Inspection

Code or NBIC means a three-part technical document that is written and
published by the national board detailing the installation, inspection, and repair of
boilers and pressure vessels.

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Operation. Operation means the on-site act of manipulating, monitoring,
and testing of boilers and their appurtenances by a properly licensed engineer or
an apprentice under the direct supervision of the properly licensed engineer.

Psig. Psig means pounds per square inch gauge.

Remote monitoring. Remote monitoring means the act of viewing or

overseeing the boiler or boiler plant operating parameters and conditions from a
remote location.

Repair. Repair means the work necessary to restore a boiler or pressure

vessel to a safe and satisfactory operating condition, as defined in National
Board Inspection Code, part 3, section 9.

State boiler inspector. State boiler inspector means a national board

commissioned boiler inspector who holds a current certificate of competency and
a current chief grade A boiler operator's license.

326B.958 INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION.

Subdivision 1. Inspection.
(a) Every owner, lessee, or other person having charge of boilers or pressure
vessels subject to inspection under sections 326B.956 to 326B.998 shall
cause them to be inspected by the department unless specifically excepted
by section 326B.988 or 326B.99. Inspectors shall subject all boilers to a
thorough internal and external examination according to the standards in
sections 326B.964 and 326B.966.

(b) Anyone who installs a boiler must ensure that the boiler is inspected by the
department after installation is complete and before the boiler is placed in
operation. Inspection fees pursuant to section 326B.986 associated with this
initial inspection are the responsibility of the installer.

(c) The owner of a boiler must ensure that the boiler is inspected at least
annually after the initial inspection, except as provided in sections 326B.956
and 326B.96.

(d) The owner of a pressure vessel not specifically excepted by section 326B.988
must ensure that the pressure vessel is inspected at least every two years.

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Subd. 1a. Certificate of inspection. After inspecting the boiler or pressure
vessel, the boiler inspector shall document the condition of the boiler or pressure
vessel. If the boiler or pressure vessel meets the inspection requirements in
sections 326B.964 and 326B.966, the inspector shall attach a label or sticker to
the boiler or pressure vessel indicating the month and year inspected and the
name of the inspection agency. This label is the inspection certificate and shall
indicate that the inspected boiler or pressure vessel is found to be safe and
suitable for use. The boiler inspector shall directly attach a tag to a newly
installed boiler that displays a unique identification number.

Subd. 1b. Defects in boilers or pressure vessels. If, upon inspecting a boiler or
pressure vessel, the boiler inspector determines that the boiler or pressure
vessel does not meet the requirements in sections 326B.964 and 326B.966, the
inspector shall notify the owner or operator in writing of any defect in the boiler or
pressure vessel. The boiler or pressure vessel shall not be operated if the
inspector determines that the boiler or pressure vessel is unsafe. The boiler or
pressure vessel shall not be operated until these unsafe defects have been
corrected and verified by the inspector. If the boiler inspector finds that a boiler is
being operated by an unlicensed or improperly licensed person, operation of the
boiler shall cease until all operators are properly licensed according to section
326B.978. If circumstances warrant continued operation, the boiler
inspector may, at the discretion of the boiler inspector, give approval for
continuing operation of the boiler for a specific period of time, not to exceed 30
days.

Subd. 2. Registration. Every owner, lessee, or other person having charge of a

boiler or pressure vessel subject to inspection under sections 326B.93 to
326B.998, except historical boilers under section 326B.956, shall register the
boiler or pressure vessel with the department at the time of the initial inspection
described in subdivision 1. The registration shall be renewed annually for each
boiler or pressure vessel on record with the department.

Subd. 3. Certificate of registration. The department shall issue an electronic

certificate of registration that lists the registered boilers and pressure vessels at
the location, expiration date of the certificate of registration, last inspection date
of each registered boiler and pressure vessel, and maximum allowable working
pressure for each registered boiler and pressure vessel. This certificate shall be
available to be printed by the owner, lessee, or other person having charge of the
registered boiler or pressure vessel.

326B.964 STANDARDS OF INSPECTION.

The engineering standards of boilers and pressure vessels for use in this state
shall be those established by Minnesota Rules, chapter 5225, and by the current
edition of and addenda to the ASME Code, the National Board Inspection Code,
and the National Fire Protection Associations standard NFPA 85 (Boiler and
Combustion Systems (Hazard Code), as they apply to the construction, operation
and care of, in-service inspection and testing, and controls and safety devices.

