(a) The state fire marshal, the chief inspector or any deputy inspector shall have free access, during reasonable hours, to any premises in the state where boilers and pressure vessels are being operated, repaired, installed or constructed for use in this state, for the purpose of ascertaining whether boilers or pressure vessels have been constructed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations adopted hereunder.

(b) Each boiler used or proposed to be used within this state, except for boilers exempt under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-915, and amendments thereto, shall be thoroughly inspected as to construction, installation and condition as follows:

(1) Power boilers and high pressure, high temperature water boilers shall receive an annual certificate inspection which shall be an internal inspection, where construction permits, or as complete an inspection as possible, where construction does not permit internal inspection. Such boilers shall also be externally inspected while under pressure.

(2) Steam heating boilers shall receive an annual certificate inspection, with an internal inspection every three years where construction permits.

(3) All other boilers subject to this section shall receive an annual certificate inspection, with an internal inspection at the discretion of the inspector. An electrical generating utility may apply for, and receive a variance granting such utility up to an additional year between inspections.

(4) A grace period of two months beyond the periods specified in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection may elapse between certificate inspections.

(5) The state fire marshal may provide, by rules and regulations, for longer periods between certificate inspections.

(c) The inspections herein required shall be made by the chief inspector, by a deputy inspector or by a special inspector provided for in this act.

(d) If, at the discretion of the inspector, a pressure test shall be deemed necessary, it shall be made by the owner or user of the boiler.

(e) All pressure vessels installed after January 1, 1999, and boilers, other than cast iron sectional boilers, shall be inspected during construction as required by the applicable rules and regulations by an inspector authorized to inspect boilers and pressure vessels in this state, or, if constructed outside of the state, by an inspector holding a commission issued by the national board of boiler and pressure vessel inspectors. All pressure vessels installed after January 1, 1999, and boilers, regardless of code of construction, shall be registered with the national board of boiler and pressure vessel inspectors.

(f) Hot water supply boilers shall receive an external certificate inspection every three years.

(g) Low pressure hot water supply boilers with a heat input over 400,000 BTUH shall receive an annual external certificate inspection.

(h) Hot water supply boilers over 200,000 BTUH or 120 gallon capacity shall be stamped and registered with the national board of boiler and pressure vessels inspectors.