boiler explosion in Baltimore...breaking story

SlowYourRoll

Hey all, I'm still very new to the board. Don't know if people post news stories in general or just heating questions, but anyway this just happened a few miles from me and I thought it might be of interest for others.

Reading the Holohan books has increased my understanding of just how much a problem boiler explosions used to be over a century ago. Looks like currently it's 10 people injured in this explosion but no fatalities reported. Luckily the office building was mostly vacant due to COVID, or this could have been a much bigger tragedy.

https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/12/23/multiple-people-injured-baltimore-bge-building-rescue-latest/

SlowYourRoll

also it looks like it was just a weird coincidence that it was the Baltimore Gas & Electric office building. there will probably be more details on exactly what happened, but the press release says it was an explosion in the boiler and air handling system.

Steamhead

Something doesn't add up here. The explosion was on the 16th floor, an odd place for a boiler. Also, that building is likely fed by the downtown district steam system.

MaxMercy

I think it's a reporting issue. Here's a badly constructed sentence:

Construction work was occurring on the building’s air handling and boiler system, which likely caused the incident.


Does that mean the air handler or boiler caused the explosion, or the construction work being done??

ratio

On tall buildings, a lot of the major air handlers are in the middle floor(s). There's one downtown here that has 100% louvers all the way around the middle two floors.

RyanD

Steamhead said:

Something doesn't add up here. The explosion was on the 16th floor, an odd place for a boiler. Also, that building is likely fed by the downtown district steam system.

Is a it a newer or recently renovated building? The building I work in has boilers and emergency generators on the penthouse level as do the rest of the buildings our development. It seems to be what everyone is doing after the big storms like Sandy. 

SlowYourRoll

Steamhead said:

Something doesn't add up here. The explosion was on the 16th floor, an odd place for a boiler. Also, that building is likely fed by the downtown district steam system.

That's a good point. I'll be sure to post a follow-up when I see something.

SlamDunk

Could be a steam fed coil in air handler. There may be pressure reducing stations nearby. Steam traps?. LOTO mistake?

pecmsg

ratio said:

On tall buildings, a lot of the major air handlers are in the middle floor(s). There's one downtown here that has 100% louvers all the way around the middle two floors.

Care to bet that’s the “13Th” floor?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Gee. They sure were quick to report that it was "not gas related"
that means it probably was 'gas related" LOL.

unclejohn

Zero detail about the cause. But then again air handles explode all the time.

SlamDunk

unclejohn said:

Zero detail about the cause. But then again air handles explode all the time.

It occurred on Christmas Eve,Eve. Not much investigating will happen.

Ever notice that during major holidays, when most reporters are off, the world is less scary? Maybe it is just me.

ethicalpaul

So the reporters caused the explosion?

SlamDunk

ethicalpaul said:

So the reporters caused the explosion?

No. They are with their families , not reporting on the explosion.

ethicalpaul

Yeah. The world is as it is regardless of the reporters I guess.

motoguy128

His point is that you will tend to get more simple facts, rather than sensationalist headlines and information. Reporters are about 50% journalists and 50% entertainers. Have been since customers have been paying to read, hear or watch news.

Even if they did just report basic facts, the sources may have an incentive to skew the truth. Those that caused the accident might not want to admit the truth as it might make them negligent. So we have to wait for an independent report from a investigative authority. But even then, it could still have some political influence to an extent. Although NTSB, FAA and similar bodies I think tend to just report facts.

SlowYourRoll

SlamDunk said:

ethicalpaul said:

So the reporters caused the explosion?

No. They are with their families , not reporting on the explosion.

I live in Baltimore. I can assure you that our local reporters are diligently reporting on this case. If you don't believe me, the local news stations are WBAL, WMAR, WBFF, and the local paper is The Baltimore Sun. just google any of those and you can see for yourself.

SlowYourRoll

i forgot WJZ. that's the other local news station.

unclejohn

It happen on Christmas eve eve.