Unusual Steam Piping - Knucklehead Boiler Install

Ironman

This building dates back to 1890 with the original 1 pipe system. Two 3" steam mains split off above the boiler and each goes in the opposite direction around the perimeter of the building. Each one is about 200' total run. They connect back together in the far corner. There's also a 2" crossover connection near the middle. Someone had decided to plug the only main vent it once had about 40 years ago because it leaked. I installed 3 Big Mouths.




The boiler is a W/M series 80 model 1080. The manual calls for three 4" risers and a 6" header. The knuckleheads that installed it used two 4" risers and a 4" header. They originally had the main connected between the risers. They had the I/O manual in their hands! When I showed their errors to the owner, he pursued them until they came back and this is what they did:





It still only has two risers and the header is still 4". They insisted that this was correct in spite of what the manual called for.

And also: no Hartford loop and it's vented into a 128 year old, unlined exterior chimney 60' high.



And obviously, welded connections at the boiler.

Steamhead

You can't fix stupid.

Is he going after them again?

newagedawn

and did it a second time???, cant they read???

Neild5

And no pigtail on the pressuretrol. How long before they are shot?

Ironman

I know the city inspectors pretty well and had them check to see if a permit was ever pulled - it wasn't. They're gonna send the owner a letter saying one must be pulled, and he in turn will then make the contractor get it. The mechanical inspector has been given the manual for the boiler and he has stated that they WILL be required to pipe it according to the manual.

I really don't understand their stubbornness here; they had the manual in their hands and did it wrong; then came back and partially corrected it, but still refuse to do it by the book; and then insist it's right in spite of the owner presenting the manual to them with the pages that clearly show what's required. And this is THE largest and oldest commercial company in the area.

This is irrefutable proof that Steamhead is right: you can't fix stupid!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Bubba can't read.

Have them get an electrical permit too. The wiring looks like crap.

look on the bright side. The header is 24" up

Steamhead

@Ironman , you'll want to pass this to the inspector as well, if you haven't already. It's Weil-McLain's bulletin on welded headers:

https://www.weil-mclain.com/download/file/fid/3019

Ironman

Excellent, thanks Frank.

lchmb

ok..just curious..what's the bypass on the front left of the boiler with the silver canister for?

KC_Jones

> @lchmb said:
> ok..just curious..what's the bypass on the front left of the boiler with the silver canister for?

I'm guessing gauge cocks, if so that's old school.

lchmb

phew..guess I'm still young...thanks you made my night..:)