Codes, Rules, and Operator Responsibilities
Who governs what
Boiler construction and stamps come from the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Section I power boilers, Section IV heating boilers). Repairs and alterations follow the National Board Inspection Code. In Ohio, the boiler safety law is Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4105, with detailed requirements in the Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1301:3, administered through the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance. State rules set registration, inspection intervals, certificate posting, accident reporting, and operator licensing (low-pressure and high-pressure classes). Because editions and rule numbers change, verify the current adopted edition before relying on a detail; what does not change is the hierarchy - state rules adopt the code, and the code governs the hardware.
What the operator owes the job
Operate within the stamped MAWP, keep the certificate posted and inspections current, maintain logs, report accidents and serious defects promptly, and hold the license class the boiler requires. The operator in charge is accountable for the water level, the burner, the safety devices, the water treatment, and the records - not just for being present in the room.
Traps
The exam likes questions about who may make a repair, whether an uncertified repair can remain in service, and when a boiler must be taken out of service (unsafe condition, expired certificate, defective safety valve). The answer is almost always: shut it down and notify the authority - do not operate on a lapsed or defective condition.
Rule of thumb: if you cannot produce the current certificate and inspection record, you cannot legally fire the boiler.