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326B.97 INSPECTION OF BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS.
The owner, lessee, or other person having control of a boiler or pressure vessel
shall allow inspectors full access to the boiler or pressure vessel. Every engineer
operating a boiler shall assist the inspector during the examination, and indicate
to the inspector any known defects in the boilers, pressure vessels, steam
engines, and turbines.

326B.972 LICENSE REQUIREMENT.

(a) To operate a boiler, steam engine, or steam turbine an individual must have
received a license for the grade covering that boiler, steam engine, or steam
turbine. Except for licenses described in section 326B.956 and except for
provisional licenses described in paragraphs (d) to (g):

(1) all initial licenses shall be for two years;

(2) the commissioner shall in a manner determined by the commissioner,

without the need for any rulemaking under chapter 14, phase in the
renewal of licenses from one year to two years; and

(3) by June 30, 2011, all licenses shall be two-year licenses.

(b) For purposes of sections 326B.93 to 326B.998, operation means the act of
manipulating and monitoring boilers or appurtenances for their intended purpose
and to ensure safety, except that operation does not include remote monitoring of
an automatic boiler. When a boiler is monitored from a remote location, the only
function that may be performed remotely upon the boiler is an emergency shut
down in alarm situations.

(c) No individual under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol may operate a
boiler, steam engine, or steam turbine or monitor an automatic boiler.

(d) The commissioner may issue a provisional license to allow an employee of a

high pressure boiler plant to operate boilers greater than 500 horsepower at only
that boiler plant if:

(1) the boiler plant has a designated chief engineer in accordance with
Minnesota Rules, part 5225.0410;

(2) the boiler plant employee holds a valid license as a second-class

engineer, Grade A or B;

(3) the chief engineer in charge of the boiler plant submits an application
to
the commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner;

(4) the chief engineer in charge of the boiler plant and an authorized
representative of the owner of the boiler plant both sign the application for
the provisional license;

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 (5) the owner of the boiler plant has a documented training program with
examination for boilers and equipment at the boiler plant to train and test
the boiler plant employee; and

(6) if the application were to be granted, the total number of provisional

licenses for employees of the boiler plant would not exceed the total
number of properly licensed first-class engineers and chief engineers
responsible for the safe operation of the boilers at the boiler plant.

(e) A public utility, cooperative electric association, generation and transmission

cooperative electric association, municipal power agency, or municipal electric
utility that employs licensed boiler operators who are subject to an existing labor
contract may use a provisional licensee as an operator only if using the
provisional licensee does not violate the labor contract.

(f) A provisional license is valid for 36 months from the date of issue, unless
revoked before the expiration date. A provisional license may not be renewed.

(g) The commissioner may issue no more than two provisional licenses to any
individual within a four-year period.

326B.974 SCHOOL ENGINEER.

Subdivision 1. License required. Any custodial engineer employed by a school
whose duties include the operation of a boiler shall be licensed pursuant to
section 326B.978, to operate the particular class of boiler used in the school.

Subd. 2. School district training. A school district shall allow to occur annually
at least eight hours of training related to boiler operation to a licensee described
in subdivision 1. The training must be administered by a licensed first or chief
class engineer during the licensees normal working hours. Two hours of the
required training shall occur in the boiler room and must include demonstration of
tasks associated with operating boilers. The tasks associated with operating
boilers acceptable for the training must be from the list of approved tasks
supplied by the chief boiler inspector. The administrator of the training shall
receive training credit for time spent administering training pursuant to this
subdivision. (See page ___ for list of tasks)

326B.978 EXAMINATIONS; CLASSIFICATIONS; QUALIFICATIONS.

Subdivision 1. Engineers, classes.

Engineers shall be divided into four classes:
(1) Chief engineers; Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
(2) First class engineers; Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
(3) Second class engineers; Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
(4) Special engineers.

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Subd. 2. Applications. Any individual who desires an engineers license shall
submit an application on a written or electronic form prescribed by the
commissioner, at least 15 days before the requested exam date. If the
commissioner approves the applicant for examination, the applicant may take the
examination on one occasion within one year from the date the commissioner
receives the application.

