The owner or user has the responsibility to prepare a
pressure-retaining item for internal inspection. Requirements of occupational
safety and health regulations (federal, state, local, or other), as well as the
owner or user's own safety program and the safety program of the inspector's
employer are applicable. In the absence of such rules, prudent and generally
accepted engineering safety procedures satisfactory to the inspector shall be
employed by the owner or user.
The owner or user shall prepare a boiler for internal
inspection in the following manner or as required by the inspector:
(1) Water shall be drawn off and the boiler
thoroughly washed (when a boiler is being prepared for internal inspection, the
water should not be withdrawn until it has been sufficiently cooled).
(2) All manhole and handhole plates and
wash-out plugs and water column connections shall be removed, the furnace and
combustion chambers thoroughly cooled and cleaned.
(3) All grates of internally fired boilers
shall be removed.
(4) At each
annual inspection brickwork shall be removed as required by the inspector in
order to determine the condition of the boiler headers, drums, furnace,
supports, or other parts.
(5) The
steam gauge shall be removed for testing or evidence of testing
shown.
(6) Any leakage of steam or
water into the boiler shall be prevented by either disconnecting the pipe or
block valve at the most convenient point or installing isolation blinds. The
owner or
user must ensure that an effective energy isolation program (lock out
and/or tag out) is in place and in effect that will prevent the unexpected
energizing, start up, or release of stored energy.
The inspector shall determine that a safe atmosphere exists
before entering the boiler or pressure-retaining item.
(7) The low water cutout shall be
disassembled to such a degree as the inspector shall require.
(8) Pressure relief devices shall be removed
and tested if required by the
inspector.
Unfired pressure vessels shall be prepared for internal
inspection to the extent deemed necessary by the inspector.
