HSB 579 (LSB 5645HC (1) 87)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON LABOR BILL BY CHAIRPERSON DEYOE)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to boiler and unfired steam pressure vessel inspections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 89.3, subsections 1, 7, and 8, Code 2018, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  It shall be the duty of the commissioner, to inspect or cause to be inspected internally and or externally, at least once every twelve months, except as otherwise provided in this section, in order to determine whether all such equipment is in a safe and satisfactory condition, and properly constructed and maintained for the purpose for which it is used, all boilers and unfired steam pressure vessels operating in excess of fifteen pounds per square inch, all low pressure heating boilers and unfired steam pressure vessels located in places of public assembly and other appurtenances used in this state for generating or transmitting steam for power, or for using steam under pressure for heating or steaming purposes.
   7.  Internal inspections of steel hot water heating boilers shall be conducted once every six years. External operating inspections shall be conducted annually in years other than the year in which internal inspections are conducted.
   8.  Inspections of unfired steam pressure vessels operating in excess of fifteen pounds per square inch and low pressure steam boilers shall be conducted at least once each calendar year. The inspections conducted within each two-year period shall include an external inspection conducted while the boiler is operating and an internal inspection, where construction permits. No more than one inspection shall be conducted per six-month period. An internal inspection of an unfired steam pressure vessel or low pressure steam boiler may be required at any time by the commissioner upon the observation by an inspector of conditions, enumerated by the commissioner through rules, warranting an internal inspection.  If a low pressure steam boiler is in dry lay-up, an internal inspection shall be conducted in lieu of an external inspection.
    Sec. 2.  Section 89.4, subsection 1, paragraph i, Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
   i.  Water heaters used for potable water if the capacity is less than or equal to fifty one hundred twenty gallons, the burner input is less than or equal to fifty two hundred thousand British thermal units, and the maximum allowable working pressure is less than one hundred sixty pounds per square inch.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to boiler and unfired steam pressure vessel inspections conducted pursuant to Code chapter 89.
   The bill modifies the duty of the labor commissioner to inspect or cause to be inspected internally and externally at least every 12 months all boilers and unfired steam pressure vessels meeting certain specifications. The bill provides that such inspections every 12 months need only be internal or external.
   The bill provides that external operating inspections of steel hot water boilers need not be conducted in years in which an internal inspection is conducted. The bill also changes the term “steel hot water boilers” to “steel hot water heating boilers”.
   The bill provides that if a low pressure steam boiler is in dry lay-up, which is a method of maintaining and treating a boiler when it is not in use, an internal inspection shall be substituted for an external inspection. 
   The bill modifies an exemption from Code chapter 89 by providing that the exemption applies to water heaters used for potable water if the capacity is less than or equal to 120 gallons and the burner input is less than or equal to 200,000 British thermal units, rather than 50 gallons and 50,000 British thermal units as provided under current law.