Ralph P. Pate Chief Boiler Inspector |
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division A message from the chief |
|
Ralph P. Pate Chief Boiler Inspector |
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Division A message from the chief |
Hello, my name is Ralph Pate
and I would like to welcome you to the Alabama Department of Labor, Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Safety Division’s website.
It is a little known fact, and one that is hard to imagine today, that from the
early 1840’s to well into the1920’s, more than 50,000 people were killed and 2
million injured each year by boiler explosions in North America. The industrial
revolution did not happen without a terrible price being paid by so many.
Today, unfortunately unsafe boilers and pressure vessels can and do suffer
catastrophic failures. The injuries and deaths attributed to boilers and
pressure vessels today, although few by comparison, do happen. Catastrophic
events are greatly reduced through mandatory safety inspections required by all
fifty states and 13 providences in Canada. Alabama became the 49th state to
enact a boiler and pressure vessel safety act. By February 5th, 2004 boiler and
pressure vessel inspection began in earnest. As a native Alabamian who has been
a commissioned boiler inspector for 27 years, it gives me great pride and
pleasure to serve as Alabama’s first Chief Boiler Inspector. Alabama joins other
states along with many national and international boiler and pressure vessel
safety committees charged with developing the safety standards to which our
safety depends. If I can be of any assistance to you at all, please do not
hesitate to contact me at 334.242.3066 or email me at
Ralph.Pate@labor.alabama.gov.
Sincerely,
The Alabama law
ACT NO. 2000-315 (BOILER AND
PRESSURE VESSEL SAFETY ACT) requires boiler and pressure vessel inspections on a
regularly established basis unless exempted by law. Please click on the ACT NO.
link to see list of exemptions. Operating Certificates must be maintained on
equipment regulated by the ACT. Permits must also be obtained to install boilers
and pressure vessels. This includes Water Heaters over 200,000 btu or over 120
gals. Currently there is no requirement for an installer, operator, or
maintenance/service company to be licensed under the ACT.
More Questions? Click on the link below…
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Alabama has an estimated 44,000 boilers and pressure vessels.
SCHOOL BOILER MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, HOW SAFE ARE THE CHILDREN?
– Bulletin, Fall,
1997, National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors.
State Board of Boilers and Pressure Vessels Chaired by Dr. David F. Dyer,
chairman of the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University.
Boiler
Board Rules
& Regulations
Boiler Statute
FORMS
Blank Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspection
Report
Application for Certificate of Competency (for Special Inspectors)
Request to Install Boiler or Pressure Vessel