Subd. 3. Examinations. Each applicant for a license must pass an examination

developed and administered by the commissioner. The examinations shall be of
sufficient scope to establish the competency of the applicant to operate a boiler
of the applicable license class and grade.

Subd. 4. Continuing education. The commissioner may require continuing

education prior to the renewal of any license. Before requiring continuing
education, the commissioner shall adopt rules that specify the continuing
education requirements.

Subd. 5. High- and low-pressure boilers. For the purposes of this section and
section 326B.97, high-pressure boilers shall mean boilers operating at a steam or
other vapor pressure in excess of 15 p.s.i.g., or a water or other liquid boiler in
which the pressure exceeds 160 p.s.i.g. or a temperature of 250 degrees
Fahrenheit. Low-pressure boilers shall mean boilers operating at a steam or
other vapor pressure of 15 p.s.i.g. or less, or a water or other liquid boiler in
which the pressure does not exceed 160 p.s.i.g. or a temperature of 250 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Subd. 6. Chief engineer, Grade A. An individual seeking licensure as a chief

engineer, Grade A, shall be at least 18 years of age and have experience which
verifies that the individual is competent to take charge of and be responsible for
the safe operation and maintenance of all classes of boilers, steam engines, and
turbines and their appurtenances; and, before receiving a license, the applicant
shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at least five years actual experience
in operating the boilers except as provided in subdivision 18, including at least
two years experience in operating the engines or turbines except as provided in
subdivision 18.

Subd. 7. Chief engineer, Grade B. An individual seeking licensure as a chief

engineer, Grade B, shall be at least 18 years of age and have habits and
experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to take charge
of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all classes of
boilers and their appurtenances; and, before receiving a license, the applicant
shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at least five years actual experience
in operating those boilers except as provided in subdivision 18.

Subd. 8. Chief engineer, Grade C. An individual seeking licensure as a chief

engineer, Grade C, shall be at least 18 years of age and have habits and
experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to take charge

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of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all classes of
low-pressure boilers and their appurtenances, and before receiving a license, the
applicant shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at least five years of actual
experience in operating the boilers except as provided in subdivision 18.

Subd. 9. First-class engineer, Grade A. An individual seeking licensure as a

first class engineer, Grade A, shall be at least 18 years of age and have
experience which verifies that the individual is competent to take charge of and
be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all classes of boilers,
engines, and turbines and their appurtenances of not more than 500 horsepower
or to operate as a shift engineer in a plant of unlimited horsepower. Before
receiving a license, the applicant shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at
least three years actual experience in operating the boilers, including at least two
years experience in operating such engines or turbines except as provided in
subdivision 18.

Subd. 10. First-class engineer, Grade B. An individual seeking licensure as a

first class engineer, Grade B, shall be at least 18 years of age and have habits
and experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to take
charge of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all
classes of boilers of not more than 500 horsepower or to operate as a shift
engineer in a plant of unlimited horsepower. Before receiving a license the
applicant shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at least three years actual
experience in operating the boilers except as provided in subdivision 18.

Subd. 11. First-class engineer, Grade C. An individual seeking licensure as a

first class engineer, Grade C, shall be at least 18 years of age and have habits
and experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to take
charge of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all
classes of low-pressure boilers and their appurtenances of not more than 500
horsepower or to operate as a shift engineer in a low-pressure plant of unlimited
horsepower. Before receiving a license, the applicant shall take and subscribe an
oath attesting to at least three years actual experience in operating the boilers
except as provided in subdivision 18.

Subd. 12. Second-class engineer, Grade A. An individual seeking licensure as

a second-class engineer, Grade A, shall be at least 18 years of age and have
experience which verifies that the individual is competent to take charge of and
be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all classes of boilers,
engines, and turbines and their appurtenances of not more than 100 horsepower
or to operate as a shift engineer in a plant of not more than 500 horsepower, or
to assist the shift engineer, under direct supervision, in a plant of unlimited
horsepower. Before receiving a license the applicant shall take and subscribe an
oath attesting to at least one year of actual experience in operating the boilers,
including at least one year of experience in operating the engines or turbines
except as provided in subdivision 18.

