[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR52.01-3]

[Page 120-125]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 52_POWER BOILERS--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart 52.01_General Requirements
 
Sec. 52.01-3  Definitions of terms used in this part.

    (a) Types of boilers--(1) Main power boiler. A main power boiler is 
a steam boiler used for generating steam for main propulsion.
    (2) Auxiliary or donkey boiler. An auxiliary or donkey boiler is a 
steam boiler used for all purposes, including emergency propulsion, for 
which steam may be required other than main propulsion.
    (3) Watertube boiler. A watertube boiler is a steam boiler in which 
the boiler tubes contain water and steam. The heat is applied to the 
outside surface of the tubes.
    (4) Internally fired firetube boiler (scotch boiler). An internally 
fired firetube boiler is a steam boiler containing furnaces, one or more 
combustion chambers and tubes or flues, which are surrounded by water 
and through which the products of combustion pass from the furnace to 
the uptake. In such boilers no part of the shell is in contact with the 
fire or products of combustion.
    (5) Externally fired firetube or flue boiler (horizontal return 
tubular). An externally fired firetube or flue boiler is a steam boiler, 
part of the outer shell of which is exposed to fire or to the products 
of combustion, and containing flues through which such products pass 
from the furnace to the uptake.
    (6) High temperature water boiler. A high temperature water boiler 
is a boiler containing water at a temperature exceeding 250 [deg]F.
    (7) Packaged boiler. A packaged boiler is a steam boiler equipped, 
and shipped complete with fuel burning equipment, mechanical draft 
equipment, feed water apparatus and all necessary controls for manual or 
automatic operation, all completely mounted on a common base and 
requiring only to be connected to fuel, water and electric supplies to 
be ready for use.
    (8) Fired steam boiler. A pressure vessel in which steam is 
generated by the application of heat resulting from the combustion of 
fuel is classed as a fired steam boiler.
    (9) Unfired steam boiler. A pressure vessel in which steam is 
generated by means other than fuel combustion is classed as an unfired 
steam boiler. (See Sec. 54.01-10 of this subchapter.)
    (10) Hybrid boiler. A hybrid boiler is a steam boiler whose design 
employs features from both watertube and firetube boilers.
    (b) Parts of boilers--(1) Shell. The shell is the structure forming 
the outer envelope of a boiler drum, or pressure vessel consisting of 
one or more plates properly joined (or of seamless construction) as 
specified in this part. This does not include tube sheets or heads.
    (2) Heads. The heads are the ends of a boiler or pressure vessel. 
They may be flat or dished, stayed or unstayed.
    (i) Dished heads. Dished heads are heads formed to a segment of a 
sphere

[[Page 121]]

or to a hemispherical or elliptical section and may be attached to the 
shell so that the pressure will be either on the concave or on the 
convex side.
    (ii) Stayed heads. Stayed heads are heads supported in whole or in 
part by stays, furnaces, flues, tubes, etc.
    (3) Water wall. A water wall is a series of tubes or elements spaced 
along or integral with a wall of a furnace to protect the wall and 
provide additional heating surface.
    (4) Header. A header is a hollow forging, pipe, or welded plate of 
cylindrical, square, or rectangular cross section, serving as a manifold 
to which tubes are connected.
    (5) Superheater. A superheater is an appliance for the purpose of 
increasing the temperature of steam.
    (6) Economizer. An economizer is a feed-water heater usually located 
in the uptake or casing of a boiler to absorb heat from the waste gases.
    (7) Domes. Domes are superstructures of shells, attached by 
riveting, bolting, or welding. They generally consist of a cylindrical 
shell with one end flanged for attachment to the main shell and the 
other end closed by a head which may be integral with, riveted, or 
welded to the shell.
    (8) Steam chimneys. Steam chimneys are superstructures of steam 
boilers which are fitted with a lining inside of which the products of 
combustion pass to the smokestack. They may be constructed in the form 
of a dome integral with the boiler or as independent steam vessels 
connected by piping to the boiler.
    (9) Furnace. A furnace is a firebox or a large flue in which the 
fuel is burned.
    (i) Corrugated furnace. A corrugated furnace is a cylindrical shell 
wherein corrugations are formed circumferentially for additional 
strength and to provide for expansion.
    (ii) Plain furnace. A plain furnace is a cylindrical shell usually 
made in sections joined by means of riveting or welding.
    (10) Combustion chamber. A combustion chamber is that part of an 
internally fired boiler in which combustible gases may be burned after 
leaving the furnace.
    (i) Separate combustion chamber. A separate combustion chamber is a 
combustion chamber which is connected to one furnace only.
    (ii) Common combustion chamber. A common combustion chamber is a 
combustion chamber connected to two or more furnaces in a boiler.
    (iii) Crown or top plate. A crown or top plate is the top of a 
combustion chamber and is usually supported by girder stays or by sling 
stays or braces.
    (iv) Curved bottom plate. A curved bottom plate is the bottom of a 
separate combustion chamber formed to an arc of a circle and usually 
designed to be self-supporting.
    (v) Combustion chamber tube sheet. A combustion chamber tube sheet 
is the plate forming the end of a combustion chamber in which the tubes 
are secured.
    (vi) Combustion chamber back sheet. A combustion chamber back sheet 
is the plate opposite the tube sheet forming the back of the combustion 
chamber. It is usually stayed to the back head of the boiler by means of 
screw staybolts, or, in the case of double-ended boilers, to the back of 
the combustion chamber of the other end of the boiler.
    (11) Flues. Flues are cylindrical shells made of seamless or welded 
tubing, or with a riveted longitudinal joint, the ends being attached by 
riveting or welding. Their purpose is to provide additional heating 
surface and to form a path for the products of combustion.
    (12) Tubes. Tubes are cylindrical shells of comparatively small 
diameter constituting the main part of the heating surface of a boiler 
or superheater.
    (i) Seamless tube. A seamless tube is a tube without any 
longitudinal joint.
    (ii) Electric-resistance-welded tube. An electric-resistance-welded 
tube is a tube the longitudinal joint of which is made by the electric-
resistance butt welding process.
    (iii) Stay tube. A stay tube is a thickwalled tube, the end of which 
is usually thickened by upsetting to compensate for threading. Such 
tubes are used for staying tube sheets into which they are screwed and 
expanded.
    (13) Tube sheet. A tube sheet is a portion of a boiler drum, or 
header perforated for the insertion of tubes.
    (14) Ligament. The ligament is the section of metal between the 
holes in a tube sheet.

