CHAPTER 520

An Act to authorize the State Corporation Commission to adopt standards
and regulations relating to the manufacturing, disposition and tn-
stallation of boilers and pressure vessels; to define terms; to provide
exemptions; to authorize counties, cities and towns to adopt and en-
force regulations concerning such boilers and pressure vessels, to
provide the procedure for the adoption and distribution of regula-
tions; and to provide penalties for violations of requiations. 476)

Approved March 31, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meaning
set forth in this paragraph unless the context requires a different meaning :

a. Pressure vessel—every high-pressure boiler, low-pressure boiler,
miniature boiler, and unfired pressure vessel.

b. Boiler—a pressure vessel and associated contiguous components
in which a fluid is vaporized by the application of heat resulting from
electricity, nuclear energy, or the combustion of materials. Superheaters,
economizers and other pressure parts directly connected to the boiler are
included, reheaters are included.

c. High-pressure boiler—a boiler operating at more than fifteen
pounds pressure.

d. Low-pressure boiler—a boiler used exclusively for low pressure
steam heating, hot water heating and hot water supply and including:

(1) All steam boilers for operation at not more than fifteen pounds
pressure;

(2) Hot water heating and hot water supply boilers for operation at
not more than one hundred sixty pounds pressure and not more than two
hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit temperature.

e. Miniature boiler—a boiler which does not exceed any of the fol-
lowing limits:

(1) Sixteen inches inside diameter of shell;

(2) Five-cubic-foot gross volume, exclusive of casting and insulation;

(3) Twenty square feet of water heating surface;

(4) Operation at one hundred pounds pressure.

f. Unfired pressure vessel—a vessel in which pressure is obtained
from an external source or from an indirect application of heat.

g. Pressure—gauge pressure or the pressure above the atmospheric
expressed in pounds per square inch.

§ 2. The State Corporation Commission is authorized from time to
time to establish official standards and adopt regulations dealing with
the manufacture within the State for use in the State, the sale or other
disposition for use in the State, the installation within the State, of
boilers and pressure vessels. All such standards and regulations shall be
designed for the protection of human life and property from unsafe or
dangerous manufacture, sale or other disposition, or installation of any
such boiler or pressure vessel.

§ 3. The standards adopted shall not apply to boilers and pressure
vessels purchased, installed, or placed in operation prior to the date of
adoption of the standards.

§ 4. This act shall not apply to:

a. Boilers or unfired pressure vessels under the jurisdiction and in-
spection of the federal government or any agency thereof;

b. Boilers and unfired pressure vessels used on farms solely for agri-
cultural purposes;
c. Boilers and fired or unfired pressure vessels used in private resi-
dences or apartment houses of less than four apartments;

7 Boilers of railroad companies, ships, boats or other water-borne
vessels ;

e. Hot water supply boilers and unfired pressure vessels used as hot
water supply storage tanks heated by steam or any other indirect means
when the following limitations are not exceeded:

(1) A heat output of two hundred thousand B. T. U. per hour;

(2) A water temperature of two hundred degrees Fahrenheit;

7 (3) A nominal water-containing capacity of one hundred twenty
gallons.

f. Unfired pressure vessels containing air only located on vehicles or
vessels used for transporting passengers or freight;

g. Unfired pressure vessels containing air only installed on the right
of way of railroads and used directly in the operation of trains;

h. Unfired pressure vessels with a nominal water-containing capacity
of one hundred twenty gallons or less for containing water under pressure,
including those containing air, the compression of which serves only as a
cushion ;

1. Unfired pressure vessels containing air only, providing the volume
does not exceed eight cubic feet or the operating pressure is not greater
than one hundred seventy-five pounds;

j. Unfired presure vessels having an operating pressure not exceeding
fifteen pounds with no limitation on size;

k. Unfired pressure vessels having an inside diameter not exceeding
six inches with no limitation on pressure;

], Cylinders and containers meeting the requirements of and used in
accordance with the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission;

m. Boilers and pressure vessels used in development or experiment
by any organization or business primarily engaged in research and experi-
mentation ;

n. Public service companies operating under the rules and regula-
tions of the State Corporation Commission ;

o. Unfired pressure vessels used as containers for liquefied petroleum
gases and subject to the regulation of the State Corporation Commission
under Chapter 116 of the Acts of 1950.

p. Any manufacturing establishment engaged in the manufacture of
petroleum, chemicals, chemical products or derivatives, or wood pulp, or
the further processing of such petroleum, chemicals, chemical products or
derivatives, or wood pulp;

q. Boilers and pressure vessels covered by liability insurance under a
policy written by an insurance carrier authorized by the State Corporation
Commission to issue policies of insurance covering such matters in Virginia.

§ 5. Nothing in this act shall be construed as repealing any valid local
ordinance or regulation now in effect adopted pursuant to general law or
charter provision; provided, however, that if any such ordinance or regula-
tion is less strict than any standard or regulation promulgated or adopted
by the State Corporation Commission then such ordinance or regulation
shall be superseded by the applicable standard or regulation of the State
Corporation Commission.

§ 6. Regulations adopted under this act may be enforced by local au-
thorities.

§ 7. Before initially adopting any standards or regulations here-
under, the State Corporation Commission shall hold a public hearing on
such proposed standards or regulations.

§ 8. The standards and regulations adopted by the Commission under
this act shall be published by the Commission in a volume separate from
any of its other reports. The standards and regulations thus adopted and
printed shall become effective thirty days after a printed copy thereof is
filed with the Clerk of the Commission and shall remain effective as long
aS a copy remains on file with such Clerk.

§ 9. Whenever any regulation adopted pursuant to this act becomes
effective, any person who violates any provision thereof shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor.