Chapter 146, Rules & Regs

Question 1

Boilers and engines of 9 - 250 HP in the aggregate require what type of attendance, Which section of chapter 146 is referenced

Answer 1

MGL CHAPTER 146, SEC 46
Periodic attendance,
- Licensed engineer shall perform daily maintenance as required , and shall remain in the same building as the operating boiler
- boiler must be equipped with automatic shutdown devices
- safe operation of the boiler shall be the primary duty of the operator
- operator shall retain full discretion to return to the boiler room for monitoring purposes and such visits will be recorded in the departments log book

Question 2

Boilers and engines of 251 - 500 HP in the aggregate require what type of attendance. Which section is referenced

Answer 2

MGL CHAPTER 146, SEC 46
Non continuous attendance, In addition to the requirements of periodic attendance, a remote monitoring station shall be in place that has the ability to shut down the boiler and the boiler shall be inspected by the operator beween 4 and 6 times per shift

Question 3

When does a boiler need two means of supplying feedwater

Answer 3

A boiler with over 500 sq ft of heating surface that cannot have the heat input shut off must have 2 means of supplying water to the boiler

Question 4

What is the minimum pipe size to a water column

Answer 4

Minimum pipe size = 1’’

Question 5

What information is on a Certificate of Inspection

Answer 5

1- name of owner/user,
2- location, size and number of boilers,
3 - date of inspection, signature of Inspector and MAWP
- Referenced in chapter 146, section 27

Question 6

Who can appeal the results of a license exam

Answer 6

A person aggrieved by the action of a single examiner

Question 7

Why would your license be suspended or revoked

Answer 7

Incompetence or untrustworthiness

Question 8

What information is on the operators log book. Chapter reference

Answer 8

Chapter 146, section 46A
date, time, 
continuous blowdown setting 
gauge glass blowdown,
 low water cutoff tested, 
safety valve manually tested, 
 operator notes,
operators signature and license number.
name of the place, address, type of boiler (#), pressure allowed (PSI), safety valve set at PSI & lbs/hr, the date (month and year)

Question 9

Periodic attendance is required for boilers with. Chapter reference

Answer 9

Chapter 146, section 46

9 – 250 boiler horsepower

Question 10

How do we know a boiler has been inspected

Answer 10

The boiler has a valid certificate of inspection posted

Question 11

A license is required to operate boilers > 15 psi. At which horsepower is a license required

Answer 11

Boilers more than 9 boiler horsepower

Question 12

Of the various codes that are used in a boiler design, which is the most widely used? What is the purpose of the code

Answer 12

ASME boiler and pressure vessel code
gives guidelines and requirements to boiler design
ensures life; equipment and property are safely protected

Question 13

Taking over a shift, first thing to check is

Answer 13

Log book or water level in operating boiler(s)

Question 14

Annual inspection; extension of time; first inspection, Chapter reference

Answer 14

Section 6. Inspections

• All steam boilers and their appurtenances shall be thoroughly inspected externally and internally at least once a year.
• Upon written application the board may extend the time for a period not to exceed six months
• A district engineering inspector of the department of public safety shall perform the first inspection of a pressure vessel

Question 15

Persons authorized to inspect boilers. Which chapter of 146 is referenced

Answer 15

Chapter 146, Section 13. Persons authorized to inspect boilers

• The inspection of boilers and appurtenances shall be made by the division, under the supervision of the chief
• inspectors of insurance companies authorized to insure steam boilers in the commonwealth
• shop inspections in a boiler shop outside of the commonwealth, by such other inspectors holding a national board of boiler and pressure vessel inspectors commission as are approved by the chief of inspections

Question 16

Classes of licenses and work permitted; license renewal; continuing education. Which section of chapter 146 is referenced