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Subd. 13. Second-class engineer, Grade B. An individual seeking licensure as
a second-class engineer, Grade B, shall be at least 18 years of age and have
habits and experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to
take charge of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all
classes of boilers of not more than 100 horsepower or to operate as a shift
engineer in a plant of not more than 500 horsepower or to assist the shift
engineer, under direct supervision, in a plant of unlimited horsepower. Before
receiving a license the applicant shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at
least one year of actual experience in operating the boilers except as provided in
subdivision 16 or 18.

Subd. 14. Second-class engineer, Grade C. An individual seeking licensure as

a second-class engineer, Grade C, shall be at least 18 years of age and have
habits and experience which justify the belief that the individual is competent to
take charge of and be responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of all
classes of low-pressure boilers and their appurtenances of not more than 100
horsepower or to operate as a shift engineer in a low-pressure plant of not more
than 500 horsepower, or to assist the shift engineer, under direct supervision, in
a low-pressure plant of unlimited horsepower. Before receiving a license, the
applicant shall take and subscribe an oath attesting to at least one year of actual
experience in operating the boilers except as provided in subdivision 18.

Subd. 15. Special engineer.

(a) An individual seeking licensure as a special engineer shall be at least 18

years of age and have habits and experience which justify the belief that the
individual is competent to take charge of and be responsible for the safe
operation and maintenance of all classes of boilers and their appurtenances
of not more than 50 horsepower or to operate as a shift engineer in a plant of
not more than 100 horsepower, or to serve as an apprentice in any plant
under the direct supervision of the properly licensed engineer.

(b) An individual seeking licensure as a special engineer who is at least 16 years

of age but less than 18 years of age must be enrolled in a course approved by
the commissioner, and have habits and experience that justify the belief that the
individual is competent to take charge of and be responsible for the safe
operation and maintenance of all classes of boilers and their appurtenances of
not more than 50 horsepower or to operate as a shift engineer in a plant of not
more than 100 horsepower, or to serve as an apprentice in any plant under the
direct supervision of the properly licensed engineer.

Subd. 16. Current boiler operators. Any individual operating a boiler other than
a steam boiler on or before April 15, 1982, shall be qualified for application for
the applicable class license upon presentation of an affidavit furnished by an
inspector and sworn to by the individuals employer or a chief engineer. Except
as provided in subdivision 18, the applicant must have at least the number of
years of actual experience specified for the class of license requested and pass
the appropriate examination.

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Subd. 17. Rating horsepower. For the purpose of rating boiler horsepower for
engineer license classifications only: ten square feet of heating surface shall be
considered equivalent to one boiler horsepower for conventional boilers and five
square feet of heating surface equivalent to one boiler horsepower for steam coil
type generators.

Subd. 18. Educational offset. Notwithstanding the experience requirements in

subdivisions 6 to 16, the commissioner may by rule establish educational
equivalencies that an applicant may meet instead of a portion of the specified
operating experience.

Rules
5225.0050 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter and Minnesota

Statutes, sections 326B.952 to 326B.998, the following terms have the meanings
given them.

Subp. 2. Appurtenance. "Appurtenance" means equipment that is integral

to the operation of the boiler as specified in Sections I, IV, VI, and VII of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as
incorporated by reference in part 5225.0090.

Subp. 3. Authorized inspector. "Authorized inspector" means a

commissioned inspector with a Minnesota certificate of competency who also
possesses either an A or B endorsement and is regularly employed by an
authorized inspection agency or the jurisdiction.

Subp. 4. Boiler. "Boiler" means a vessel in which steam or other vapor,

hot water or other hot liquid is generated for use external to itself.

Subp. 5. Boiler plant. "Boiler plant" means all boilers on a common

header and their related appurtenances.

Subp. 6. Chief boiler inspector. "Chief boiler inspector" means the chief
of the division of boiler inspection as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section
183.375, subdivision 2, appointed by the commissioner.

Subp. 7. Chief engineer. "Chief engineer" means the properly licensed

engineer required to be in charge of and responsible for the safe operation of a
boiler plant.

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 Subp. 8. Commissioned inspector. "Commissioned inspector" means
one who has passed the exam of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Inspectors and possesses a valid National Board Commission and is
employed by an authorized inspection agency or the jurisdiction.

Subp. 9. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the

department.

Subp. 10. Department. "Department" means the Department of Labor and

Industry.

