(a) Major repairs — Notice to Boiler Inspection Division.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Each person, firm, or corporation licensed to repair boilers shall have a written quality control (Q.C.) program.
   2. (B) The Q.C. program shall be comprised of all planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate assurance that the boiler or pressure vessel will be installed or repaired in accordance with the standards adopted pursuant to 20 CAR § 880-701.
2. (2) All welders and welding operators shall be qualified in accordance to ASME Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications, as adopted by 20 CAR § 880-701.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Each firm or corporation that intends to make weld repairs on boilers or pressure vessels shall submit written documentation to verify that they have a Welding Procedure Specification and Procedure Qualification Record.
   2. (B) Performance qualification documentation is as per ASME Section IX.

4. (4)

   1. (A) The Boiler Inspection Division, either directly or through an authorized inspector, shall be notified of any contemplated major repairs to a boiler or pressure vessel.
   2. (B) The repair firm or corporation as well as the owner or user of the vessel may give the aforementioned notice to the Boiler Inspection Division before repair work is started and after it is completed.
5. (5) All repairs shall be made to comply with the recommendations and standards specified by the Boiler Inspection Division.

6. (6)

   1. (A) Persons, companies, firms, and/or businesses that wish to perform repairs or alterations on ASME constructed pressure vessels, or within the vessels’ code boundaries, must have in place a written quality control system acceptable to the Division of Labor, and/or have authorization from the ASME or the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to perform such repairs or alterations.
   2. (B) In all cases, the Division of Labor must be notified prior to starting repairs or alterations.

7. (7)

   1. (A) The original construction code of the vessel shall be used for any repairs or alterations.
   2. (B) When this is not possible, it is permissible to use other codes, standards, or specifications, including the ASME code, provided the repair firm has the concurrence of the inspector and the Division of Labor.

8. (8)

   1. (A) The inspector’s authorization to do repairs or alterations must be obtained prior to starting, and this inspector shall do the final acceptance inspection of the repair or alteration.
   2. (B) In all cases, the inspector shall be an employee of the original organization or an inspector authorized by the Division of Labor.

(b) Materials and workmanship.

1. (1)

   1. (A) When repairs of any nature are made on a boiler, the materials used in such repairs shall be only materials recommended by the ASME code for new boilers, and the Boiler Inspection Division shall be furnished satisfactory evidence that there has been compliance with this requirement.
   2. (B) The workmanship must be of a quality that will pass inspection by an inspector from the Boiler Inspection Division, or by an authorized insurance inspector whose opinion shall be subject to the approval or disapproval of the Chief Inspector of the Boiler Inspection Division.
2. (2) All welded repairs shall be made to conform to the recommended procedures outlined in the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors Inspection Code, as adopted by 20 CAR § 880-701.
3. (3) No welding of any type shall be performed on any boiler or unfired pressure vessel until permission is granted by the Boiler Inspection Division.

4. (4)

   1. (A) The shell or drum of a boiler in which a typical “lap seam crack” is discovered along a longitudinal riveted joint, either butt joint or lap joint, shall be permanently discontinued for use under pressure.
   2. (B) “Lap seam crack” means the typical crack frequently found in lap seams extending parallel to the longitudinal joint and located either between or adjacent to rivet holes.
5. (5) The maximum allowable working pressure on a water tube boiler, the tubes of which are secured to cast iron or malleable iron headers or which have cast iron and mud drums, shall not exceed one hundred sixty pounds per square inch (160 psi).

(c) Repairs – Patch.

1. (1)

   1. (A) When damage or injury to a boiler is of a nature which apparently necessitates the use of a patch, the Boiler Inspection Division or an authorized inspector shall be consulted before work is started on the patch so that one of the proper design may be prescribed to avoid a possible reduction in the approved pressure.
   2. (B) All patches shall be designed and installed to comply with National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors requirements, as adopted by 20 CAR § 880-701.
2. (2) Any person or persons who shall make or cause the repair, installation, or sale of a boiler that does not comply with the standards and rules as set out in this part shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by fine in any sum of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), and in addition, may be imprisoned for not more than three (3) years, or both, as provided by Arkansas Code § 20-23-309.

