First time seeing this orientation.

Double D

I guess the piping combinations really do go to infinity.

Main venting wasn't much better.

PXL_20240806_195923359.jpg

PXL_20240806_195944768.jpg

PXL_20240806_202326807.jpg

PXL_20240806_201018152.MP.jpg

Steamhead

Not only that, but the elbows at the ends of the mains just before the drips are concentric reducers, so water is pooling there and might cause banging.

Double D

I should be able to address the concentric reducers when I address the main venting. Lots of room to work.

I didn't do a radiation survey of the 2 buildings yet. Both buildings have 18 apartments each. The boiler in the pic is a Weil McLain EG75, (my guess is it's grossly undersized) the other building has a new Peerless 211A-04.

Mad Dog_2

I love the main vent! Unique steam header too..Keep us posted..Mad Dog 🐕

ScottSecor

Interesting piping for sure. On jobs like this we often have a tough time convincing the owners to correct the piping issues. We have tried explaining the issues in laymen's terms, showed them installation manuals and showed them design manuals. Most of the time the building or homeowner will say, "it worked before."

What I'm getting at, we often waste a lot of time researching, measuring and calculating on poorly piped jobs your photos depict. Then the owner simply asks us to replace the leaking boiler. Only to find the same areas that barely heat, continue to be a problem. The same areas that used to bang. still make noise.

My suggestion is to speak honestly to the building owner, before you invest too much time. If they are interested in upgrading the 'entire' system, by all means address all of the issues.