69A-51.060. Requirements for New Boiler Installations in Places of Public Assembly

(1) The provisions of this rule shall apply to new installations of power boilers, high pressure high temperature water boilers, heating boilers, and hot water supply boilers located in places of public assembly. The installer of any boiler placed in use in this state after January 1, 2018, must, before installing the boiler, electronically apply for a permit to install the boiler from the chief boiler inspector using Form No. DFS-K3-2203, Registration for New Boiler (Eff. 02/19), which is hereby incorporated by reference, and available at the following link: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13309. The form may also be obtained online and submitted for approval on the Department’s website at: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/sfm/bfp/boilersafety/; or from the Boiler Safety Program, Bureau of Fire Prevention, Division of State Fire Marshal, 325 John Knox Road, Third Floor, Atrium Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32303, Phone: [phone]. The application must include the boiler’s ASME manufacturer’s data report. The installer must contact the chief boiler inspector to schedule an inspection for each boiler no later than seven (7) days before the boiler is placed in service.

(a) No boiler except those exempted by Rule 69A-51.045(5), F.A.C., may be installed in this state unless it has been constructed, inspected, stamped, and installed in conformity with the ASME Code, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C., registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and registered directly with the Boiler Safety Program by the authorized inspection agency.

(b) A boiler constructed equivalent to the required standards or having a standard stamping of another state that has adopted a standard of construction equivalent to the standards of the State of Florida may be accepted by the Department, provided, however, that the person desiring to install the boiler requests permission by email ([e-mail]) from the chief boiler inspector prior to installation and supplies the chief boiler inspector with the manufacture’s data report to permit the chief boiler inspector to make an informed decision.

(c) A boiler must include or accommodate any equipment that is necessary to allow for the close, physical inspection of manways, pressure relieving devices, and boiler appurtenances. Such equipment may either be permanently installed or be of a design intended for temporary use. Temporary equipment must be positioned by the boiler owner or user at the time of the inspections required under Section 554.108, F.S.

(2) Electrically heated boilers.

(a) All electrically heated boilers must bear the applicable ASME Code Stamp and the Underwriters Laboratory label. The boilers must be supplied by the manufacturer as a complete unit and must not be converted in the field.

(b) Electrically heated boilers must be permanently grounded in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, the National Electrical Code®, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-3.012, F.A.C.

(c) A suitable screen or guard must be provided around high tension bushings and a sign posted warning of high voltage. This screen or guard must be so located that it will be impossible for anyone working around the boiler to accidently come in contact with the high tension circuits.

(3) Power boilers.

(a) Exit from the boiler rooms. All boiler rooms exceeding 500 square feet of floor area and containing one (1) or more boilers having a fuel-burning capacity of 1,000,000 BTU’s must have at least two (2) means of exit. Each boiler room must have at least two (2) means of egress, each remotely located from the other.

(b) Inspection space. In accordance with National Board Inspection Code, Part 1, Section 2.3.3, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C., all boilers must be located so that adequate space is provided for the proper operation of the boiler and its appurtenances; for the inspection of all surfaces, drums, tubes, waterwalls, economizers, piping, valves, and other equipment; and for necessary maintenance and repair.

(c) Explosion doors. Explosion doors, if used must be equipped with substantial deflectors to divert the blast.

(d) Blow-off tanks.

1. Blow-off piping from a power boiler must not discharge directly into a sewer. A blow-off tank must be used where conditions do not provide adequate and safe open discharge.

2. Blow-off tanks installed after the effective date of this rule, if of metal, must have a plate thickness of not less than 5/16'' and must be designed for a minimum working pressure of 50 psig. Blow-off tanks must be built, stamped, and installed in accordance with the requirements of the National Board Inspection Code and the ASME Code, which are incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(e) The discharge of safety valves must vent to the atmosphere and the outlets must be located so as to prevent injury to personnel. Blow-off pipes and other outlets must also be located so as to prevent injury to personnel.

