National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) PDF

Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers ' Chapter 1 OBJECTIVE 4 Explain the purpose and scope of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI). THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOILER REGULATIONS Boiler explosions were common in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the five-year period fro...

Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers ' Chapter 1 OBJECTIVE 4 Explain the purpose and scope of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI). THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOILER REGULATIONS Boiler explosions were common in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the five-year period from 1898 to 1903,1299 people were killed by 1600 boiler explosions in the United States. A catastrophic boiler explosion in a shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts, in 1905 killed 58 people, injured 117, and caused property damage of a quarter of a million dollars. This accident, together with another boiler explosion the following year in Lynn, Massachusetts, resulted in the first legal code of rules for the construction of steam boilers by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Other states, plus several cities where boiler explosions had occurred, recognized that many explosions could have been prevented by the safe and proper design, construction, installation, and inspection of boilers. As a result, safety rules and regulations for boilers were formulated by many states and cities. Unfortunately, the rules of one regulatory body often conflicted with those of other states or cities. This lack of uniform laws created an unmanageable situation. Materials and methods of construction considered safe in one jurisdiction were not permitted in another. It was difficult for both the user, who may have wanted to move a boiler from a facility in one jurisdiction to another, and the boiler manufacturer, who had to build boilers that complied with several different specifications. Inspection for operation of a boiler outside the state or city of manufacture presented serious difficulties. As a result of these complications, in 1919, several chief inspectors from various jurisdictions organized the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to establish uniform qualifications for inspectors and acceptance of standard code requirements. THE NATIONAL BOARD OF BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL INSPECTORS The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) was created in 1919 as an organization to promote, in part, uniform qualifications for boiler and pressure vessel inspectors and to issue an NBBI commission to successful candidates. The membership of the NBBI is composed of the chief inspectors of all jurisdictions in the United States and Canada that have adopted at least one section of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). The NBBI promotes uniform application of the codes and standards developed by the ASME. By setting common standards for the qualifications, experience, and knowledge of inspectors, the NBBI helps to ensure uniform compliance with the ASME codes. The NBBI authorizes manufacturers to stamp a National Board number on boilers inspected by a National Board commissioned inspector. The National Board has the following functions: • Promotes safety and education, to both the public and government officials, with regards to manufacturing, maintenance, and repair standards • Offers continuing education programs for inspectors and pressure equipment professionals • Promotes an effective inspection process, including the qualifications of inspectors • Establishes standards for pressure relief devices and appurtenances • Maintains a registration system which includes a Manufacturer s Data Report repository • Investigates accidents and issues that involve pressure equipment and code compliance. 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 21 r2> Chapter 1 ' Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers National Board Registration In Canadian jurisdictions, boiler and pressure vessel manufacturers may be either of the following: • ASME authorized shops, which are holders of an ASME certificate of authorization • Non-ASME authorized shops, which are authorized by the regulatory authority In the case of ASME authorized shops, the boiler or pressure vessel will be stamped with the appropriate ASME code symbol stamp, and the manufacturer s data report may be registered with the NBBI. Note that registration is not mandatory in Canada. For non-ASME authorized manufacturers in Canada, the equipment is not ASME code stamped, nor is it registered with the NBBI. Pressure equipment produced by manufacturers outside of Canada must be stamped with the appropriate ASME code product certification mark and registered with the National Board. Note: National Board registration is not the same as design registration with a CRN. National Board registration creates a unique file for each boiler or pressure vessel based on the manufacturer's data report. This information is kept in a computer database at the National Board in Columbus, Ohio, which enables relatively quick access in response to inquiries. In Canada, the CRN is still required in the jurisdiction of installation, even when National Board registration is carried out. To register pressure equipment with the National Board, a manufacturer must be accredited by the ASME and "authorized to register" by the National Board. A Certificate of Authorization to Register is an agreement between the manufacturing organization and the National Board. The normal process for registration of pressure equipment with the National Board is as foUows: 1. Completing a fabrication inspection 2. Stamping with National Board symbol and number at the same time as the ASME stamping 3. Submitting the data report to the National Board by the manufacturer Pressure equipment registered with the National Board is accepted by all jurisdictions as being constructed in compliance with the ASME code. This acceptance allows free movement of boilers and pressure vessels across jurisdictions without the need for additional testing or inspection. Thus, it is possible for an ASME authorized shop to build a boiler or pressure vessel that will be accepted anywhere in North America after it has been inspected by a National Board inspector. National Board Commissions The NBBI also sets guidelines and standards for individuals to qualify as a National Board inspector. Commissioned National Board inspectors are qualified to perform inspections of boilers and pressure vessels as required by the ASME BPVC. To become a National Board commissioned inspector, candidates are required to possess educational and experience qualifications as set by the NBBI; candidates must be employed as an inspector by a jurisdiction, an authorized inspection agency, or an owner-user inspection organization, and they must pass an exam prepared and administrated by the NBBI. The National Board offers two types of inspector commissions: 1. The National Board m-service inspector (ISI) is qualified to perform the periodic inspections of boilers and pressure vessels that are commissioned and in operation. The holder of this commission is referred to as an Inspector in National Board publications. 2. The National Board authorized inspector (AI) is qualified to perform inspections of boilers and pressure vessels as required by the ASME BPVC. These inspections are required during manufacturing or construction and are more rigorous than in-service inspections. The holder of this commission is referred to as an Authorized Inspector. 22 3rd Class Edition 3 - Part A2 Legislation and Codes for Power Engineers • Chapter 1 National Board Inspection Code In keeping with the principles of promoting safety and maintaining uniformity, the National Board originally published the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) in 1946, which established rules for inspection, alteration, and repairs to boilers and pressure vessels. Some of the important functions of this code include the following: • Providing administrative requirements for the accreditation of repair organizations (repair shops) • Giving guidelines for in-service inspection of pressure equipment (boilers, pressure vessels, and piping) • Stating requirements that apply to repairs and alterations ofpressure-retaining items The NBIC also describes failure mechanisms (such as creep, fatigue, and brittle failure), corrosion and its control, and a description of internal and external inspection. In-service inspection activities include safe work procedures, vessel entry, visual inspection, nondestructive examination, and pressure testing. The National Board R Stamp The National Board R stamp is assigned to authorized organizations for the repair and alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, and other pressure-retaining items. To obtain this authorization, the company must have an inspection agreement with an authorized inspection agency and submit a written quality control system to the National Board for approval. Repairs and alterations by an authorized shop must be undertaken according to the NBIC and certified by stamping with the R symbol. 3rd Class Edition 3 • Part A2 23