1956 Radiant System

GlenW.

Unfortunately, I am very afraid of that scenario. The church is absolutely beautiful in design, with beige sandstone block construction, decorative columns, flying buttresses and the like. There were no alternative plans laid to retrofit the heating & air...not without extensive renovation.

GlenW.

1956 Radiant System

Ok...so we have been contacted to bid boiler replacement on a church built in 1956. Beautiful building, with basement, 1st Floor, and 2nd Floor heated through black steel tubing embedded within the concrete floors. Overall, the system looks in very good shape for fifty years old, and I see no apparent problems... I guess my question would be: Has anyone had experience with these older steel-tubing jobs, and what would the life expectancy be for that tubing within the concrete? I know there is no definite answer here, but I wouldn't want the company to be liable for leaks occuring within the slab a week after the boiler was installed. I guess any little tidbits of information would be appreciated. Thanks!

Unknown

what's wrong

What's wrong with the present boiler? Show any signs of rust or just time to replace it? I would disconnect the system and pressure tested before installing the replacment boiler. If its iron pipes with copper tubings, buried in concrete, beaware!

GlenW.

Nothing is wrong with the boiler...just fifty years old. As for the tubing...no copper that I can see...just actual black steel piping bent into the concrete.

Unknown

is there

Is there a water meter on the feed to play it safe? I would have it installed on the new bolier with alarm so imedatie(sp) attention to save the boiler... Wondering if the pumps are installed on the supply side on this boiler?

GlenW.

No...there is no water meter installed on the original boiler, nor are the pumps on the supply side. The pumps are on the return. Being that age of installation, I would have been surprised to see pumps on the supply.

Unknown

in the

In the 1950's IBR heating handbook, they showed that if the radiant floor system to be installed below the boiler, pump(s) shall be installed on the supply side of boiler. More I think about ur system, as the heating system is off, close the expaniosn tank and increase the pressure to 25 lbs. Watch the pressure gage for a week and see if any pressure drop and hope for the best... Since its a church, pray for the best...

Scott Gregg

suggestion...

I suggest you write into your contract exactly what parts you are and are not responsible for. You have now way of knowing the condition of those pipes based on outward inspection and if you drain it down and it becomes a radiant sprinkler system you might have quite a hairball on your hands.

Have your contract clearly define the boundaries of your work and explain to the church that although their systems looks great, you can not be responsible for the condition of the existing work. (Because you can not see inside the pipes) You could even negotiate a T & M rate for any other repairs that crop up outside of your contract while you are on the job if you wanted to.

You might be just fine and everything go off without a hitch but the time to spell these things out is before you are sloshing around through ankle deep water.

I did a repipe of a large public building in Richmond a few years back. We replaced the dual temp mains in the basement of a large building downtown. We only replaced the mains and the contract was written to keep us only responsible for those pipes and connections. After draining down the building, doing the work and testing the new mains, connections were made and the building was filled back up…creating HUNDREDS of new leaks on pipe that looked fine, over 9 floors! Their own maintenance people chased them for a week or so and finally made the building tight again, but we learned a valuable lesson. All those pipes looked great on the outside too.

GlenW.

Exactly

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

jackchips_2

It may even

be to your advantage to at least discuss alternatives with your client in the event the underslab pipes do fail. This will go further in showing your concern about something you have no control over and will give them a heads up on the potential cost.

Good luck.

Jack

hr

Steel pipe systems

that I have worked on have beendamaged from theoutside in. If the pipe is in a wet location in the slab they tend to rust from the outside in.

i would do a 30 lb or more pressure test for 24 hours, first. Then as the others indicate be clear on warranty conditions.

Sounds like a good mod con application. Do a heat loss calc, of course.

I've heard of church redos with panel rads or heated pews. maybe Harvey Youker was the wiz behind those. www.hytechheating.com

hot rod

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"