New boiler (or new to WA state) certification process:
As of XX/XX/XXXX, the following steps need to be completed by the owner of the boiler to receive a Washington State boiler certificate.
1. Complete the following documents
Boiler form to be completed for hobby boiler certification
Sample of a completed form to prepare for boiler certification
Miniature Hobby Boiler Guidelines
2. Make an appointment with their local boiler inspector to have the boiler certified.
contact information:
The following page
The Board of Boiler Rules (wa.gov) provides contact information for the WA Dept of Labor & Industries Boiler board members.
Contact Mike Carlson at 360-902-4983 to find out the contact information for your local inspector. Ask the local inspector for their contact information so that you can send them copies of your documents prior to the inspection date.
3. Meet with inspector.
When you meet with the inspector, you will be asked to fill the boiler with water until it is completely full. Then you will need to pressurize the boiler with a suitable pump and pressure gauge until it reaches 1 1/2 times the calculated Maximum Allowable Working Pressure based on your calculations. If it is not a new boiler, it will be 1 1/4 times the MAWP. If your pressure gauge is less than this pressure, be sure and remove it before doing this. Then you will need to fire up the boiler so that the inspector can check to see if the safety valve(s) release at about 5 psi under the MAWP. If two valves, which some tracks require, one should release before the second, usually a 5 psi difference. The boiler inspector will give you the boiler number and you will be billed for this service. Once the bill has been paid you will receive the certificate for this boiler.
Based on the current code, once you have the hobby boiler certified, you are not required to have it inspected again by the state. However, most model railroad clubs require you to show that you have proof of a current self-test of the boiler to run on their track. Kitsap Live Steamers in Port Orchard, WA, Great Northern and Cascade Railroad in Skykomish, WA as well as Train Mountain Railroad in Oregon are examples.