Section 680IAC2-5-2. Preparation for inspection

   (a) The owner or user of a boiler or unfired pressure vessel required to be inspected shall, upon due notice, prepare the boiler or vessel for the proposed inspection at the appointed time in the manner specified by the inspector.

  (b) For internal and external inspection of boilers not under pressure, the boiler shall be prepared for inspection prior to the inspector's arrival by:

(1) drawing the water from the boiler;

(2) removing all manhole plates, all handhole plates, wash-out plugs, and plugs in water column connections;

(3) cooling and thoroughly cleaning the boiler and its setting;

(4) providing safeguards to prevent leakage or accidental inflow of steam or hot water into the boiler; and

(5) in the case of an internally fired boiler, removing the grates.

The owner or user shall, upon request from the inspector, remove insulation material, masonry, or other parts so that an inspection can be made. No advance preparation of the equipment is required for external inspection of a boiler under operating conditions. However, if evidence of a leak or crack in the boiler is found during such an inspection, enough of the covering of the boiler shall be removed to enable the inspector to be satisfied as to the safety of the boiler.

  (c) If the inspection of an unfired pressure vessel is to be external only, advance preparation required is to provide reasonable means of access to the vessel where necessary.

  (d) In the case of a combined internal and external inspection of a small unfired vessel of simple construction handling air, steam or similar nontoxic or nonexplosive gases or vapors (for example, most air receivers), advance preparation required is isolating the vessel from its source of pressure, providing means of access where necessary, and removing manhole plates and inspection-opening closures upon the inspector's arrival.

  (e) As to other cases, the inspector who is to make the inspection shall specify in the notice setting the date for inspection the nature and extent of preparatory work expected to be done on the vessel prior to the inspector's arrival. Advance preparation includes the following tasks as needed:

(1) Establishing means of access to the surfaces to be inspected where these do not already exist.

(2) Isolating the vessel from its source of pressure.

(3) Draining out any liquid that is present.

(4) Venting and purging the vessel to free it of toxic, explosive, or other harmful gases or vapors.

(5) Providing safeguards to prevent leakage or accidental inflow of harmful substances into the vessel.

(6) Removing manhole plates and inspection-opening closures.

(7) Cooling and cleaning the interior of the vessel.

(8) Removing internal fittings and appurtenances.

  (f) If the inspector requests during the course of the inspection that certain portions of insulation or other coverings mentioned in subsection (b) be properly removed to permit inspection of the vessel, or, if the inspector requests that certain internal fittings or appurtenances not removed be removed so that data needed for determining the safety of the vessel may be obtained, the owner or user shall remove upon receipt of request. (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Rules Board; 680 IAC 2-5-2; filed Jan 5, 1996, 10:15 a.m.: 19 IR 1123; readopted filed Jul 9, 2001, 1:33 p.m.: 24 IR 3822; readopted filed Sep 21, 2007, 9:16 a.m.: 20071010-IR-680070389RFA; readopted filed Oct 19, 2007, 1:08 p.m.: 20071114-IR-680070389RFA; readopted filed Sep 5, 2013, 10:09 a.m.: 20131009-IR-680130182RFA)