Virginia Law

A. Any person, firm, partnership or corporation operating pressure vessels in this Commonwealth may seek approval and registration as an owner-user inspection agency by filing an application with the chief inspector on forms prescribed and available from the department, and request approval by the board. Each application shall be accompanied by a bond in the penal sum of $5,000 which shall continue to be valid during the time the approval and registration of the company as an owner-user inspection agency is in effect.

B. The application and registration shall show the name of the agency and its principal address in this Commonwealth, and the name and address of the person or persons having supervision over inspections made by the agency. Changes in supervisory personnel shall be reported to the chief inspector within 30 days after any change.

C. Each owner-user inspection agency as required by the provisions of the Act and this chapter shall:

1. Maintain its own inspection group under the supervision of one or more individuals who have independent authority to effect resolution of technical problems or procedures;

2. Conduct inspections of boilers or unfired pressure vessels, not exempt by the Act, utilizing only qualified inspection personnel, certified pursuant to 16VAC25-50-50, 16VAC25-50-60 and 16VAC25-50-70; in the case of unfired pressure vessels which are covered by the American Petroleum Institute code API-510, and are in use in the petroleum or chemical process industries, the owner-user inspection agency may, at its option, inspect and maintain such vessels by the API-510 code;

3. Retain on file at the location where the equipment is inspected a true record or copy of the report of the latest of each inspection signed by the inspector who made the inspection;

4. Execute and deliver to the owner or user (management) a true report of each inspection together with appropriate requirements or recommendations that result from the inspections;

5. Promptly notify the chief inspector of any boiler or unfired pressure vessel which does not meet the requirements of safe operating conditions;

6. Maintain inspection records which will include a list of each boiler or unfired pressure vessel covered by the Act, showing a serial number and an abbreviated description as may be necessary for identification; the date of last inspection of each unit and approximate date for the next inspection, arrived at by applying the appropriate rules to all data available at the time the inspection record is compiled (re: frequency and type of inspection, see 16VAC25-50-30). This inspection record shall be readily available for examination by the chief inspector or his authorized representative during normal business hours; and

7. File a statement annually, on a date mutually agreed upon, with the chief inspector. This statement shall be signed by the individual having supervision over the inspections made during the period covered. The statement shall include the number of vessels, covered by the Act, inspected during the year and certifying that each inspection was conducted pursuant to the inspection requirements provided for by the Act and in a format acceptable to the chief inspector. The annual statement shall be accompanied by a filing fee in accordance with the schedule in § 40.1-51.11:1 of the Act as follows:

a. For statements covering not more than 25 vessels—$7 per vessel;

b. For statements covering more than 25 vessels but less than 101 vessels—$200;

c. For statements covering more than 100 but less than 501 vessels—$400; and

d. For statements covering more than 500 vessels—$800.