TDLR Suspends Boiler Inspection Requirements

To help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requested and received authority from Governor Greg Abbott to suspend certain regulatory requirements statewide, to the extent necessary to extend inspection time requirements for elevators and boilers.

A boiler Certificate of Operation that expires in the time period from March 13, 2020 through June 30, 2020, shall NOT receive any penalty for failing to obtain an inspection before the Certificate of Operation expires. TDLR investigators will respond in case of an accident or emergency.

All boiler owners who request an extension of the internal inspection interval will maintain eligibility for an extension even if the required inspections have not been performed. This policy will be applied to all boiler extensions for which the Certificate of Operation expires during the time period of March 13, 2020 through June 30, 2020. (§755.025 and §755.026, Health and Safety Code). Additionally:

• Inspection requirements are suspended temporarily for elevators with permits that expire in March, April, May, and June 2020. TDLR investigators will respond in case of an accident or emergency. (§754.019, Health and Safety Code)
• Extending by 60 days all building inspection deadlines in the Elimination of Architectural Barriers Program for any inspections due in March, April, May, and June in case any of those buildings need to be used immediately as part of COVID-19 response. (§469.105, Government Code)

TDLR Waives Continuing Education, Other Requirements

TDLR continuing education requirements are waived for all individual licenses expiring in March, April, May, and June 2020. Licensees still need to submit their renewal applications, pay the required fees, and TDLR will check their criminal histories, but they will not need to complete any TDLR-required continuing education this licensing cycle. (§51.405, Occupations Code)

Note, TDLR is not authorized to waive continuing education requirements imposed by a certifying or credentialing entity other than TDLR. If a certifying entity requires continuing education to maintain certification, and certification is required for Texas licensure, then that continuing education must be completed. If the certifying entity waives continuing education or allows it to be completed on a delayed basis due to COVID-19, then licensees may follow the certifying entity’s policy.