Bill Text: TX SB1806 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the exemption of miniature boilers that are integrated as a component of a medical device regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and unfired pressure vessels contained within an autoclave from boiler inspection requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-20 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1806 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB1806-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Springer S.B. No. 1806
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the exemption of miniature boilers that are integrated
  as a component of a medical device regulated by the United States
  Food and Drug Administration and unfired pressure vessels contained
  within an autoclave from boiler inspection requirements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 755.001, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 755.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
         (1)  "Alteration" means a substantial change in an original
  design.
         (2)  "Board" means the board of boiler rules.
         (3)  "Boiler" means:
               (A)  a heating boiler;
               (B)  a nuclear boiler;
               (C)  a power boiler;
               (D)  an unfired steam boiler; or
               (E)  a process steam generator.
         (4)  "Certificate inspection" means the required internal or
  external boiler inspection, the report of which is used by the chief
  inspector to decide whether to issue a certificate of operation.
         (5)  "Certificate of operation" means a certificate issued
  by the executive director to allow the operation of a boiler.
         (6)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
  Licensing and Regulation.
         (7)  "Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing
  and Regulation.
               (7-a) "Executive director" means the executive director
  of the department.
         (8)  "External inspection" means an inspection of the
  exterior of a boiler and its appurtenances that is made, if
  possible, while the boiler is in operation.
         (9)  "Heating boiler" means a steam heating boiler, hot water
  heating boiler, hot water supply boiler, or potable water heater
  that is directly fired with oil, gas, solar energy, electricity,
  coal, or other solid or liquid fuel.
         (10)  "High-temperature water boiler" means a water boiler
  designed for operation at pressures exceeding 160 pounds per square
  inch or temperatures exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
         (11)  "Hot water heating boiler" means a boiler designed for
  operation at a pressure not exceeding 160 pounds per square inch or
  temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit at or near the
  boiler outlet.
         (12)  "Hot water supply boiler" means a boiler designed for
  operation at pressures not exceeding 160 pounds per square inch or
  temperatures not exceeding 250 degrees Fahrenheit at or near the
  boiler outlet if the boiler's:
               (A)  heat input exceeds 200,000 British thermal units
  per hour;
               (B)  water temperature exceeds 210 degrees Fahrenheit;
  or
               (C)  nominal water-containing capacity exceeds 120
  gallons.
         (13)  "Inspection agency" means an authorized inspection
  agency providing inspection services.
         (14)  "Inspector" means the chief inspector, a deputy
  inspector, or an authorized inspector.
         (15)  "Internal inspection" means a complete and thorough
  inspection of the interior waterside and fireside areas of a boiler
  as construction allows.
         (16)  "Miniature boilers" means boilers designed and
  constructed not to exceed the following dimensions: 
               (a)  16 inches inside diameter of shell; 
               (b)  20 square feet of heating surface (not applicable
  to electric boilers);
               (c)  5 cubic feet of gross volume exclusive of casing
  and insulation; and 
               (d)  100 psig maximum allowable working pressure. 
         (17) (16) "Nuclear boiler" means a nuclear power plant
  system, including its pressure vessels, piping systems, pumps,
  valves, and storage tanks, that produces and controls an output of
  thermal energy from nuclear fuel and the associated systems
  essential to the function of the power system.
         (18) (17) "Portable boiler" means a boiler primarily intended
  for use at a temporary location.
         (19) (18) "Potable water heater" means a boiler designed for
  operation at pressures not exceeding 160 pounds per square inch and
  water temperatures not exceeding 210 degrees Fahrenheit if the
  boiler's:
               (A)  heat input exceeds 200,000 British thermal units
  per hour; or
               (B)  nominal water-containing capacity exceeds 120
  gallons.
         (20) (19) "Power boiler" means:
               (A)  a high-temperature water boiler; or
               (B)  a boiler in which steam is generated at a pressure
  exceeding 15 pounds per square inch for a purpose external to the
  boiler.
         (21) (20) "Process steam generator" means an evaporator, heat
  exchanger, or vessel in which steam is generated by the use of heat
  resulting from the operation of a processing system that contains a
  number of pressure vessels, such as used in the manufacture of
  chemical and petroleum products.
         (22) (21) "Repair" means the work necessary to return a
  boiler to a safe and satisfactory operating condition without
  changing the original design.
         (23) (22) "Safety appliance" means a safety device such as a
  safety valve or a safety relief valve for a boiler provided to
  diminish the danger of accidents.
         (24) (23) "Standard boiler" means a boiler that bears a Texas
  stamp, the stamp of a nationally recognized engineering
  professional society, or the stamp of any jurisdiction that has
  adopted a standard of construction equivalent to the standard
  required by the executive director.
         (24-a) (23 a) "Steam cooker" means a steam heating boiler
  that is:
               (A)  designed to steam cook food;
               (B)  operated at a pressure not exceeding five pounds
  per square inch; and
               (C)  equipped with a safety appliance operated at a
  pressure not exceeding five pounds per square inch.
         (25)(24) "Steam heating boiler" means a boiler designed for
  operation at pressures not exceeding 15 pounds per square inch.
         (26)(25) "Unfired steam boiler" means an unfired pressure
  vessel in which steam is generated. The term does not include:
               (A)  vessels known as evaporators or heat exchangers; or
               (B)  vessels in which steam is generated by using the
  heat that results from the operation of a processing system that
  contains a number of pressure vessels, as used in the manufacture of
  chemical and petroleum products.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 755.022, Health and
  Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  This chapter does not apply to:
               (1) boilers owned or operated by the federal
  government;
               (2) pressure vessels or process steam generators, other
  than steam collection or liberation drums of process steam
  generators;
               (3)  manually fired miniature boilers that:
                     (A) are constructed or maintained for
  locomotives, boats, tractors, or stationary engines only as a hobby
  for exhibition, recreation, education, or historical purposes and
  not for commercial use;
                     (B)  have an inside diameter of 12 inches or less
  or a grate area of two square feet or less; and
                     (C)  are equipped with a safety valve of adequate
  size, a water level indicator, and a pressure gauge;
               (4)  boilers that are designed for operation only at
  atmospheric pressure and that are equipped with two independent
  means to prevent the buildup of pressure;
               (5)  steam cookers; or
               (6)  espresso machines;
               (7)  Miniature boilers, as defined in Sec. 755.001(16)
  of this Chapter, that are integrated as a component of a medical
  device regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration;
  or 
               (8)  Unfired pressure vessels contained within an
  autoclave.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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