Answer 16

Section 49. Classes of licenses

• First class, to have charge of and operate any steam plant.
• Second class, to have charge of and operate a boiler or boilers, and to have charge of and operate engines, no one of which shall exceed 150 horsepower, or to operate a first class plant under the engineer in direct charge thereof.
• Third class, to have charge of and operate a boiler or boilers not exceeding, in the aggregate, 150 horsepower when solid fuel is burned or not exceeding, in the aggregate, 500 horsepower when steam is generated by the use of liquid or gaseous fuel, electric or atomic energy or any other source of heat and an engine or engines not exceeding 50 horsepower each or to operate a second class plant under the engineer in direct charge thereof.
• Firemen’s licenses: First class, to have charge of and operate any boiler or boilers where the safety valve or valves are set to blow at a pressure not exceeding 25 pounds to the square inch or to operate high pressure boilers under the engineer or fireman in direct charge thereof.
• No engineer or fireman in charge of a steam plant shall be permitted to be in charge of any other steam plant, unless it is within one mile from the specific plant of which the engineer or fireman is designated to be in charge or unless a licensed second or third class engineer or fireman shall be in attendance at such plant and shall perform his duties under the supervision of such engineer or fireman.
• Second class, to operate any boiler or boilers under the engineer or fireman in direct charge thereof. A person holding a first class fireman’s license may operate a third class plant under the engineer in direct charge thereof. Special licenses: A person who desires to have charge of or to operate a particular steam plant may, if he files with his application for such examination a written request signed by the owner or user of the plant, be examined as to his competence for such service and no other and, if found competent and trustworthy, shall be granted a license for such service, and no other; provided, however, that no special license shall be granted to give a person charge of or permission to operate an engine over 50 horsepower, or a boiler or boilers exceeding, in the aggregate, 250 horsepower, except that where the main power plant is run exclusively by waterpower, developed on the premises of such plant a major part of the year and has auxiliary steam power for use during the periods of low water, a special license may be granted to an applicant holding an engineer’s license.

Question 17

license testing requirements, Which section of chapter of 146 is referenced

Answer 17

To be eligible for examination for a third class engineer’s license, must furnish evidence as to his previous training and experience and must have been employed in a boiler or steam power plant as a steam engineer, fireman, control room operator, water tender, auxiliary operator or engineer’s assistant for not less than one and one half years, or must have held and used a first class fireman’s license for not less than one year. Section 50

Question 18

Display of license; daily record of boiler, condition and repairs; filing; accessibility, which section of chapter of 146 is referenced

Answer 18

Section 51. An engineer’s or fireman’s license shall be so placed in the engine or boiler room of the plant operated by the licensee as to be easily read.

Question 19

Licenses; duration; fees; expiration; renewal; revocation. Which section of chapter of 146 is referenced

Answer 19

Section 67. A license shall continue in force until the date of birth of the licensee occurring more than twelve months but not more than twenty-four months after the effective date of such license unless suspended or revoked for incompetence or untrustworthiness of the licensee, except that a special license shall not continue in force after the holder thereof ceases to be employed in the plant specified in the license. If any such license or the renewal thereof expires in an even year, any subsequent renewal shall expire on the next anniversary of the licensee’s date of birth occurring in an even year. If any such license or renewal thereof expires in an odd year, any subsequent renewal shall expire on the next anniversary of the licensee’s date of birth occurring in an odd year. A license issued to a person born on February twenty-ninth shall, for the purposes of this section, expire on March first. The fee for the renewal of a license shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof; provided, however, that in no case shall the fee for the renewal of a license to operate hoisting machinery be less than sixty dollars, and in no case shall the fee for a new license to operate hoisting machinery be less than seventy-five dollars. Licenses not renewed at expiration date shall become void, and shall after one year be reinstated only by re-examination of the licensee; provided, however, that if the licensee is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States, the license shall remain valid until the licensee is released from active duty and for a period of not less than 90 days following that release. A notice of the date of expiration of a license shall, at least thirty days prior to such date, be sent to the licensee. The inspector of the division for the town where a licensee resides may issue a renewal license. A person whose license is suspended or revoked shall surrender his license to the chief or an inspector of the division. If a new license of a different grade is issued, the old license shall be destroyed by the examiner

