Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-03-03-.13

Current through January 8, 2025

Section 0800-03-03-.13 - HISTORIC BOILERS

(1) These rules apply to "historic power boilers" as defined in Rule 0800-03-03-.01(18).

(2) Historic power boilers shall receive prior authorization from the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee before entry and operation of the boiler in the state of Tennessee. Prior to entering the State with the boiler, the owner or user shall submit the proper Board approved application for operation of a historic power boiler.

(a) For historic power boilers located in the State, the owner or user shall be required to submit the initial application as long as he possesses a current Tennessee certificate of inspection. If the Tennessee certificate of inspection expires, the owner or user shall reapply to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee for permission to operate.

(b) For historic power boilers located outside of the State, with a valid Tennessee certificate of inspection, the owner or user is allowed to freely operate their boiler at events within the State. As long as the boiler has a valid Tennessee certificate of inspection, there is no need to reapply for permission to operate. If the Tennessee certificate of inspection remains expired for more than sixty (60) days without an inspection, or if the owner chooses to no longer operate the boiler or retain a Tennessee certificate of inspection, the boiler shall be placed in dormant status. If at any time the boiler is placed in dormant status, the owner or user shall reapply with the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee for permission to operate.

(3) Design and Testing.

(a) For all traditional historic power boilers, both standard and nonstandard, and nontraditional nonstandard historic power boilers, the owner or user shall supply the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee with reports of the maximum allowable working pressure calculations and ultrasonic testing at the time of application to operate. The calculations and ultrasonic testing shall be completed by a knowledgeable individual familiar with the practice. All report results are subject to the acceptance of the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee at time of application.

(b) A copy of the Manufacturer's Data Report shall accompany all applications to operate nontraditional standard historic power boilers in the State.

(c) The Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee or Deputy Inspector may at anytime during the application and inspection process request additional information, such as, but not limited to, design, material, inspection or testing.

(4) Traditional Historic Power Boilers.

(a) The maximum allowable working pressure shall be calculated with a minimum safety factor of five (5) for standard, and five point five (5.5) for traditional nonstandard historic power boilers, using the formula for historic power boilers in paragraph (14) of this rule, not to exceed 125 psig.

(b) The minimum safety factor shall be six point five (6.5) for traditional historic power boilers having lap-riveted longitudinal joints. The maximum allowable working pressure should not exceed 100 psig. Seal welding of a lap-riveted longitudinal joint is not permitted.

(5) Nontraditional Historic Power Boilers.

(a) All nontraditional historic power boilers constructed after the effective date of this rule shall be constructed in accordance with Rule 0800-03-03-.03. Nontraditional nonstandard historic power boilers, free-lance or scale models, constructed after the effective date of this rule shall not be allowed to operate in the State.

(b) The maximum allowable working pressure for nontraditional standard historic power boilers shall be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of the edition of the ASME Code under which they were constructed.

(c) The maximum allowable working pressure shall be calculated with a minimum safety factor of five point five (5.5) for nontraditional nonstandard historic power boilers, using the formula for historic power boilers in paragraph (14) of this rule, not to exceed 125 psig.

(d) Nontraditional nonstandard historic power boilers having lap-riveted longitudinal joints shall not be allowed to operate in the State.

(6) An annual inspection of all historic power boilers shall be conducted by a Deputy Inspector. The issuance of the annual Tennessee certificate of inspection shall be based on the results of the annual inspection.

(7) Operational Log.

(a) The owner of a historic power boiler operating in the State shall possess a bound operational log. After successful completion of the initial inspection by a Deputy Inspector, the owner shall be provided with a registered operational log book by the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee. The operational log shall contain, but is not limited to, the following:

1. The operation date of the historic power boiler;

2. The length of time the historic power boiler was operated;

3. Location where operated (city and state);

4. Jurisdictional inspection dates with the signature and commission number of inspector;

5. Description of repairs and alterations, including the dates, with signature and commission number of inspector;

6. Testing performed and by whom (e.g., pressure test, ultrasonic test, radiographic test, etc.);

7. Change of ownership, including the date the historic power boiler changed ownership and to whom; and

8. The front page of the operational log shall include a page number index of all inspections, inspector instructions, and repairs or incidents involved with the historic power boiler.

(b) Operational logs shall be available to the inspector at all times the historic power boiler is to be operated in the State. Operational logs that are lost or misplaced shall be reported to the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee immediately. The owner or user of the historic power boiler shall be responsible for the cost of the operational log replacement. Failure to possess or report a lost or misplaced operational log, may prevent the historic power boiler from operating in the State or revoking of the Tennessee certificate of inspection.

(c) Whenever the pages of an operational log have been completely filled, the owner shall request a supplemental operational log from the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee no cost to the owner. The owner is responsible for retaining all operational logs, initial and supplemental, for the life of the historic boiler. In the event that ownership of the historic power boiler changes, the new owner shall receive all original operational logs, initial and supplemental, from the previous owner. The previous owner may make a copy of the operational logs for his records.