[[Page 122]]

    (i) Longitudinal ligament. A longitudinal ligament is the minimum 
section of metal between two tube holes on a line parallel with the axis 
of the drum.
    (ii) Circumferential ligament. A circumferential ligament is the 
minimum section of metal between two tube holes on a line around the 
circumference of the drum.
    (iii) Diagonal ligament. A diagonal ligament is the minimum section 
of metal between two tube holes in adjacent rows, measured diagonally 
from one row to the other.
    (c) Stays and supports. (1) Surfaces to be stayed. Surfaces to be 
stayed or reinforced include flat plates, heads, or areas thereof, such 
as segments of heads, wrapper sheets, furnace plates, side sheets, 
combustion chamber tops, etc., which are not self-supporting; and curved 
plates, constituting the whole or parts of a cylinder subject to 
external pressure, which are not entirely self-supporting.
    (2) Through stay. A through stay is a solid bar extending through 
both heads of a boiler and threaded at the ends for attachment by means 
of nuts. With this type of stay the ends are usually upset to compensate 
for the threading. (See Figure 52.01-3(a).)
    (3) Solid screw staybolt. A solid screw staybolt is a threaded bar 
screwed through the plates, the ends being riveted over or fitted with 
nuts or welded collars. (See Figure 52.01-3(b).)
    (4) Welded collar. A welded collar is a beveled ring formed around 
the end of a screw stay by means of arc- or gas-welding. It is used in 
lieu of a nut. (See Figure 52.01-3(1).)
    (5) Hollow screw staybolt. A hollow screw staybolt is a hollow 
threaded bar screwed through the plate, the ends being riveted over or 
fitted with nuts or welded collars. (See Figure 52.01-3(c).)
    (6) Flexible staybolt. A flexible staybolt is a bar made with ball-
and-socket joint on one end, the cup of the socket being screwed into 
the outside sheet and covered with a removable cap, the plain end of the 
staybolt being threaded, screwed through the inside sheet and riveted 
over. (See Figure 52.01-3(d).)
    (7) Sling stay. A sling stay is a flexible stay consisting of a 
solid bar having one or both ends forged for a pin connection to a 
crowfoot or other structural fitting secured to the stayed plate. (See 
Figure 52.01-3(e).)
    (8) Crowfoot. A crowfoot is a forged fitting with palms or lugs 
secured to the head to form a proper connection with a sling stay. (See 
Figure 52.01-3(f).)
    (9) Crowfoot stay. A crowfoot stay is a solid bar stay terminating 
in a forged fork with palms or lugs for attachment to the plate. (See 
Figure 52.01-3(g).)
    (10) Diagonal stay. A diagonal stay is a bar or formed plate forged 
with palms or lugs for staying the head of the boiler to the shell 
diagonally. (See Figure 52.01-3(h).)
    (11) Gusset stay. A gusset stay is a triangular plate used for the 
same purpose as a diagonal stay and attached to the head and the shell 
by angles, flanges, or other suitable means of attachment. (See Figure 
52.01-3(i).)
    (12) Dog stay. A dog stay is a staybolt, one end of which extends 
through a girder, dog, or bridge, and is secured by a nut, the other end 
being screwed through the plate which it is supporting and riveted over 
or fitted with a nut or welded collar. (See Figure 52.01-3(j).)
    (13) Girder. A girder is a bridge, built up of plates of structural 
shapes separated by distance pieces, a forging, or a formed plate, which 
spans an area requiring support, abutting thereon and supporting the 
girder stays or staybolts. (See Figure 52.01-3(k).)
    (14) Structural stiffeners. Structural stiffeners are rolled shapes 
or flanged plates which are used to stiffen a surface which is not 
entirely self-supporting.
    (15) Reinforcement. A reinforcement is a doubling plate, washer, 
structural shape, or other form for stiffening or strengthening a plate.
    (d) Pressure relief devices. For boilers, pressure vessels, and 
pressure piping, a pressure relief device is designed to open to prevent 
a rise of internal fluid pressure in excess of a specified value due to 
exposure to emergency or abnormal conditions. It may also be designed to 
prevent excessive internal vacuum. It may be a pressure relief valve, a 
nonreclosing pressure relief device or a vacuum relief valve.