Subp. 11. Direct supervision. "Direct supervision" by the properly

licensed operating engineer of a boiler plant means oversight of an apprentice's
activities on a boiler including attendance at the boiler plant at all times.

Subp. 12. Division. "Division" means the Division of Boiler Inspection.

Subp. 13. High pressure boiler. "High pressure boiler" means power
boiler as defined in Section I of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

Subp. 14. Operating engineer. "Operating engineer" means a properly

licensed individual who operates and maintains boilers and their appurtenances.

Subp. 15. Operating experience. "Operating experience" means

activities in boiler operations and maintenance that include training, observation,
and personal participation.

Subp. 16. Operation. "Operation" means the act of manipulating and

monitoring, except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.972,
paragraph (b), boilers or appurtenances to assure safe operation for the intended
purpose in accordance with this chapter.

Subp. 17. Repair firm. "Repair firm" means a company or organization

that holds a current "R" repair certificate of authorization issued by the National
Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and performs welded repairs or
alterations on boilers or pressure vessels.

Subp. 18. Shift engineer. "Shift engineer" means the operating engineer
responsible to the chief operating engineer in charge of and responsible for the
safe operation of a boiler plant in the absence of the chief engineer.

5225.0400 BASIC LICENSE REQUIREMENT AND DUTY.

No person shall have charge of as the engineer or operate any boiler or

boiler plant who does not possess a license of the class required to operate the
boiler or boiler plant.

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 It is the duty of the owner of a boiler or boiler plant and the chief engineer
and all boiler inspectors, including those employed by insurance companies, to
promptly report to the chief boiler inspector, any boiler or boiler plant in which the
engineer has no license or a license of a lower class than that required by law for
the horsepower of the boiler or boiler plant.

5225.0550 EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR

LICENSURE AS AN OPERATING ENGINEER.

Subpart 1. Compliance requirements. All applicants must comply with

this chapter and Minnesota Statutes, sections 326B.952 to 326B.998. The
experience requirements are detailed in this part and documentation
requirements are detailed in subpart 9. Applicants with previous experience in a
jurisdiction requiring licensure must show proof of compliance with the licensure
requirements of that jurisdiction in order to receive credit for the experience. All
applicants for licensure as an operating engineer or hobby operating engineer,
shall provide documentation of operating experience for the level of class/grade
applied for in accordance with subparts 2 to 8. To be acceptable for this purpose,
operating experience must have occurred within the ten years prior to the license
application. The chief boiler inspector may allow earlier operating experience if
that experience is pertinent to current operations.

Subp. 2. Special class experience requirements. A special class license

requires only a signed application form. No previous experience is necessary.

Subp. 3. Second class experience requirements. A second class

license requires one year of operating experience, documented as described in
subpart 9, on a boiler of proper size under Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.978,
subdivisions 12 to 14.

Subp. 10. Year defined. For purposes of this chapter, a "year" is at least
2,000 hours. However, in the case of low pressure heating boilers, a year is
defined as a 12-month period which includes the heating season operating, and
the remainder of the year maintaining, the low pressure boiler.

5225.0600 PROHIBITION AGAINST FALSE STATEMENTS IN APPLICATION.

Any material false statement in an application or affidavit such that the

license would not have been granted if the accurate information had been
provided, shall render the license void. The license shall not be determined to be
void until the license holder has been provided with the opportunity for a meet
and confer conference and/or an administrative hearing pursuant to part
5225.0880, subpart 5, and the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act,
and the charge of a materially false statement is upheld.

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5225.0900 DISPLAY OF LICENSE.

Licenses granted must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the engine

or boiler room. Boiler plants operated by a contract operating engineer must have
a copy of the operating engineer's license of each person who may be operating
the boiler posted in each boiler room.

5225.1000 BOILER HORSEPOWER RATING.

In rating the horsepower of a boiler plant, inspectors shall use the

horsepower of each boiler and compute the total horsepower of all boilers
connected to the header, whether all the boilers are in use or not.

Where the heating surface cannot be discerned, the boiler horsepower

shall be determined by calculating Btu boiler-rated input divided by 67,000.

For purposes of operating engineer license requirements, boiler

horsepower for conventional boilers and steam coil type generators is
determined as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.978, subdivision 17.
For electrically operated boilers for this purpose, ten kilowatts equal one boiler
horsepower.

