Steam Pipe - Fire safety question

John S.

I could be mistaken, but I don't think there's a fire safety issue here.

Looks like just poor workmanship, unless there's a good reason the pipe needed to be that high (system performance w/huge $ savings on alternate installation method) but I doubt it.

Is it loud when the boiler runs?
I'd be more concerned with wearing out that joist or vibrating the plaster off your walls than a fire from that steam pipe.

David Kiley

Steam pipe - Fire safety question

Hi,

My residential steam boiler (114,000 bpu) was replaced last year, and the company that installed it had raised up the main steam pipe slightly when installing the new unit, so that it is now touching one of the pieces of wood in the basement, and is close to others.

I didn't think anything about it, but noticed recently that there is a black ring in the wood around the pipe that looks like it was caused by heat (for all I know it was that way for a while)- but I wanted to ask if there is any fire danger in the way the pipe is touching wood.

I have attached a picture.

Your advice is appreciated.

Al Letellier_11

heat pipe too close

Definitely a problem, both from a fire safety issue and a danger to the pipe in terms of friction and corrosion issues. The pipe should be moved and insulated to prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Get it taken care of soon.

Foreman

Fire potential

With all due respect, risers sometimes pass thru wood floors. You cant insulate around that portion with out having a six inch diameter hole in your floor. My house has had steam heat since early 1900's, original wood floors, with risers passing thru them, no problem. I dont see a fire hazard.

David Kiley

reply

It's not noisy or vibrating at all, and the heat seems to work well. The pipe is about where it was with the old boiler I think.. just a tiny bit higher now but enough to be snugly against the wood (not enough room to put insulation around that area).

I was just in the process of insulating most of the pipes myself, and just noticed the heat stains around the wood (as in the picture.. so that's what made me somewhat concerned.

JB_8

fire

You don't have a problem the joist is to big to start from that pipe. When coal was used the pipe was hot all the time. There were problems over years of exposure to the floor boards by the riser to the radiator shut off valve. Make sure your flue pipe has clearance from combustibles. Clear all the stuff from near the boiler. Enjoy the new unit

JB_8

fire

You don't have a problem the joist is to big to start from that pipe. When coal was used the pipe was hot all the time. There were problems over years of exposure to the floor boards by the riser to the radiator shut off valve. Make sure your flue pipe has clearance from combustibles. Clear all the stuff from near the boiler. Enjoy the new unit

Bill_62

Check the "Library" section of this site - I seem to remember an old article posted there concerning steam pipes and wood, etc. (written many years ago) and the conclusion of the study was there is no issue - the steam pipes just don't get hot enough to ignite wood.

Constantin

Ask...

... and you shall receive. I had the same memory as you and a quick search in the library turned up a scanned article by William J. Baldwin from his 1897 text Baldwin on Heating.

You are correct, Bill, according to that article wood ought not to ignite when in contact with steam pipes. Thanks to Dan for posting it!

David Kiley

another question

Hey thanks for all the info guys.
One question I have is that if it's not possible for it to ignite.. why does the wood appear to scorch around the pipe? (turn blackish color like in above picture).

That is normal and nothing to worry about?

Constantin

It may be scorching, it may be...

... dust.

I don't claim to know what it could be be because I'm not there, I'm a mere homeowner like yourself, and my steam knowledge is limited, at best. However, I have seen radiators put the same kinds of patterns on walls in rooms with a lot of soot (like the scented candles that some people like to burn). Convective currents carry the stuff up, then it condenses on a cold surface and turns black.

Don't get me wrong though, as dropping the pipe an inch or two (if possible) and insulating it with at least 1" of Knauf or eqv. fiberglass pipe insulation would be a good thing for your heating bills unless you need these uninsulated pipes to heat your basement.