[[Page 123]]

    (1) Pressure relief valve. A pressure relief valve is a pressure 
relief device which is designed to reclose and prevent the further flow 
of fluid after normal conditions have been restored.
    (i) Safety valve. A safety valve is a pressure relief valve actuated 
by inlet static pressure and characterized by rapid opening or pop 
action. Examples of types used on boilers include:
    (A) Spring-loaded safety valve. A spring-loaded safety valve is a 
safety valve fitted with a spring which normally holds the valve disk in 
a closed position against the seat and allows it to open or close at 
predetermined pressures. Spring-loaded safety valves are characterized 
by pop action.
    (B) Pressure loaded pilot actuated safety valve. A pressure loaded 
pilot actuated safety valve is one which is held in a closed position by 
steam pressure and controlled in operation by a pilot actuator valve.
    (C) Spring loaded pilot actuated safety valve. A spring loaded, 
pilot actuated safety valve is one in which a spring is used in the 
conventional way to hold the disk against the seat, but which has a 
piston attached to the spindle and enclosed within a cylinder, which 
when subjected to a limiting or set pressure, unbalances the spring load 
thereby opening the valve.
    (D) Spring loaded pilot valve. A spring loaded pilot valve is a 
conventional safety valve designed to actuate another spring loaded 
safety valve through a pressure transmitting line led from the body of 
the pilot valve.
    (ii) Relief valve. A relief valve is a pressure relief valve 
actuated by inlet static pressure which opens in proportion to the 
increase in pressure over the opening pressure.
    (iii) Safety relief valve. A safety relief valve is a pressure 
relief valve characterized by rapid opening or pop action, or by opening 
in proportion to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure, 
depending on application.
    (A) Conventional safety relief valve. A conventional safety relief 
valve has its spring housing vented to the discharge side of the valve. 
The performance characteristics (opening pressure, closing pressure, 
lift and relieving capacity) are directly affected by changes of the 
back pressure on the valve.
    (B) Balanced safety relief valve. A balanced safety relief valve 
incorporates means of minimizing the effect of back pressure on the 
operational characteristics (opening pressure, closing pressure, lift 
and relieving capacity).
    (C) Internal spring safety relief valve. An internal spring safety 
relief valve incorporates the spring and all or part of the operating 
mechanism within the pressure vessel.
    (iv) Pilot operated pressure relief valve. A pilot operated pressure 
relief valve is a pressure relief valve in which the major relieving 
device is combined with and is controlled by a self-actuated auxiliary 
pressure relief valve.
    (v) Power actuated relief valve. A power actuated pressure relief 
valve is a pressure relief valve in which the major relieving device is 
combined with and controlled by a device requiring an external source of 
energy.
    (vi) Temperature actuated pressure relief valve. A temperature 
actuated pressure relief valve is a pressure relief valve. A spring 
loaded, pilot actuated internal temperature.
    (2) Nonreclosing pressure relief device. A nonreclosing pressure 
relief device is a pressure relief device not designed to reclose after 
operation.
    (i) Rupture disk device. A rupture disk device is a device actuated 
by inlet static pressure and designed to function by the bursting of a 
pressure retaining disk.
    (ii) Explosion rupture disk device. An explosion rupture disk device 
is a rupture disk device designed for use at high rates of pressure 
rise.
    (iii) Breaking pin device. A breaking pin device is a device 
actuated by inlet static pressure and designed to function by the 
breakage of a load carrying section of a pin which supports a pressure 
retaining member.
    (iv) Shear pin device. A shear pin device is a device actuated by 
inlet static pressure and designed to function by the shearing of a load 
carrying pin which supports the pressure retaining member.
    (v) Fusible plug device. A fusible plug device is a device designed 
to function by the yielding or melting of a plug of suitable melting 
temperature.