5225.1110 BOILER OPERATION STANDARDS; ALL PLANTS.

Subpart 1. Safe boiler operation. All boilers, unless specifically exempted by

Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.988, must be operated, maintained, and
attended by an operating engineer in a prudent and attentive manner to avoid
endangering human life and property. At a minimum, all operating boilers must
be checked by an operating engineer in compliance with this chapter. Specific
minimum attendance requirements for hobby boilers are given in part 5225.1140
and specific minimum attendance requirements for high pressure plants are
given in part 5225.1180.

In determining whether a boiler is operated, maintained, and attended in a

prudent and attentive manner, the division and the chief engineer or operating
engineer shall consider the recommendations of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VI, for low
pressure and Section VII, for high pressure along with the following additional
factors:

A. the size or capacity of the boiler plant;

B. the condition of boilers and appurtenances;

C. the frequency of boiler checks and past maintenance history;

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 D. the extent of public occupancy of the building containing the boiler
plant;

E. the operating service conditions, including weather;

F. compliance with other statutes and rules of this division; and

G. any other factor which would adversely affect the safety of the boiler.

A logbook must be maintained in the boiler room by the chief engineer or

an operating engineer designated by the chief engineer. The log shall document
when the boiler checks were made, who made the boiler checks, and what
specific checks of equipment were made. This log shall be made available to the
boiler inspector during inspections and at other times upon request of the boiler
inspector.

Subp. 2. Unsafe boiler plant. If the chief engineer or operating engineer has
found the boiler to be in an unsafe condition, the engineer shall notify the owner
or employer and the chief boiler inspector as soon as possible. If the unsafe
boiler is not immediately taken out of service, the chief engineer or operating
engineer shall ensure that the boiler is continuously monitored by an operating
engineer, 24 hours per day, until the division has either sealed the object, verified
that the unsafe condition has been corrected, or determined that continuous
monitoring is no longer required.

5225.1180 ATTENDANCE AT HIGH PRESSURE PLANT.

Subpart 1. Attendance; plant of 0 to 30 horsepower. At a minimum, a

high pressure boiler plant of 0 to 30 horsepower, when in operation, must be
checked daily by an operating engineer.

Subp. 2. Attendance; plant of 31 to 200 horsepower.

A. A high pressure boiler plant of 31 to 200 horsepower may be left in

operation unattended by an operating engineer for no more than two consecutive
hours when the premises are occupied by employees or the public, except as
permitted by item B.

B. A high pressure boiler plant of 31 to 200 horsepower is exempt from the

high pressure attendance requirements of item A, but must be checked at least
daily, under the following conditions:

(1) the boiler is equipped with dual pressure controls and dual low water
fuel cutouts and the boiler does not exceed 15 pounds per square inch operating
pressure at any time during the operating engineer's absence;

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(2) the boiler is equipped with fail-safe type safety controls or valves regulating
pressure, temperature, water level, and control supply lines. Fuel control and
safety devices must meet at least the minimum requirements for automatically
fired boilers in Sections I and IV of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code;

(3) the valves and controls must be manually switched over by the operating
engineer, the dates and time must be entered in the boiler room log, and the
entry must be signed by the operating engineer;

(4) the building in which the boiler is located is not occupied by the public or
employees except for custodial, maintenance, or security personnel; and

(5) the boiler is for supplying steam directly to a low pressure header with header
safety valves set at or below 15 pounds per square inch and is of adequate
capacity to prevent a pressure rise above 15 pounds per square inch in the
system. The shutoff valve between the high and low pressure systems must be
electrically interlocked with the low pressure control system so that the crossover
valve is in the open position while operating on low pressure.

Subp. 3. Attendance; plant over 200 horsepower.

A. A high pressure boiler plant of more than 200 horsepower, when in

operation, requires constant attendance, except as otherwise provided in item B.

B. The shift engineer in a high pressure boiler plant of over 200 horsepower may
leave the boiler room for up to 30 minutes if all boilers are equipped with dual
pressure controls and dual low water fuel cutouts, one of which must be the
manual reset type. The shift engineer must stay within 500 feet of the boiler room
at all times during the shift.

Subp. 4. Limitations. The absences described in subparts 2, item A, and

3, item B, may not approach nearly continuous absence from the plant.