(8) A pressure test with water temperature between 60° to 120° F, and not to exceed ninety percent (90%) of the set pressure of the lowest setting pressure relief device on the boiler, held for a period of at least thirty (30) minutes may be conducted at the discretion of the Deputy Inspector.

(9) All historic power boilers shall be equipped with an ASME stamped NB rated safety valve of adequate capacity, together with a water level indicator, calibrated pressure gauge and two (2) suitable means of introducing water into the boiler.

(10) The historic power boilers, traditional and nontraditional, shall be equipped with a fusible plug. All fusible plugs shall be constructed to meet the requirements of the ASME Code.

(a) Fusible plugs shall be located at the lowest permissible water level as determined by the boiler manufacturer or the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee when this information is not available.

(b) Fireside fusible plugs shall protrude at a minimum of one (1) inch into the water.

(c) Waterside fusible plugs shall not protrude into the fire area more than one (1) inch.

(d) Fusible plugs shall not be refilled.

(e) All fusible plugs shall be removed for inspection once every two (2) years.

(f) All fusible plugs shall be replaced after three hundred (300) hours of service with a new fusible plug constructed to meet the requirements of the ASME Code.

(g) The date when the fusible plug is removed for inspection or replaced shall be documented in the owner's operational log.

(11) All historic power boilers shall be equipped with operational tri-cocks, a gauge glass and pressure gauge. A siphon, or water seal, shall be installed between the pressure gauge and boiler. All pressure gauges shall be proven accurate at the time of the annual inspection by testing or documentation of calibration.

(12) Repairs and Alterations.

(a) Any welded code repair or any alteration shall be performed by organizations holding a valid NB "R" stamp. If the repair or alteration is performed in this State, the "R" stamp-holder shall have a current State of Tennessee Boiler Erectors and Repairers Contractor's license.

(b) Mechanical code repairs to historic power boilers such as, but not limited to, tube, rivet and stay replacement may be completed by the owner, or his designee, who is knowledgeable about the repair to be performed with prior approval of the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee.

(c) All repairs and alterations, welded and mechanical, shall be inspected by an inspector and documented on the applicable NB "NB-R" form. The "NB-R" form shall be submitted and kept on file in the Chief Inspector's or Chief Inspector's Designee's office.

1. For those repairs and alterations performed in the State, a Deputy Inspector shall perform the inspection.

2. For repairs and alterations performed outside of the State, the inspection shall be performed by a NB commissioned boiler inspector.

3. All repairs and alterations shall be documented in the owner's operational log and signed by the inspector who performed the inspection.

(13) All standard historic power boilers shall have legible stamping clearly visible to the inspector.

(14) Maximum Allowable Working Pressure for Nonstandard Historic Power Boilers.

(a) The maximum allowable working pressure of a historic power boiler shall be determined in accordance with the following formula:

Click to view Image

Where:

TS=ultimate tensile strength of shell plate, pounds per square inch (psi)

t=minimum thickness of shell plate, in weakest course (inches)

E=efficiency of longitudinal joint [For tube ligaments and pitch, determine E in accordance ASME Code, Section I. For riveted construction, refer to the National Board Inspection Code, 1973 edition. For seamless construction , consider E to be one hundred percent (100%).]

R=inside radius of weakest course of shell (inches)

FS=factor of safety [See subparagraph (a) of paragraph (4) and subparagraph (c) of paragraph (5) of this rule]

(b) Tensile Strength. When the tensile strength of steel or wrought iron shell plates is not known, it shall be taken as 55,000 psi for steel and 45,000 psi for wrought iron.

(c) Crushing Strength of Mild Steel. The resistance to crushing of mild steel shall be taken as 95,000 psi.

(d) Strength of Rivets in Shear. When computing the ultimate strength of rivets in shear, the following values in psi of the cross-sectional area of the rivet shank shall be used:

	PSI
Iron rivets in single shear	38,000
Iron rivets in double shear	76,000
Steel rivets in single shear	44,000
Steel rivets in double shear	88,000

(When the diameter of the rivet holes in the longitudinal joints of a boiler is not known, the diameter and cross-sectional area of rivets, after driving, may be selected from Table 1, or as ascertained by cutting out one (1) rivet in the body of the joint.)

Table 1

Sizes of Rivets Based on Plate Thickness

Thickness	1/4	9/32	5/16	11/32	3/8	13/32
of plate
(inches)
Diameter
of rivet
after	11/16	11/16	3/4	3/4	13/16	13/16
driving
(inches)
Thickness
of plate	7/16	15/32	1/2	9/16	5/8
(inches)
Diameter
of rivet
after	15/16	15/16	15/16	1-1/16	1-1/16
driving
(inches)

(e) The working pressure may be decreased by the inspector, with authorization of the Chief Inspector or Chief Inspector's Designee, if the condition and safety of the boiler warrant.

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-03-03-.13

New rule filed June 16, 2016; effective 9/14/2016.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 68-122-102, 68-122-104, and 68-122-202.