Cast Iron Steam Radiator maximum pressure.

ssnowder

I work at a prison built in 1939. The steam supply pressure to the housing units in 85 psi. This is, of course, reduced at the housing unit mechanical rooms. However, there are a couple of offices that are operating their radiators at 80 psi. Until I can find some reference to the max allowed psi, they refuse to stop using them. So, can someone provide some manufacture or other source for max allowable pressure? Thanks!

mattmia2

you would have to figure out who made them and find a catalog for a definitive answer but 10 psi steam and 30 psi hot water would be a good absolute limit absent any other information. unless you are doing some condensate lifting with steam you only need a couple ounces of pressure to fill the system with steam. 80 psi steam contains so much energy and volume of team that it will suffocate and scald you if a pipe breaks.

Jamie Hall

If the shrapnel doesn't get you first. At that pressure, even a small leak will be catastrophic — and a crack in the cast iron will shatter the entire casting.

Idiots.

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1818850#Comment_1818850

yeah, there is also the problem that what would be hammer at 5 psi is an explosion at 80 psi so you have to be extremely careful that the system is maintained properly and even things like opening or closing a valve can be deadly.

CLamb

Old time railroads referred to it as the "white death".