(f) The stamping of the boiler and safety valves must not be concealed by lagging or paint and must be exposed at all times unless a suitable record is kept of the location of the boiler stamping so it may be readily uncovered at any time.

(g) Safety valves.

1. Each boiler must have at least one (1) ASME Code certified safety valve, and if it has more than 500 sq. ft. of bare tube water heating surface, or an electric power input of more than 1100 KW, it must have two (2) or more safety valves of the same type.

2. The valve or valves must be connected to the boiler, independent of any other steam connectors and attached as close as possible to the boiler without any intervening valves.

3. The safety valve capacity of each boiler must be such that the safety valve or valves will discharge all of the steam that can be generated by the boiler without allowing the pressure to rise more than six (6) percent above the highest pressure to which the valve is set and in no case to more than six (6) percent above the maximum allowable working pressure.

4. The safety valve or safety relief valve capacity must be in compliance with Section I, Part PG, PG-70, Capacity of Pressure Relief Valves, of the ASME Code, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C., but must not be less than the maximum designed steaming capacity as determined by the manufacturer.

5. No boiler may be operated without an ASME Code certified safety valve installed, nor have the safety valves act at a pressure in excess of the safe working pressure stated on the certificate of operation.

6. Repairs to safety and safety relief valves must be conducted only by the manufacturer or by holders of the National Board “VR” certificate of authorization.

7. The use of weighted-lever safety valves or safety valves having either the seat or disk of cast iron are prohibited; valves of this type of construction must be replaced by direct, spring-loaded, pop-type valves that conform to the requirements of the ASME Code, Section I, which is incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(h) Boiler feeding.

1. Each boiler must have a feed supply which will permit it to be fed at anytime while under pressure.

2. Boiler feed to all boilers must conform to the requirements of the ASME Code and to the National Board Inspection Code, which are incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(i) Water level indicators.

1. Each boiler, except forced flow steam generators with no fixed steam and waterline, and except high temperature water boilers of the forced circulation type that have no steam and waterline, must have at least one (1) water gauge glass.

2. Water level indicators must conform to the requirements of the ASME Code and to the National Board Inspection Code, which are incorporated by reference by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(j) Pressure gages. Boiler pressure gages must conform to the requirements of the ASME Code and to the National Board Inspection Code, which are incorporated by reference in Rule 69A-51.010, F.A.C.

(k) Pressure reducing valves.

1. Where pressure reducing valves are used, one (1) or more safety relief valves must be provided on the low pressure side of the reducing valve when the piping or equipment on the low pressure side does not meet the requirements for the full initial pressure. The safety or safety relief valves must be located adjoining or as close as possible to the reducing valve. Proper protection must be provided to prevent injury or damage caused by escaping fluid from the discharge of the safety relief valves if vented to the atmosphere. The combined discharge capacity of the safety or safety relief valves must be such that the pressure rating is not exceeded in case the reducing valve fails in the open position.

2. The use of hand controlled bypasses around the reducing valves is permissible. If a bypass is used around a reducing valve, the safety valve required on the low pressure side must be of sufficient capacity to relieve all the fluid that can pass through the bypass without overpressuring the low pressure side.

3. A pressure gauge must be installed on the low pressure side of the reducing valve.

(l) Supports. Each boiler must be supported by masonry or structural supports of sufficient strength and rigidity to safely support the boiler and its contents. There must be no excessive vibration in either the boiler or its connecting piping.

(m) Air and ventilation requirements – Combustion air supply and ventilation of boiler room.

A source of outside air must be provided for each boiler to permit satisfactory combustion of the fuel as well as proper ventilation of the boiler room under normal operating conditions.

Rulemaking Authority 554.103, 554.108(6) FS. Law Implemented 554.103, 554.108 FS. History–New 2-27-89, Amended 10-23-00, Formerly 4A-51.060, Amended 9-30-10, 5-21-12, 8-10-21.