BOILER SAFETY

5225.4100 SAFETY VALVES.

Every high pressure or low pressure boiler must have at least one safety
valve. A high pressure boiler of more than 500 square feet of water heating
surface must have two or more safety valves. All safety valves must meet the
requirements of Section I, IV, or VIII of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, and be so stamped, and be set no
higher than the maximum allowable working pressure on the inspector's
certificate for that boiler.

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 Every safety valve must be connected to the boiler independent of any
other connections, and attached as close as possible to the boiler, without any
unnecessary pipe or fitting and must stand in an upright position. No valve of any
description may be placed between the required safety valve or valves and the
boiler, nor on the discharge pipe between the safety valve and the point of
discharge. All safety valves must discharge at a point of safety not less than
seven feet from running boards, platforms, or adjacent areas. No reduction in
pipe size is allowed in discharge piping from a safety valve. The discharge pipe
must be of sufficient size to allow complete discharge without back pressure.

5225.4200 WATER GAGE.

When the boiler operating pressure exceeds 100 pounds per square inch,
the water gage glass must be fitted with either a gate-type or plug-type valved
drain to a safe discharge point.

If the lowest water gage shutoff valve is more than seven feet above the
floor or platform from which it is operated, the operating mechanism must
indicate by its position whether the valve is opened or closed. Installation must
meet the requirements of Section I of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for high pressure boilers or Section
IV for low pressure boilers.

5225.4400 STEAM GAGE.

For steam boilers the steam gages must meet the requirements of Section
I for high pressure boilers, and section IV for low pressure boilers of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code to
correctly record pressure. Each steam gage must be connected to a siphon of at
least one-fourth inch pipe size and be fitted with a valve provided with a tee or
lever handle arranged to be parallel to the pipe in which it is located when the
valve is open. If the pipe is longer than ten feet, a shutoff valve or valve arranged
so that it can be locked or sealed open may be used near the boiler. The dial of
the steam gage must be graduated to approximately double the pressure at
which the safety valve is set but in no case to less than 1-1/2 times this pressure.

5225.4700 COMMON MAIN CONNECTION.

When two or more boilers are connected to a common steam main, the
steam connection from each boiler having a manhole opening must be fitted with
two stop valves having an ample free-blow drain between them. The stop valves
installed on high pressure steam boilers must consist of either one automatic
nonreturn valve, set next to the boiler and a second valve of the outside-screw-
and-yoke type; or two valves of the outside-screw-and-yoke type. The free blow
drain must ensure complete removal of all condensate and steam from between
the two stop valves.

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5225.4800 BLOWOFF PIPING; VALVES AND FITTINGS.

Each boiler must have a bottom blowoff pipe fitted with a valve or cock in
direct connection with the lowest water space practicable. All fittings between
the boiler and valves must be of steel for pressure over 100 pounds per square
inch.

5225.5000 FEED PIPING AND CHECK VALVE.

The feed-pipe must be provided with a check valve near the boiler and a
valve or cock between the check valve and the boiler. When two or more boilers
are fed from a common source, there must be a globe or regulating valve on the
branch to each boiler between the check valve and the source of supply.
Wherever globe valves are used on feed piping, the inlet must be under the disk.

A combination stop-and-check valve in which there is only one seat and

disk, and a valve stem is provided to close the valve when the stem is screwed
down, must be considered only as a stop valve, and a check valve must be
installed as provided in the first paragraph of this part.

5225.5100 FEEDWATER SUPPLY.

A high pressure boiler having more than 500 square feet of water heating
surface (50 BHP) must have at least two means of feeding. Each source of
feeding must be capable of supplying water to the boiler at a pressure of three
percent higher than the highest setting of any safety valve on the boiler. For
boilers that are fired with solid fuel not in suspension, and for boilers whose
setting or heat source can continue to supply sufficient heat to cause damage to
the boiler if the feed supply is interrupted, one such means of feeding must not
be susceptible to the same interruption as the other, and each source must
provide sufficient water to prevent damage to the boiler.

When electrically driven feed pumps are used and there is no other
reliable independent source of electrical supply, there must be maintained ready
for service steam-driven feed pumps or injectors (inspirators) of sufficient
capacity to safeguard the boilers in case of failure of electric power.

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