Inspection and Testing

Do federal boilers or pressure vessels fall under SPS 341?

No, those federal devices are exempted from state and local inspections. The federal government provides its own inspection criteria and adopted standards.  

Are yearly boiler inspections necessary regardless of whether or not the boiler was operated?  

Inspections are necessary. Any boiler, even stand-by boilers connected for "occasional" operation in a system, must comply with SPS 341.17, which requires internal inspection every 12 months, and SPS 341.24, which requires the owner to obtain and maintain a valid permit to operate. If the boiler is not to be operated, it should be completely disconnected electrically and mechanically with supply, return, feed, and fuel piping capped or blank flanged from the system.  

I need to change the location of my boiler. What is required? 

A moved vessel is considered a secondhand vessel. Whether it is moved between states or in the same building, it will fall under SPS 341.75(1) second-hand vessels, requiring a hydrostatic pressure test at 1 1/2 times the maximum allowable working pressure at its new point of installation location before being placed into operation.  

Why does a state-employed inspector inspect a boiler, and later in the same month, an insurance inspector may inspect the same boiler?  

Wisconsin allows certain specific insurance companies (Service Agents) to conduct inspections on behalf of state and issue the Permit To Operate (PTO) or issue orders to get that boiler in compliance with the code. A state inspector may conduct the inspection of a boiler, and bill accordingly, if the PTO has been expired 30 days or longer. Once DSPS sends the owner a Notice of Inspection (NOI), usually 60 days before the PTO expires, the owner should contact the inspector of record, which will usually be an insurance company, and make an appointment to get that boiler inspected. The contact information for a state-employed inspector or the service agent is on the NOI.