220 CMR, § 20.02
For the purposes of 220 CMR 20.00, the following definitions apply:
Accessible. Capable of being visually inspected (i.e., Expansion Joints or welds not buried or located in a manhole, tunnel, or vault).
Active Corrosion. Continuing corrosion which, unless controlled, could result in a condition that is detrimental to public safety.
Asbestos-containing Material. Friable asbestos and any material containing 1% or more asbestos by area as determined by a laboratory using USEPA-approved methods. Asbestos-containing Material includes but is not limited to sprayed-on and troweled-on materials applied to ceilings, walls, and ceilings, walls, and other surfaces, insulation on pipes, boilers, tanks, ducts, and other equipment, structural and non-structural members, tiles, shingles or asbestos containing paper.
Blow-off Valve. A valve typically connected to the Main on one end and open to the atmosphere on the other end. Blow-off Valves are used to depressurize the steam Main during outage operations, as well as to drain Condensate from the Main during shutdown, outage and start-up operations. Blow-off Valves are typically closed in normal operating conditions. These valves are sometimes also termed open-end or free-blow valves.
Bypass Valve. A valve that is fitted with piping to enable steam flow around the Main Valve when the Main Valve is isolated. Bypass Valves are used upon re energization of a section of the Main, and are sometimes termed warm-up or equalizing valves.
Condensate. Water that collects as steam and, when cooled, changes to a liquid state. In normal operation, the Main or Service Piping will produce varying amounts of Condensate while in service, and provision for its removal is required (typically by Steam Traps).
Department. Department of Public Utilities, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Division. Pipeline Safety Division of the Department.
Emergency Leak. Any Leak or Vapor Condition that is immediately hazardous or a threat to public safety, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Any Leak on the bellows of an exposed Expansion Joint;
(b) Any Leak likely to cause third-party property damage or personal injury;
(c) Any Leak resulting from External Damage or other outside forces, including but not limited to fire, explosion, vandalism, or natural forces; or
(d) Any Leak or Vapor Condition that, in the judgment of the operating personnel at the scene, is regarded as potentially hazardous.
Expansion Joints. Manufactured fittings installed in Main or Service Piping to compensate, where necessary, for thermal expansion. Expansion Joints are typically either slip joints or bellows joints (internally or externally pressurized).
External Damage. Damage to facilities caused by external forces including but not limited to third parties.
Incident. An unplanned condition or situation necessitating a response, including but not limited to the following:
(a) An Emergency Leak, steam release, hazardous material spill, or explosion;
(b) A condition or situation that is likely to lead to abnormal plant or system operations;
(c) A condition or situation that jeopardizes key systems or components;
(d) A condition or situation that compromises personnel safety; or
(e) A condition or situation that is likely to damage third-party property or impact the health and safety of the general public.
Integrity Management Plan (IM Plan). A written explanation of the mechanisms or procedures that a Steam Distribution Company uses to implement its SDIMP or IM Program to ensure compliance with 220 CMR 20.00.
Leak. A breach in the pressure boundary of the Main or Service Piping that allows the escape of steam from the system.
Main. Includes the piping, Main Valves, Blow-off Valves, Bypass Valves, Expansion Joints, Steam Traps, equipment, and fittings for the delivery of steam from a Steam Distribution Company's steam production facility to the Steam Distribution Company's service area. Mains are external to the property line of the steam production facility, and are differentiated from Service Piping.
Main Valve. A valve located in the Main that is used for isolating a section of the Main.
Nonemergency Leak. Any Leak or Vapor Condition that is not immediately hazardous or a threat to public safety at the time of discovery and reasonably can be expected to remain nonhazardous and not a public safety threat.
Safety-related Condition. A condition that is likely to lead to an Incident, personal injury, third party damage, or system or component failure, including but not limited to the following:
(a) Any structural defect associated with a steam manhole/vault that poses a safety risk to operating or maintenance personnel and could damage or render steam piping or control equipment inoperable;
(b) Any crack, material defect, or weld failure that impairs the structural integrity of the steam pipeline or related steam components;
(c) Unintended movement or abnormal loading by natural forces such as earthquake, flooding, or washout that impairs the serviceability of steam piping and related components, such as valves, Expansion Joints, guides, anchors, and supports; or
(d) Any condition that could result in the failure of a steam pressure-reducing valve supplying steam at line pressure to a steam customer.
Service Piping. The piping, valves, Steam Traps, equipment, and fittings for the delivery of steam originating from the Main to the thermal energy end-user (customer), terminating at the customer's property line.
Steam Distribution Company. A person, firm, partnership, association or private corporation organized or operating under the laws of the Commonwealth with the primary purpose of operating a plant, equipment or facilities for the manufacture, production, transmission, furnishing or distribution of steam to or for the public for compensation within the Commonwealth; provided, however, that Steam Distribution Company shall not include:
(a) an entity producing or distributing steam exclusively on private property and solely for use by the entity or the entity's tenant, and not for distribution or sale; or
(b) a company that produces and sells steam as a by-product of the production of electricity for sale in the wholesale electricity markets and does not own or operate pipelines off site of the generating facility for the distribution of steam.
Steam Distribution Integrity Management Program (SDIMP or IM Program). An overall approach by a Steam Distribution Company to ensure the integrity and condition of its steam distribution system through the development and implementation of condition assessments.
Steam Trap. A device fitted on the Main and Service Piping to allow the discharge of accumulated Condensate from an operating steam line. Steam Traps operate essentially as automated valves that are activated by one or more means to eject Condensate with minimal steam loss.
Vapor Condition. presence of visible steam or water vapor in close proximity to buried Mains.
Water Intrusion. Water originating from external sources making physical contact with the Main or Service Piping. This contact can result in flash vapor that may be reported as a Vapor Condition.
220 CMR, § 20.02