Sec. 755.026. EXTENSIONS. (a) With the approval of the executive director and the inspection agency that has jurisdiction for the power boiler, the interval between internal inspections may be extended to a period not exceeding a total of 60 months. For unfired steam boilers or steam collection or liberation drums of process steam generators, the inspection interval may be extended to the next scheduled downtime of the boiler, but not exceeding a total of:

(1) 84 months for unfired steam boilers;

(2) 120 months for steam collection or liberation drums of process steam generators manufactured before January 1, 1970; or

(3) 144 months for steam collection or liberation drums of process steam generators manufactured on or after January 1, 1970.

(b) The interval between internal inspections of a boiler may be extended only if:

(1) continuous water treatment under competent and experienced supervision to control and limit corrosion and deposits has been in effect since its last internal inspection;

(2) the last internal and current external inspection of the boiler indicates that the interval may safely be extended; and

(3) accurate and complete records are available that show:

(A) that since the last internal inspection samples of boiler water have been taken or monitored at regular intervals not exceeding 24 hours of operation and that the water condition in the boiler is satisfactorily controlled;

(B) the dates that the boiler was out of service since the last internal inspection and the reasons that the boiler was taken out of service; and

(C) the nature of the repairs made to the boiler and the reasons that those repairs were made.

(c) In addition to an extension authorized under Subsection (a), the executive director and the inspection agency may grant an emergency extension for a period not exceeding 120 days to the inspection interval covered by the boiler's certificate of operation on receipt of a request for extension stating that an emergency exists. Before the extension may be granted, the inspection agency must make an external inspection of the boiler, and the conditions imposed under Subsection (b) must be met. The commissioner and the inspection agency may not grant more than one emergency extension under this subsection in an interval between internal inspections.

(c-1) The executive director and the inspection agency on request may grant an extension for a period not to exceed 24 months in addition to the extension authorized under Subsection (a)(2). The request must include a report issued by an engineer licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers certifying:

(1) completion in accordance with industry standards of a quantitative engineering assessment for in-service equipment, repairs, and alterations prescribed by the National Board Inspection Code NB23; and

(2) based on the assessment, the steam collection or liberation drums of the process steam generator are safe to operate.

(d) If an extended period between internal inspections is approved by the executive director and the inspection agency, the executive director shall issue a new certificate of operation for the extended period of operation.

(e) If the interval between internal inspections of a gas fired boiler is extended under Subsection (a), the executive director and inspection agency shall require that an inspection of the gas regulator or pressure reducing valve that services the boiler be performed as part of the next regularly scheduled external certificate inspection of the boiler to verify proper venting of gas to a safe point of discharge.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1242, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 352, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 18, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 816, Sec. 26.011, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 190 (H.B. 2228), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.