The most stringent laws for boilers are typically required at the state level. Some cities impose additional regulations as well. Across the United States, there are 183,000 commercial and industrial boilers. Most of these laws apply to steam boilers and hot water boilers.
Boiler inspections are primarily done from a safety perspective. Industrial boilers are powerful, operating at hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit. A steam or water leak can cause significant injury. The worst-case scenario regarding boiler safety is an explosion occurring. Safety instruments and inspections are done to prevent these occurrences. Additionally, the emissions given off by boilers could cause toxic air to be released.
Downtime can occur when boilers are not operating properly. Think of the significant role a boiler plays in your facility, would this mean a loss of heating for people residing or working there? Would this stop part of your business’s important processes?
The productivity of your boiler is also helped with regular inspections. Boilers with problems are often inefficient, using up too much energy and not operating effectively. Clean boilers will cost less to operate.
Worried about boiler efficiency and want help with maintenance? Contact Chardon Labs with a quick online message or by calling us at (380) 224-7395.
Boiler replacement is a costly ordeal. That is why boiler inspections can be useful to prevent damage before it causes a boiler to be inoperable. Additionally, boilers have a certain lifespan, and their condition should be monitored to get the most out of it, while still being feasible.
Each state has its own laws regarding boiler inspections, and many of them are like each other. It is important to become familiar with the inspection requirements for your specific pressure boiler.
| State or City | Low-Pressure Inspections | High-Pressure Inspections |
| Chicago | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Delaware | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Illinois | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Indiana | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Kentucky | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Maryland | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Michigan | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| Ohio | 2 Years | 1 Year+ |
| Pennsylvania | 2 Years | 1 Year+ |
| Tennessee | 2 Years | 6 Months (Externally) 1 year (Internally) |
| New Jersey | 1 Year | 6 Months (Externally) 1 Year (Internally) |
| New York | 2 Years | 1 Year |
| New York City | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Washington D.C. | 1 Year | 1 Year |
| Wisconsin | 3 Years | 1 Year |
Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has a Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances. This regulatory body has the Boiler Safety Program, which boiler owners must comply with. It requires high-pressure boilers to have yearly inspections done. Low-pressure boiler models need to have this inspection done every other year.
Illinois law gives boiler regulatory power to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshall under the Division of Boiler and Pressure Safety. High-pressure (power and process) boilers need to be inspected annually. In contrast, low-pressure boilers only need to be inspected biennially. In Chicago, the Boiler Inspection Bureau oversees boiler inspections. Chicago follows the same requirements as Illinois.
In Indiana, the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Section of the Department of Homeland Security regulates boilers. High-pressure boilers must be inspected annually and low-pressure boilers bi-annually.
Kentucky has a Boiler Section under the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction that regulates boilers. High-pressure boilers must be inspected annually. Low-pressure boilers just need this done bi-annually.
Under Maryland’s Department of Labor, the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Inspection Unit regulates industrial and commercial boilers. Maryland law states a boiler must be inspected annually if it is a high-pressure one. Low-pressure boilers need to be inspected biennially.
Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs requires high-pressure boilers to have an inspection every year in most buildings and low-pressure ones to be inspected every other year.
Ohio’s Department of Commerce Boiler Section requires high-pressure boilers to undergo annual inspections unless they obtain biennial inspection approval. Low-pressure boilers need to be inspected bi-annually (apart from cast iron which needs to be every 3 years.)
Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor mandates low-pressure boilers to be tested every 2 years. High-pressure (process and power) boilers will need to be inspected annually. If it passes it could be extended to 2 years for power boilers and 5 years for process boilers.
Tennessee, under the Department of Labor & Workforce Development Boiler Unit, requires an internal inspection annually. It requires an external inspection every 6 months (half of these can coincide with the annual inspection). Low-pressure boilers need to be inspected every other year.
In New Jersey’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Division of Public Safety and Occupational Safety and Health regulates boilers. This specific bureau is called the Mechanical Inspection Bureau of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Compliance, or MIBBPVC.
New York’s Boiler Safety Bureau in the New York State Department of Labor requires high-pressure boilers to be inspected annually and low-pressure boilers to be inspected once every 2 years. However, in New York City pressure boilers need to be inspected annually as well.
In Washington D.C. (District of Colombia) The Department of Inspections, Smoke and Boiler Inspection Section, regulates boilers. Both low-pressure and high-pressure boilers must be inspected on an annual basis.
Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services requires high-pressure boilers to be inspected every year, and low-pressure boilers to be inspected every 3 years.
Nationally, the EPA imposes emission standards on boilers under The Clean Air Act (1990 version) and additional additions.
Most recently (for coal, primarily oil/fuel, biomass, and non-waste boilers) it has implemented the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or NESHAP. This legislation applies to industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers. It also applies to process heaters. This regulates carbon monoxide, mercury, hydrogen chloride, particulate matter, ozone, lead, flue gas, sulfur, and nitrogen fuel. Electric, hot water and primarily gas boilers are not affected by this new regulation.
Boiler regulations will vary by state. Dirty and poorly maintained issues will develop surface and mechanical issues over time. Boiler inspectors are required to come out on the state level at certain time intervals. There is usually a difference between low-pressure boilers and high-pressure boilers (power/process boilers). The following will go over the applicable regulatory laws in each state for industrial and commercial boiler inspections.
For complying with boiler emission standards, the EPA recommends stack testing and fuel analysis. If selected for a CO and THC variability analysis, you need to monitor emissions for 30 days. This then needs to be reported, and the data needs to be submitted.
Don’t let scaling or other maintenance issues damage your commercial boiler system and prevent you from passing a boiler inspection. Chardon Labs runs regular chemical water treatment service programs that will keep your boiler not only operable but efficient. You can reach us with a quick message here or via calling at (380) 224-7395. We provide services in all the states mentioned above.
Please note that regulations may update and although boiler inspections are managed at the state level some cities could require additional or different regulations. Additionally, there may be more specific requirements related to type of boiler. Additionally, it could be influenced by whether the boiler passed its last inspection. This article is not legal advice.
