S&B Informational Sheet on Boilers and Pressure Vessels in Wisconsin 

Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings Division
History of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Program in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's first boiler rules and regulations were implemented around 1914 due to an increase in accidental property damage and fatalities caused by boilers. A public outcry to lawmakers to prevent such incidents caused the birth of rules for safe boiler construction, installation, and operation. Therefore, boiler and pressure vessel inspection today is not a new process. Inspection and subsequent registration began decades ago to protect everyone.

State statute Section 101.17 gives authority to the Department of Commerce, Safety and Buildings Division, to promulgate rules to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. These rules establish the minimum standards for the design, installation, operation, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels installed in all public buildings and places of employment. These rules can be found in Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter Comm 41. Comm 41 is available online:

Who does required inspections?
Any individual who has a current " Certified Boiler Inspector" credential issued from the Safety and Buildings Division (S&B) of the Department of Commerce can do boiler and pressure vessel inspections. There are seven S&B inspectors and over 100 inspectors employed by insurance companies that could do such work in Wisconsin. Other state or local inspectors (plumbing) may check for back-flow preventers and floor drains. Fire inspectors may have issues for gas or combustible material storage and building inspectors may have concerns for fire-door and fire-wall rated rooms when requesting to visit the boiler room. So, as a reminder, apartment owners and managers should not mistakenly assume all visiting inspectors are "boiler inspectors" just because they visit the boiler machinery room. To contact a S&B inspector in your area, a map is available with telephone, address, and email on the website: http://commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-BoilerInspectorsMap.html

Heating boiler code requirements
Existing heating boiler installations are required to be registered and inspected periodically. New boiler and pressure vessel installations must be registered by the installing contractor or owner on form SBD-6314. Equipment nameplates must be stamped with the ASME "American Society of Mechanical Engineers" symbol stamp and installed to the ASME Section IV, Heating Boiler Code. Such boiler and pressure vessel inspection is required in all commercial buildings, including apartments for three family and above locations. Upon initial inspection by a certified inspector, if the equipment is found acceptable, the boiler is issued a permit to operate "PTO" that will expire in three years. An owner is responsible for obtaining and maintaining a current PTO and posting it on the premises for any local or state official to review. Every 36 months after the initial inspection, the boiler or pressure vessel must be re-inspected. An external inspection is normally performed on heating boilers and pressure vessels. In some cases, an internal inspection may be necessary to further investigate unsafe conditions at a specific location. If an owner has a high pressure steam boiler, the rules are similar to above but the boiler must be internally inspected once every 12 months. The installing contractor can find the registration form (SBD-6314) for new installations on the S&B WebSite: http://commerce.state.wi.us/SB/SB-DivForms.html.

Summary
Inspection provides benefit to both the contractor and the owner. A contractor can arrange the inspection of a new boiler installation to verify code compliance upon completion of the job. The owner, on the other hand, can be assured that any code discrepancy found will be corrected and that the equipment complies with minimum code standards. An owner's routine maintenance plan and the mandated periodic inspection together provide for continued safe operation through the life of the equipment and hopefully prevent accidental property damage or injury in Wisconsin. Early detection and correction of minor equipment problems may prevent future failure emergencies.

Important definitions and code sections, (Link to index of online codes)
Comm 41.04 Definitions. The definitions in this section shall be applicable throughout this chapter.
(3) "ASME code" means the boiler and pressure vessel code published by the American society of mechanical engineers.
(7) "Certified inspector" means a person who holds a valid credential issued by the department under ch. Comm 5 as a certified boiler-pressure vessel inspector.
(11) "External inspection" means an inspection made while the boiler or pressure vessel is in operation.
(14) "Hot water heating boiler" means a boiler in which no steam is generated, from which hot water is circulated for heating purposes and then returned to the boiler, and which operates at a pressure not exceeding 160 psig or a temperature of 250 degrees F at or near the boiler outlet.
(18) "Insurance company" means a company which has been licensed in this state to write boiler and pressure vessel insurance and which is actively engaged in writing such insurance for the general public.
(19) "Internal inspection" means an inspection made when the boiler or pressure vessel is shut down and handholes and manholes or other inspection openings are opened or removed for inspection of the interior as required by the inspector.
(20) "Low pressure boiler" means a boiler on which the safety valves are set at pressures not exceeding 15 psig.

Comm 41.17 Periodic inspections.
(2) INSPECTION OF PRESSURE VESSELS. Except as provided in s. Comm 41.18, pressure vessels shall be subjected to a regular internal or external inspection at least once every 36 months by a certified inspector.
(3) INSPECTION OF LOW PRESSURE STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATING BOILERS. Except as provided in s. Comm 41.18, low pressure steam boilers and hot water heating boilers shall be subjected to a regular internal or external inspection at least once every 36 months by a certified inspector.

Comm 41.41 Installation registration. (1) BOILER OR PRESSURE VESSEL INSTALLATION REGISTRATION. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the installation of any boiler or pressure vessel shall be registered with the department by the installer before the operation of the boiler or pressure vessel. Registration shall be in writing on form SBD-6314.

Comm 41.24 Permit to operate. (1) RESPONSIBILITY. (a) The owner or user of the boiler or pressure vessel shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining a valid permit to operate. (b) The permit to operate shall be posted on the premises by the owner or user of the boiler or pressure vessel.

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us or 608-267-3606

The Department of Commerce Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TTY 608-264-8777, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us