(d) Tubes.

1. (1) When the tubes are removed from any firetube boiler for the purpose of retubing the boiler, the Boiler Inspection Division shall be notified by the owner, user, and/or the workman performing such work, so that inspection can be made of the internal surface of the shell by a state inspector or an authorized insurance inspector while the tubes are out of the boiler, and the boiler may be approved before new tubes are applied.

2. (2)

   1. (A) A fire tube boiler shall have the ends of the tubes firmly rolled and beaded, or rolled, beaded, and welded around the edge of the bead.
   2. (B) Attachment methods as described in ASME Section I PFT 12.2 may also be used if acceptable to the inspector.
   3. (C) Where the tubes do not exceed one and one-half inches (1 1/2") in diameter, the tube sheet may be beveled or recessed to a depth at least equal to the thickness of the tubes and the tubes rolled into place and welded.
   4. (D) In no case shall the tube end extend more than three-eighths inch (3/8”) beyond the tube sheet.

3. (3) Tube ends not subjected to direct radiant heat of the furnace may be rolled and seal welded without beading, provided that:

   1. (A) The tube ends extend not less than one-fourth inch (1/4”) nor more than five-sixteenths inch (5/16”) through the tube sheet; and
   2. (B) The throat of the seal weld is not less than three-sixteenths inch (3/16”), nor more than five-sixteenths inch (5/16”).
4. (4) After welding, the tubes are re-expanded.

5. (5)

   1. (A) In the case of tubes not exceeding one and one-half inches (1 1/2") in diameter, they may be expanded by the Prosser method instead of rolling.
   2. (B) If tubes larger than one and one-half inches (1 1/2") in diameter are expanded by the Prosser method, the work shall be completed as required above.
6. (6) The ends of all tubes, suspension tubes, and nipples shall be expanded and flared not less than one-eighth inch (1/8”) over the diameter of the tube hole on all water-tube boilers and superheaters, or they may be flared not less than one-eighth inch (1/8”), rolled and beaded, or flared, rolled, and welded (except as provided in the ASME code), or rolled and seal welded without flaring, provided the throat of the seal weld is not less than three-sixteenths inch (3/16”), nor more than three-eighths inch (3/8”), and the tubes are re-expanded after welding.
7. (7) Tube ends or welded necks may be fusion welded to the drums of water-tube boilers without expanding or flaring, provided the materials and welding comply with requirements of the ASME code, except that the test plate requirements may be omitted, and the connections comply with the requirements of the ASME code.

8. (8)

   1. (A) Where pipe as provided in the ASME code is used for tubes in water-tube boilers, it may be screwed instead of rolled and flared, and the minimum number of threads shall conform to the requirements of the ASME code.
   2. (B) The ends of stub tubes may be closed by either forge or fusion welding.
9. (9) Tubes may be seal welded into fittings or headers for both boilers and superheaters after they have been expanded and flared, provided the materials in the fittings or headers complies with the ASME code.

10. (10)

    1. (A) The ends of all tubes, suspension tubes, and nipples of water-tube boilers and superheaters shall project through the tube sheets or headers not less than one-fourth inch (1/4”) or more than one-half inch (1/2”) before flaring.
    2. (B) Where the tubes enter at an angle, the maximum limit of one-half inch (1/2”) shall apply only at the point of least projection.
11. (11) Re-ending of tubes in fire-tube boilers is permissible provided the Boiler Inspection Division is notified and if after inspection it is found the remaining tube wall is not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the original thickness, and providing further that the welding is performed in compliance with National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors rules as adopted by 20 CAR § 880-701.
12. (12) Piecing or replacement of sections of tubes or pipes in water-tube boilers is permissible, provided the remaining tube or pipe wall is not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the original thickness, and that the welder is certified.
13. (13) Repairing of bulges in tubes in water-tube boilers is permissible when the area to be repaired does not exceed two inches (2”) in maximum dimension and there are not more than three (3) such repairs in any one (1) tube.