Question 20

522 CMR 2.02

Answer 20

2.02: Records

(1) the engineer or fireman is held responsible for the proper operation of the Boilers and shall complete and sign the Operators’ Record Book on a daily basis. These records shall be made available to the District Engineering Inspector upon request.
(2) In the event of a Reportable Accident/Incident, the Owner/User or the Engineer in Charge shall notify the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency at 508-820-1444 within 24 hours of the event.
(3) All Engineers and Firemen in charge shall notify the Department in writing, within seven days of his or her appointment, of the location of the Boilers and/or engines of which he or she is in charge. When accepting or leaving a position as an Engineer or Fireman in charge,
(4) The Engineer in Charge is the actual authority for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the Boilers, All persons operating, repairing or maintaining these Boilers do so under the direct authority of the Engineer in Charge. Engineer in Charge shall make daily visits to the plant. Individuals performing duties as the Engineer in Charge will leave daily written instructions to the operating personnel and those instructions will be made available to the District Engineering Inspector upon request. The Engineer in Charge shall sign the Engineer’s Record Book, as provided for in M.G.L. c. 146, § 51, on a daily basis and shall review the Operator’s Log Book on a daily basis. It is reasonable for the Engineer in Charge to perform his or her duties at the facility five working days per week.

Question 21

Chapter 146, Section 2: Rules in general; prescription of tests; form of certificate of inspection; assistance of attorney general

Answer 21

Section 2. The board shall formulate rules or adopt rules formulated by a recognized engineering organization, for the construction, installation and inspection of steam boilers and power reactor vessels and piping as used in atomic energy installations and for ascertaining the safe working pressure to be carried therein; prescribe tests, if it deems it necessary, to ascertain the qualities of materials used in the construction of boilers, power reactor vessels and piping; formulate rules regulating the construction and sizes of safety valves for boilers of different sizes and pressures, appliances for indicating the pressure of steam and the level of water in the boiler or power reactor vessel, and such other appliances as the board may deem necessary to safety in operating steam boilers or power reactor vessels; and make a standard form of certificate of inspection. The attorney general shall assist the board in framing the rules. Such rules shall be transmitted to the commissioner and be by him filed in the office of the state secretary, and when so filed shall have the force of law.

Question 22

What is referenced in Chapter 146, Section 46

Answer 22

NECESSITY OF LICENSES
“PERIODIC ATTENDANCE”
BOILERS 9 TO 250 HORSEPOWER
(AGGREGATE)
“NONCONTINUOUS ATTENDANCE”
BOILERS 251 TO 500 HORSEPOWER
“CONTINUOUS ATTENDANCE”
BOILERS OVER 501 HORSEPOWER

Question 23

What is referenced in Chapter 146, Section 48

Answer 23

Ascertainment of horsepower
Boiler HP
USE MANUFACTURERS TAG
(IF AVAILABLE)
STEAM OUTPUT (LBS/HR)
DIVIDED BY 34.5
BTU/HOUR INPUT
DIVIDED BY 41,840
BTU/HOUR OUTPUT
DIVIDED BY 33,475

ENGINE HORSEPOWER
P.L.A.N.  
33,000
P = MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE
L = LENGTH OF STROKE
A = AREA OF HP PISTON
N = NUMBER OF STROKES/MIN.
SIMPLE ENGINE = 40 PSI, CONDENSING ENGINE = 50 PSI
COMPOUND ENGINE = 70 PSI VARIABLE SPEED USE AVERAGE SPEED

TURBINE HORSEPOWER
BASED ON EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF STEAM SUPPLY PIPE
LESS THAN 1 ¾ INCHES = < 9 HP
> 1 ¾ - 3 ½ INCHES = 50 HP
> 3 ½ - 5 INCHES = 150 HP
 > 5 INCHES = UNLIMITED HP