(1) The inspection requirements of this chapter apply only to boilers located in public assembly locations. A potable hot water supply boiler with a heat input of 200,000 British thermal units (Btu) per hour and above, up to a heat input not exceeding 400,000 Btu per hour, is exempt from inspection, but must be stamped with the A.S.M.E. code symbol “HLW” and the boiler’s A.S.M.E data report must be filed as required under s. 554.103(2).

(2) Each inspection of a boiler conducted pursuant to this chapter must be made by the chief boiler inspector, a deputy boiler inspector, or a special boiler inspector. An owner, or the owner’s designee, shall perform all operation, testing, manipulation of boiler controls and safety devices, removal of lagging, and disassembly of boiler components to allow the chief boiler inspector, deputy boiler inspector, or special boiler inspector to conduct inspections as required by this section.

(3) The construction, installation, and condition of each boiler used in a public assembly location shall be inspected as follows:

(a) Power boilers and high pressure, high temperature water boilers shall receive a certificate inspection annually. Such inspection shall include, but not be limited to, an external inspection while the boiler is under pressure and an internal inspection if the construction of the boiler so permits.

(b) Low pressure steam or vapor heating boilers shall receive a certificate inspection biennially. Such inspection shall include, but not be limited to, an internal inspection if the construction of the boiler so permits.

(c) Hot water heating boilers and hot water supply boilers shall receive a certificate inspection biennially. Such boilers shall receive an internal inspection every 4 years if the construction of the boiler so permits.

(4) Each boiler subject to inspection must be inspected within 30 days after expiration of the boiler’s certificate of operation. However, an inspection report must be received by the chief boiler inspector no later than 30 days after the projected expiration date of the certificate of operation. If, upon inspection, the chief boiler inspector, deputy boiler inspector, or special boiler inspector finds that a boiler is in violation of any provision of the State Boiler Code, the inspector must promptly notify the owner or user and state what repairs or other corrective measures are needed. Deputy boiler inspectors and special boiler inspectors shall file a written report, on a form adopted by rule of the department, on each certificate inspection with the chief boiler inspector within 15 days after the inspection. A certificate inspection report must list all violations of the State Boiler Code and any conditions that may adversely affect the operation of the boiler. The filing of reports of inspections, other than statutorily required inspections, is not required unless such inspections disclose that a boiler is in an unsafe condition or unless the boiler has failed and requires major repair or replacement. The inspection report must list the extent of damage to the boiler, as well as the cause of the failure, if known, and any other pertinent information. However, an inspection report must be filed for any inspection performed on a boiler with a previously identified code violation. The report must indicate whether the violation has been corrected. The agency responsible for conducting the inspection must perform followup inspections, not more than every 6 months, of a previously identified code violation until it is corrected.

(5) Upon a determination by the chief boiler inspector that a boiler cannot be safely operated, the boiler must immediately be shut down. The chief boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector shall attach a tag to the boiler indicating that the boiler has been shut down due to an unsafe condition. The boiler must remain shut down until a reinspection by the chief boiler inspector or a deputy boiler inspector determines that the boiler may be operated safely. A boiler that may not be safely operated, as determined by the chief boiler inspector, is deemed to constitute an imminent danger to the public health, safety, and welfare.

(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

History.—s. 8, ch. 87-361; s. 1, ch. 88-303; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 9, ch. 2017-175.