Celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of Boiler Law in Washington

It was 75 years ago, March 1, 1951, when then-Gov. Arther B. Langlie approved a boiler and pressure vessel safety law in Washington state. It established a Board of Boiler Rules, made up of industry representatives and the public. The law also established inspection requirements.

The law took effect Jan. 1, 1952. It’s worth noting the City of Seattle passed its boiler safety law in 1920; Spokane in 1936. (Massachusetts was the first state to pass a boiler safety law – 1849.  The state added amendments after boiler explosions in 1905-6).

The Boiler Program ensures public safety by performing safety inspections and issuing operating permits for more than 116,000 boilers and unfired pressure vessels throughout the state. State law requires a permit before you install, reinstall or move any boiler or unfired pressure vessel.

• We investigate accidents involving boilers or pressure vessels.
• We help owners, manufacturers, and repair firms understand the codes, rules and regulations.
• We audit and review manufacturers of boilers and pressure vessels for conformance with national construction standards.
• We administer national board and state examinations.

If you have any questions or need to report an accident, please contact the Boiler program:

Phone: 360-902-6400
Email: Boiler@Lni.wa.gov

Recovering boiler systems after a flood

After waters recede, people will begin the long process of cleaning and restoring their property. The following information is provided to assist in recovery of boiler systems affected by flooding.

Refer to this National Board article, "Recovering Boiler Systems After a Flood."