[[Page 124]]

    (vi) Frangible disk device. A frangible disk device is the same as a 
rupture disk device.
    (vii) Bursting disk device. A bursting disk device is the same as a 
rupture disk device.
    (3) Vacuum relief valve. A vacuum relief valve is a valve designed 
to admit fluid to prevent an excessive internal vacuum.
    (e) Other boiler attachments. (1) Mountings. Mountings are nozzle 
connections, distance pieces, valves, or fittings attached directly to 
the boiler.
    (2) Main steam stop valve. A main steam stop valve is a valve 
usually connected directly to the boiler for the purpose of shutting off 
the steam from the main steam line.
    (3) Auxiliary steam stop valve. An auxiliary steam stop valve is a 
valve usually connected directly to the boiler for the purpose of 
shutting off the steam from the auxiliary lines (including the whistle 
lines).
    (4) Manifold. A manifold is a fitting with two or more branches 
having valves either attached by bolting or integral with the fitting.
    (5) Feed valve. A feed valve is a valve in the feed-water line which 
controls the boiler feed.
    (6) Blowoff valve. A blowoff valve is a valve connected directly to 
the boiler for the purpose of blowing out water, scum or sediment.
    (7) Dry pipe. A dry pipe is a perforated or slotted pipe placed in 
the highest part of the steam space of a boiler to prevent priming.
    (8) Water column. A water column is a fitting or tube equipped with 
a water glass attached to a boiler for the purpose of indicating the 
water level.
    (9) Test cocks. Test cocks are small cocks on a boiler for 
indicating the water level.
    (10) Salinometer cocks. Salinometer cocks are cocks attached to a 
boiler for the purpose of drawing off a sample of water for salinity 
tests.
    (11) Fusible plugs. Fusible plugs are plugs made with a bronze 
casing and a tin filling which melts at a temperature of 445[deg] to 450 
[deg]F. They are intended to melt in the event of low water and thus 
warn the engineer on watch.
    (f) Boiler fabrication. (1) Repair. Repair is the restoration of any 
damaged or impaired part to an effective and safe condition.
    (2) Alteration. Alteration is a structural modification to or 
departure from an approved design or existing construction.
    (3) Expanding. Expanding is the process of enlarging the end of a 
tube to make it fit tightly in the tube sheet.
    (4) Beading. Beading is the process of turning over the protruding 
end of a tube after expanding to form a supporting collar for the tube 
sheet.
    (5) Bell-mouthing. Bell-mouthing is the process of flaring the end 
of a tube beyond where it is expanded in the tube sheet.
    (6) Telltale hole. A telltale hole is a small hole having a diameter 
not less than three-sixteenths inch drilled in the center of a solid 
stay, and extending to at least one-half inch beyond the inside surface 
of the sheet.
    (7) Access or inspection openings. Access or inspection openings are 
holes cut in the shells or heads of boilers or boiler pressure part for 
the purpose of inspection and cleaning.
    (8) Openings. Openings are holes cut in shells or heads of boilers 
or boiler pressure parts for the purpose of connecting nozzles, domes, 
steam chimneys, or mountings.
    (g) Pressure. The term pressure is an abbreviation of the more 
explicit expression ``difference in pressure intensity.'' It is measured 
in terms such as pounds per square inch (p.s.i.).
    (1) Gage (or gauge) pressure. Gage pressure is the difference 
between the pressure at the point being measured and the ambient 
pressure for the gage. It is measured in units such as pounds per square 
inch gage (p.s.i.g.).
    (2) Absolute pressure. Absolute pressure is the difference between 
the pressure at the point being measured and that of a perfect vacuum. 
It is measured in units such as pounds per square inch absolute 
(p.s.i.a.).
    (3) Internal pressure. Internal pressure refers to a situation where 
the pressure inside exceeds that outside the volume being described.
    (4) External pressure. External pressure refers to a situation where 
the pressure outside exceeds that inside the volume being described.

[[Page 125]]

    (5) Maximum allowable working pressure. For a definition of maximum 
allowable working pressure, see Sec. 54.10-5 of this subchapter.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01FE91.019

            Figure 52.01-3--Acceptable Types of Boiler Stays

[CGFR 68-82, 33 FR 18815, Dec. 18, 1968, as amended by CGFR 69-127, 35 
FR 9976, June 17, 1970; CGD 81-79, 50 FR 9431, Mar. 8, 1985; CGD 83-043, 
60 FR 24772, May 10, 1995]