AB 497

Under current law, the Department of Safety and Professional Services has

promulgated rules that impose inspection requirements on boilers. This bill affects

those requirements for chemical recovery boilers. If the owner or user of a chemical

recovery boiler maintains insurance coverage for the boiler and is in good standing

with the insurer that provides the coverage, the bill limits the frequency of periodic

inspections, including internal inspection, that require taking the boiler out of

service. Under the bill, those periodic inspections may be required no more

frequently than once every 24 months. The frequency limit applies to inspections of

the boiler or any of its components.

In addition, the bill imposes a deadline on DSPS to act on applications for

exemptions or extensions with respect to periodic inspections of chemical recovery

boilers. If the owner or user of the boiler applies for an exemption or extension at

least 120 days before the expiration of the inspection period that applies to the boiler,

the bill requires DSPS to take final action on the application at least 90 days before

the expiration of that inspection period.