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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55259</law_id><section_number>40.1-51.8</section_number><catch_line>Exemptions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="40.1">Labor and Employment</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3.1">Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">In General</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The provisions of this article shall not apply to any of the following:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> <span class="dictionary">Boilers</span> or unfired pressure vessels owned or operated by the federal government or any agency thereof; <a id="paragraph-202621" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> <span class="dictionary">Boilers</span> or fired or unfired pressure vessels used in or on the property of private residences or apartment houses of less than four apartments; <a id="paragraph-202622" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> <span class="dictionary">Boilers</span> of railroad companies maintained on railborne vehicles or those used to propel waterborne vessels; <a id="paragraph-202623" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Hobby or model <span class="dictionary">boilers</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/40.1-51.19_1/">40.1-51.19:1</a>; <a id="paragraph-202624" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Hot water supply <span class="dictionary">boilers</span>, <span class="dictionary">water heaters</span>, and unfired pressure vessels used as hot water supply storage tanks heated by steam or any other indirect means when the following limitations are not exceeded:
			a. A heat input of 200,000 British thermal units per hour;
			b. A water temperature of 210&#xB0; Fahrenheit;
			c. A water-containing capacity of 120 gallons; <a id="paragraph-202625" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Unfired pressure vessels containing air only which are located on vehicles or vessels designed and used primarily for transporting passengers or freight; <a id="paragraph-202626" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Unfired pressure vessels containing air only, installed on the right-of-way of railroads and used directly in the operation of trains; <a id="paragraph-202627" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Unfired pressure vessels used for containing water under pressure when either of the following are not exceeded:
			a. A design pressure of 300 psi; or
			b. A design temperature of 210&#xB0; Fahrenheit; <a id="paragraph-202628" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Unfired pressure vessels containing water in combination with air pressure, the compression of which serves only as a cushion, that do not exceed:
			a. A design pressure of 300 psi;
			b. A design temperature of 210&#xB0; Fahrenheit; or
			c. A water-containing capacity of 120 gallons; <a id="paragraph-202629" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Unfired pressure vessels containing air only, providing the volume does not exceed eight cubic feet nor the operating pressure is not greater than 175 pounds; <a id="paragraph-202630" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> Unfired pressure vessels having an operating pressure not exceeding fifteen pounds with no limitation on size; <a id="paragraph-202631" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="12"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> Pressure vessels that do not exceed:
			a. Five cubic feet in volume and 250 pounds per square inch gauge pressure;
			b. One and one-half cubic feet in volume and 600 pounds per square inch gauge pressure; and
			c. An inside diameter of six inches with no limitations on gauge pressure; <a id="paragraph-202632" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="13"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> Pressure vessels used for transportation or storage of compressed gases when constructed in compliance with the specifications of the United States <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Transportation and when charged with gas marked, maintained, and periodically requalified for use, as required by appropriate regulations of the United States <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Transportation; <a id="paragraph-202633" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="14"><p><span class="prefix-number">14.</span> Stationary American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) LP-Gas containers used exclusively in propane service with a capacity that does not exceed 2,000 gallons if the owner of the container or the owner&#x2019;s servicing agent:
			a. Conducts an inspection of the container not less frequently than every five years, in which all visible parts of the container, including insulation or coating, structural <span class="dictionary">attachments</span>, and vessel connections, are inspected for corrosion, distortion, cracking, <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of leakage, fire damage, or other condition indicating impairment;
			b. Maintains a record of the most recent inspection of the container conducted in accordance with subdivision a; and
			c. Makes the records required to be maintained in accordance with subdivision b available for inspection by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>; <a id="paragraph-202634" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#14"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="15"><p><span class="prefix-number">15.</span> Unfired pressure vessels used in and as a part of electric substations owned or operated by an electric utility, provided such electric substation is enclosed, locked, and inaccessible to the public; or <a id="paragraph-202635" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#15"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="16"><p><span class="prefix-number">16.</span> Coil type hot water <span class="dictionary">boilers</span> without any steam space where water flashes into steam when released through a manually operated nozzle, unless steam is generated within the coil or unless one of the following limitations is exceeded:
			a. Three-fourths inch diameter tubing or pipe size with no drums or headers attached;
			b. Nominal water containing capacity not exceeding six gallons; and
			c. Water temperature not exceeding 350&#xB0; Fahrenheit. <a id="paragraph-202636" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/40.1-51.8/#16"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1972, c. 237; 1977, c. 301; 1978, c. 355; 1986, c. 211; 1988, c. 289; 1990, c. 226; 1993, c. 543; 1999, c. 335; 2000, c. 898; 2012, c. 332; 2013, c. 171.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
