PURPOSE: This rule sets out the authority and duties of the inspection authority and has been developed in the interest of safety to life and property. These rules do not apply to public utilities regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission.

1. (1) The director of agriculture is the officer in charge of the collection of meter inspection fees, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) meter inspection and safety in the storage, handling, transportation and use of liquefied petroleum gas in the Department of Agriculture referred to as the inspection authority.
2. (2) The inspection authority shall have discretional authority to require annual pressure testing of all LPG piping systems serving schools, churches, nursing homes, resorts, mobile home parks, public housing, hospitals, amusement parks, summer camps (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, church, etc.) and other public buildings and institutions. It shall be the responsibility of the owner, administrator, superintendent, director or other responsible person directly associated with any of the piping systems serving any of the listed public buildings, mobile home parks, summer camps (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, church, etc.), amusement parks and institutions to assume full responsibility to secure the annual pressure test of the LPG system on or before September 1 of each calendar year with the exception of summer camps and amusement parks which shall be completed on or before June 1 of each calendar year. A copy of the test report shall be submitted to the inspection authority within five (5) days after completion of the test. Failure to complete the required annual pressure tests may be due cause to consider the LPG system unsafe for continued use and shall be reason to place the system out of service until the time a pressure test is completed and the system found to be free of leaks and safe for continued operation.
3. (3) The standards for storage and handling of LPGs and the standards for the installation of gas appliances and gas piping as published in the National Fire Protection Association publications, Numbers 54, 58, 59, 501A and 501C will be adhered to by the inspection authority in the course of administering its duties. These are adopted as rules in 2 CSR 90-10.020, 2 CSR 90-10.040, 2 CSR 90- 10.060 and 2 CSR 90-10.090.

4. (4) For the purpose of ascertaining whether any container or system complies with all rules regulating the storage and handling of LPGs and the installation of appliances and piping—

   1. (A) The inspection authority and/or the authorized agents, deputies and inspectors shall have free access, at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, to any premises where a LPG container or system is offered for sale, stored, being repaired, installed or being used; and
   2. (B) Owners, operators, drivers, custodians and occupants of transport vehicles, during reasonable hours and upon reasonable request of the inspection authority, shall permit inspection of that vehicle.
5. (5) Any person, firm, corporation or others making LPG installations or supplying fuel for installations, upon reasonable request, shall furnish reasonable and pertinent information as may be considered necessary by the inspection authority to determine that there is compliance with the rules.
6. (6) An exception to these regulations may be approved by the inspection authority after sufficient evidence is supplied showing that the exception will provide a level of safety at least equivalent to that contemplated by the regulations.
7. (7) The provisions of these regulations shall not be construed as prohibiting the continued use of an installation which received the written approval of the inspection authority at the time of installation or was in compliance with safety standards and codes at the time of installation, unless circumstances of a hazardous nature justify correction for the benefit of public safety.
8. (8) If the director of the Department of Agriculture determines that any LPG container constitutes an immediate danger to the 2 CSR 90-10

public or property, s/he shall require the immediate removal of liquid and vapor LPG from the container by a registered LPG dealer or company. If the director determines that any LPG appliance, equipment or system constitutes an immediate danger to the public and property, s/he shall require the immediate disconnection by a registered LPG dealer or company from the LPG container.

AUTHORITY: section 323.020, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed July 13, 1977, effective Nov. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed May 2, 1985, effective Sept. 27, 1985. Amended: Filed March 3, 1989, effective June 29, 1989. Amended: Filed April 3, 1990, effective June 28, 1990.

*Original authority: 323.020, RSMo 1947.