VPRS 7854 Register of Boiler Inspection

Full description

Under the provisions of section 14 of the Boilers Inspection Act 1906 (No.2071) and the subsequent Acts of 1915,1928 and 1958 industrial boilers were required to be inspected by inspectors of the Mines Department. From 1961 inspections were conducted by the Department of Labour and Industry.

The original Act applied only to steam boilers and digesters (digesters were used commonly in many trades especially in the rendering of fats and oils). The Boilers Inspection (Air and Gas Receivers Act) 1940 (No. 4739) which came into operation in 1947, extended the application of the legislation to embrace air and gas receivers. The provisions of the Boiler Inspection Acts were made applicable to boilers at mines (refer to the Mines (Amendment Act) 1949 (No.5396). Prior to 1949, boilers in mines other than coal mines were subject to the provisions of the section 40, rule 45 of the Mines Act. (For Register of Boiler Inspection in Mines refer to VPRS 9534). Boilers used for domestic purposes were exempted from the operation of the measure.

The original concept of boiler inspection was concerned only with the physical examination of plant at the site. Attention was subsequently paid to the development of standards in design and construction.

The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Act 1970 (No.8004) provided for the approval of design, supervision of construction and installation and regular inspection of boilers and pressure vessels in use.

This series was created to record the inspection of steam boilers. Owners of boilers were required to register the boilers with the Chief Inspector, who then arranged for inspectors to inspect them on site. A history of each boiler was to be kept in the Chief Inspector's office to assist in future annual inspections.

Two administrative procedures were followed with respect to a vessel: the registration procedure lead to the issue of a certificate of registration, and, the inspection procedure lead to the issue of a certificate of inspection. The former identified the vessel, recorded the payment of the annual registration fee and fixed the maximum pressure under which the vessel could be operated. The latter confirmed that the vessel had been inspected by an inspector on a certain day and was found to be in a satisfactory condition.

Under the provisions of the Boilers Inspection Act 1906 (No.2071) all licensed boiler inspectors under Mines Act were required to inspect and test the industrial boilers and to keep a complete record of all particulars required to ascertain the state and condition of a boiler.

This series documents the first and subsequent inspections of boilers. The particulars recorded include:

- date of registration
- age and construction of such boiler
- name of the maker (if known)
- pressure which such boiler was calculated to sustain
- working pressure allowed
- state and condition of the boiler and of all appliances used in connection with and purpose for which such appliances were required
- date of inspection
- signature of inspector
- outcome of inspection.

The end date of the series has been imputed from records in custody date range.