A Boiler is an equipment, where in steam is generated under pressure. Such steam is useful in oil mills, textile mills, sizing, fertilizers, petrochemicals, refineries, food industries (such as sugar mills, dairy), power generation etc. All such industries need boilers. Though the boiler is very useful, it is also very dangerous, because of its explosive nature. An accident caused, due to an explosion of a boiler which can result in loss of life and property. In the year 1869, two such explosions of boiler occurred in Bombay city (now Mumbai) causing huge damage to life and property. Therefore, in the year 1869, the Boiler Inspection Department was established in the State of Bombay, and later the Indian Boiler Act, 1923 came into existence at the national level.
The Government of India then introduced the Indian Boiler Regulations, 1924. These regulations were further totally replaced in year 1950, and are now called as Indian Boiler Regulations, 1950. These regulations include guidelines and regulations about the boiler, drawings, prescribed certificates, mode of construction, registration, inspection, etc.
Later, based on the Indian Boiler Act, 1923, The Maharashtra Boiler Rules, 1962 and Maharashtra Economizer Rules, 1965, came in to force. The Indian Boiler Act, 1923 was amended in 2007, and now the said act is called as ‘The Boiler Act, 1923’. Further in March, 2011 the Boiler Attendants’ Rules, 2011 and Boiler Operation Engineers’ Rules, 2011 came into force.
