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Board of Boiler Rules approves conditional variances, tables Jack Daniel's request
Summary
The Tennessee Board of Boiler Rules on March 12 approved several facility variance requests contingent on inspections or manual revisions, adopted a 180-day inspection-notice limit for variances, and tabled Jack Daniel's pending manual revisions.
The State of Tennessee Board of Boiler Rules approved multiple variance requests at its March 12 quarterly meeting, but attached conditions intended to ensure timely inspections and updated safety procedures.
The board approved variance 25-01 for Bridgetown Natural Foods contingent on the facility passing an initial state inspection, noting required revisions to remote panel locations, personnel roles, and training logs. It approved variance 25-02 for Cookeville Regional Medical Center on the condition that the hospital be inspected within 180 days; the facility is replacing burners and control systems and its prior variance had expired. The board approved variance 25-04 for Domtar Tissue Mill with a modified inspection schedule: a three-and-a-half-year inspection cycle implemented as two 18-month inspections rather than the five-year cycle the company requested. The board tabled variance 25-03 from Jack Daniel's Distillery, requesting revisions to the operations manual to address emergency procedures, personnel roles, and testing protocols before reconsideration.
In related action under old business, the board passed BC 24-02, adopting a 180-day limit for companies holding approved variances to notify the state when they are ready for inspection; the motion permits a onetime 180-day extension if approved by the Chief Boiler Inspector and the Assistant Commissioner. The change formalizes a maximum inspection-notice window for facilities operating under variance conditions.
Board members framed the approvals as contingent steps that preserve regulatory oversight while allowing facilities to implement equipment and procedural changes. The actions ensure that the board retains the ability to require inspections and documentation before a variance takes effect.
The board scheduled follow-up and will reconsider any tabled items after the applicants submit the required manual revisions or pass the specified inspections. The next meetings are set for June 11, September 10, and December 10, 2025.
