Boiler Removal

charlesmcmanus

The company that I work for has been asked to remove a boiler in a correctional facility. The unit has 2 nameplates that are unreadable. There are letters NCR and US are embossed on the front of the boiler. The unit is 6 feet wide, approximately 11 feet long and approximately 10 feet tall. The facilities supervisor estimates that the unit was installed in the late 40's or early 50's. It appears that the unit is resting on a 24" frame but it is enclosed and I cannot be sure. The question that I have is where can I go to research something this old to determine a weight? Any help or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

STEVEusaPA

Are you craning it out in one piece or cutting it? I'd been equally concerned about asbestos too.

Steamhead

That would be NRC-US, the combine of the National and US Radiator companies. It existed in this form from about 1958-1965 or so.

Is this a steel or cast-iron boiler?

FriendlyFred

For context, I removed a cast iron boiler (pre-1930) with a measured volume of 19.1 cubic feet with a scrap weight of 770 pounds. In a completely solid block, 19.1 cubic feet cast iron would weigh 8442 pounds (@ 442#/ft^3).

This gives an estimated 9% of the volume taken up by cast iron.

For your 660 ft^3 boiler, (assuming the same 9% density), you might be looking at 26,254 pounds - or around 13 tons.

charlesmcmanus

Good morning Gentlemen and thank you for your quick responses. Steve, I am hoping that the 24" frame can be removed from underneath the boiler itself. If so we plan to raise the boiler to remove the "stand", then lower it onto rollers and roll it out to a crane in one piece. The facilities supervisor told me that they would take care of any asbestos abatement. Sreamhead, I believe the boiler is steel although it does have cast iron doors. Friendly, I appreciate your input. Not having previous experience with something this old, and not knowing what it weighs, I want to make sure that we are prepared for what it will take to lift it. I had no idea that it could possibly weigh that much.

GBart

Beware of the weights as in block weight and assembled weight, the assembled weight of this boiler will be more than it was due to mineral deposits, could be quite a bit.

charlesmcmanus

GBart, thanks for the information. The more information the better. We want this to be a smooth removal.