Title 8 . Labor and Workforce Development

Chapter 80 . Boiler and Pressure Vessel Construction Code

Section 900. Definitions

8 AAC 80.900. Definitions

(a) In this chapter and in AS 18.60.180 - 18.60.395, unless the context requires otherwise

(1) "alteration" means a change in any item described on the original manufacturer's data report which affects the pressure capability of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel, and includes, for example, a non-physical change such as an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external) or design temperature of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel, and a reduction in minimum temperature such that additional mechanical tests are required;

(2) " ASME Code " means the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, adopted by reference in 8 AAC 80.010;

(3) "boiler" means a closed vessel in which water or other vaporizing fluids are heated, steam is generated, steam is superheated, or a combination of these processes occurs, under pressure or vacuum, for use external to the vessel by the direct application of heat; "boiler" includes fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water where these units are separate from processing systems and complete within themselves; "boiler" also means a

(A) power boiler - a boiler in which steam or other vapor is generated at a pressure of more than 15 psi or a water boiler intended for operation in excess of 160 psi at 250 degrees F.;

(B) miniature boiler - a power boiler or high-temperature water boiler which does not exceed the following limits:

(i) 16 inches (410 mm) inside diameter of shell;

(ii) 20 square feet (1.9 m 2 ) heating surface (not applicable to electric boilers);

(iii) five cubic feet (142 l) gross volume exclusive of casing and insulation; and

(iv) 100 psi (690 kPa gauge) maximum allowable working pressure;

(C) waste heat boiler - an unfired pressure vessel or system of unfired pressure vessels intended for the purpose of producing and controlling an output of thermal energy;

(D) steam heating boiler - a steam boiler for operation at pressures not to exceed 15 psi (103 kPa gauge);

(E) hot water heating boiler - a boiler in which no steam is generated, from which hot water is circulated for heating purposes and then returned to the boiler, and that operates at a pressure not to exceed 160 psi (1100 kPa gauge) or a temperature of 250 degrees F. (121 degrees C.), at or near the boiler outlet;

(F) hot water supply boiler - a boiler completely filled with water that furnishes hot water to be used externally to the boiler at pressures not to exceed 160 psi (1100 kPa gauge) or at temperatures not to exceed 250 degrees F. (121 degrees C.), at or near the boiler outlet; and

(G) portable boiler - a boiler which is primarily intended for temporary location and the construction and usage of which permits it to be readily moved from one location to another;

(4) "certificate of inspection" means a certificate issued by the department for the operation of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel, as required by AS 18.60.340 and 18.60.390;

(5) "chief inspector" means the individual who is in charge of boiler and pressure vessel inspections in the mechanical inspection section of the division of labor standards and safety in the department;

(6) "commissioner" means the commissioner of labor and Workforce Development;

(7) "department" means the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development;

(8) "director" means the director of the labor standards and safety division of the department, or his or her designee;

(9) "discharge capacity" means the discharge capacity of safety or safety relief valves in terms of Btu's or pounds per hour;

(10) "external inspection" means an inspection made when a boiler or unfired pressure vessel is in operation;

(11) "internal inspection" means as complete an examination as can reasonably be made of the internal and external surfaces of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel while it is shut down, with manhole plates, handhole plates or other inspection opening closures removed as required by the inspector;

(12) "owner or user" means any person that is legally responsible for the safe installation, operation, and maintenance of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel within the state;

(13) "pressure vessel" means a vessel in which the pressure is obtained from an external source, or by the application of heat from an indirect source, or from a direct source other than those boilers defined in (3) of this section;

(14) "psi" means pounds per square inch;

(15) "repair" means the work necessary to restore a boiler or unfired pressure vessel to a safe and satisfactory operating condition, in accordance with the provisions of the NBIC;

(16) "NB" means the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors;

(17) " NBIC " means the National Board Inspection Code Manual for Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, as adopted in AS 18.60.315 ;

(18) "R stamp" means the repair stamp issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors for the repair of boilers or pressure vessels;

(19) "VR stamp" means the safety or safety relief valve repair stamp issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors;

(20) "automatic utility hot water heater," as used in AS 18.60.210 (a)(9), means a potable hot water heater

(A) with a heat input of no more than 200,000 Btu per hour;

(B) with a nominal water-containing capacity of no more than 120 gallons;

(C) that heats water to a temperature of no more than 210 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(D) where the primary heat absorbent is for potable water supply;

(21) "Btu" means British thermal unit;

(22) "control copy" means a quality system manual described in the NBIC, RA 2151(e);

(23) "deputy inspector" means an employee of the department assigned by the department chief inspector to conduct inspections under this chapter;

(24) "kPa" means kilopascal;

(25) repealed 9/25/2002;

(26) "special inspector" means an individual commissioned under AS 18.60.240 and 8 AAC 80.040 to perform inspections under this chapter;

(27) "approved inspector" means an employee of the department appointed by the commissioner and approved by the director to perform inspections of cast iron boilers and domestic hot water heaters under AS 18.60.180 - 18.60.395 and this chapter;

(28) "National Board" has the same meaning given for the term "NB" in this section.

(b) As used in AS 18.60.210 (a)(5), "inside diameter not exceeding six inches" means having a cross sectional area no greater than 28.26 square inches.

(c) As used in AS 18.60.210 (a)(2), "unfired pressure vessels" means portable "DOT" stamped pressure vessels used for the shipment of liquids or gases under pressure.

History: Eff. 6/21/84, Register 90; am 10/21/92, Register 124; am 12/17/99, Register 152; am 11/1/2000, Register 156; am 9/25/2002, Register 163; am 12/6/2003, Register 168

Authority: AS 18.60.180

AS 18.60.315

Editor's note: For the purposes of 8 AAC 80, the Anchorage office of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development can be contacted at Mechanical Inspection Section, Division of Labor Standards and Safety, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 3301 Eagle Street, Suite 302, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; Phone: (907) 269-4925.

As of Register 151 (October 1999), the regulations attorney made technical revisions under AS 44.62.125 (b)(6) to reflect the name change of the Department of Labor to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development made by ch. 58, SLA 1999 and the corresponding title change of the commissioner of labor.