VPRS 8820 Register of Digester Inspection

Under the provisions of section 14 of the Boilers Inspection Act 1906 (No.2071) and the subsequent Acts of 1915, 1928 and 1958 industrial boilers/digesters were required to be inspected by inspectors of the Mines Department. From 1961 inspections were conducted by the Department of Labour and Industry.The original Act applied only to steam boilers and digesters. (Digesters are commonly used in many trades especially in the rendering of fats and oils. It is a cylindrical vessel pressurised exclusively by steam as distinct from air or gas. Typical applications are in abattoir, dyeing, paper industry or penicillin manufacture). The Boilers Inspection (Air and Gas Receivers Act) 1940 (No.4739) which came into operation in 1947, extended the application of the legislation to embrace air and gas receivers.This series was created to record the inspection of digesters. Owners of boilers/digesters were required to register the boilers/digesters with the Chief Inspector, who then arranged for inspectors to inspect them on site. A history of each boiler/digester was kept in the Chief Inspector's office to assist in future annual inspections.Two administrative procedures were followed with respect to a vessel: the registration procedure lead to the issue of a certificate of registration; and, the inspection procedure lead to the issue of a certificate of inspection. The former identified the vessel, recorded the payment of the annual registration fee and fixed the maximum pressure under which the vessel could be operated. The latter stated that the vessel was inspected by an inspector on a certain day and was found to be in a satisfactory condition.Under the provisions of the Boilers Inspection Act 1906 (No.2071) all licensed boiler inspectors under Mines Act were required to inspect and test the industrial boilers/digesters and to keep a complete record of all particulars required to ascertain the state and condition of a boiler.This series documents the first and the subsequent inspection of digesters. The particulars recorded include:- date of registration- age and construction of such digester- name of the maker (if known)- pressure which such digester was calculated to sustain- working pressure allowed- state and condition of the digester and of all appliances used in connection with and purpose for which such appliances were required- date of inspection- signature of inspector- outcome of inspection.The end date of the series has been imputed from records in custody date range.