Page 321 - Boiler_Operators_Handbook,_Second_Edition

306 Boiler Operator’s Handbook

blowoff piping.
Threaded pipe and fittings can be assembled by
anyone and you can replace damaged piping yourself
provided you use the materials required by the code.
Replacing flanges and fittings is usually simple because
they are marked and all you have to do is find materials
with matching marks. Pipe, on the other hand, can vary
from code quality to what we call “untested” pipe with
some different grades in between and you usually won’t
find any markings on the damaged pipe to get a clue as
to what material is required.
There are many different grades of quality of mate-
rial that can be provided in compliance with the ASME
Code and there are many ASME material specifications
for material that isn’t satisfactory for boiler external pip-
ing. Your insurance inspector should be able to tell you
what material to specify when replacing boiler external
piping. When you buy it you should request Mill Test
Figure 10-39. Seatless blowoff valve
Certificates and check the stamping (grade and heat
number) on the pipe against the data on the certificate.
Boiler External Piping Record in your maintenance log that the material and
The extent of the jurisdiction of the code for con- paperwork match and return both if they don’t.
struction of power boilers extends to the far side of the If the pipe is welded you can only repair or re-
second shutoff valve from the boiler on steam, blowoff, place it if you are certified to do so by the ASME or the
and feedwater piping. The jurisdiction extends to the far National Board. Unless you work for an employer that
side of the first shutoff valve on all other connecting pip- maintains several boilers with a need for regular repair
ing. All boiler external piping must be made of materials of boiler external piping it doesn’t pay to obtain that
certified to comply with ASME Codes and all welded certification. It’s much less expensive to locate a contrac-
piping must be fabricated by a manufacturer or contrac- tor that is certified and have them do the work for an
tor certified by ASME to do that work occasional repair.
A piece of welded piping should be stamped or Adding a connection to boiler external piping
fitted with a securely attached nameplate containing can only be done by a certified contractor and many
the stamping required by the ASME Code. The stamp- an owner has had to employ a certified contractor to
ing should include either the “S,” “A,” or “PP” Stamp. remove and replace connections that were installed by
You may also find the National Board “R” stamp which the operators, the facility’s maintenance personnel or an
indicates a contractor has repaired the piping. Be aware unqualified contractor. For a short period in history we
that the boiler inspector could look for those stampings built a lot of sections of boiler external piping around
at any time and they better be there or you will not be Baltimore to replace piping installed by unauthorized
allowed to operate the boiler until a complying section contractors. That was usually at the contractor’s ex-
of piping is installed. pense because the installation didn’t pass initial inspec-
I recall one incident where an owner moved the tion. Sometimes, however, the owner had to pay the bill.
entire boiler plant to make room for a new baseball There’s probably no difference in the quality of
stadium and the contractor’s personnel threw away the the work but unless the contractor is qualified you will
boiler feed piping thinking they could replace it easily never know. How would the inspector know if you had
when they reached the new site. We made a fair amount added a connection? Well, all you have to do is look
of money installing new piping (replacing what the for the ASME P-4 and any National Board R-1 forms
contractor had installed and at the contractor’s expense) you have. They describe the initial construction and all
after the job was ready for inspection and the boiler repairs. If a connection is not described on those forms
inspector couldn’t find the stampings. The work was it isn’t in compliance. You should keep all those forms,
accelerated because everything else was ready to make which are actually certifications, for the boiler external
steam. Luckily the contractor did move the steam and piping along with the forms for the boiler itself.