8402.20.00.00 - Super-heated water boilers

This HTS classification, 8402.20.00.00, specifically covers "Super-heated water boilers." These are specialized boilers designed to heat water to temperatures above its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, without converting it into steam. The primary function is to produce high-temperature liquid water for various industrial processes requiring intense heat transfer or specific chemical reactions. Unlike conventional steam boilers, these units maintain water in a liquid state even at elevated temperatures, typically achieved through increased pressure within the system.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 8402.11, which encompasses "Steam or other vapor generating boilers." While both are boiler systems, the key difference lies in the output medium. Steam boilers generate vapor for power generation or heating applications, whereas super-heated water boilers are engineered for applications where high-temperature liquid water is the desired heating medium. This distinction is vital for accurate customs declaration and tariff application, reflecting the different operational principles and end-uses of these machines.

As a leaf node, 8402.20.00.00 does not have further subcategories for granular classification. Therefore, the classification hinges entirely on confirming that the apparatus's principal function is the generation of super-heated water. Examples of such equipment include industrial process heaters, specialized equipment for textile manufacturing requiring high-temperature water, and certain types of food processing machinery. When classifying, one should look for specifications indicating operational temperatures exceeding the standard boiling point of water at ambient pressure and the absence of steam generation as the primary output.