Boiler fails inspection due to a dropped header

ScottMP

Ron

Your just to good for this guy. Think about it, your doing better work than he's ever seen and dos'nt even unerstand it.

Try the honey route and explain what you've done and why. I will be really supprised if this guy dos'nt come around.

Good Luck Pal, we're all behind you.

Scott

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Al Gregory

Beautiful work, Want a job? Is there an electrical fire-o-matic at the ceiling? Is it required there?

Unknown

Thanks alot Glenn

These diagrams will help explain why we do what we do . Glenn , would you know of any resource that goes into detail about drop headers ? Any pamphlet , book , manual will help a great deal . Thanks again .

Unknown

Hey Al

thanks for the offer . I do like where I'm at right now though . Most of the work is usually within walking distance to my house . We are required to use a different sort of firomatic - one that shuts oil flow if the line gets too hot . Thanks alot for the kind words . By the way , what area do you work out of ?

Unknown

Don

does it mean that malleable fittings are OK to use on low pressure steam mains ?

Unknown

Is that manual online ?

I never in my widest dreams thought I'd need to do this much research on drop headers . Thanks alot Weezbo .

Unknown

Got word today

that he didn't fail the job ..... yet . The inspector wants a diagram or a written statement from Peerless saying a drop header is an aceeptable practice in residential steam systems . Maybe a group letter from you Dave , Frank , Noel , Matt , Glenn , Gerry , DF and Dan H would get me out of hot agua . Just kidding , thanks alot Dave .

Unknown

That's in the works

We already got in touch with our rep . Hope the wheels are turning .

Unknown

Alright Noel !

Let me know if you can fax them over the weekend , I have a fax at my home . I can also wait till the weekend is over . Thanks a million buddy .

Unknown

He's coming around quick

The way my supervisor explained it this morning , it seems the inspector has a good idea now that we know our steam . The malleable fittings on the main has become a moot issue . He still wants diagrams or a written statement about the drop though . Thanks so much Scott , I knew you'd have my back .

Dave Yates (PAH)

I'm pleased

to hear he's being somewhat reasonable. Wish I could say the same for many of our local inspectors, but that's for another post.

I'd be more than happy to write a letter. Either together with the distinguished list of others you've mentioned or alone.

It's past-due the time that trades folk took back their honor and restored the codes to their original intent - protecting the health and safety of our customers. The codes have been hijacked (in my area) and turned into little more than revenue generators for permit fees and to trigger property re-assements.

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todd s

Peerless' response

I had the time to give them a call this AM on Ron's behalf. When I got through to tech service, the response was " We already got an e-mail and we're working on this right now". I'm glad to see this board makes a differance.

This Blog thing is awful coincidental. Dan questions a companies lack of presence here in one, praises Ron in another and here we are with a company stepping up to respond to Ron's dilemma because of this forum. ESPECIALLY on a steam boiler!

Uni R

Supervisor

Was that the same supervisor that said he had already failed your job for the drop header and the malleable fittings? hehe


It's great that you never actually posted anything malicious about the inspector because from the sounds of it, he just wants to do ensure that the job is done properly and understand it better. I'm glad to hear this will have a good conclusion. It always takes a car crash before the railroad puts in crossing gates. Now Peerless will hopefully be including drop header diagrams in their installation guides, although I'm not trying to blace blame anywhere at all.

don_52

the specs...

Ron,

i believe so, the attached text is excerpt from the
chicago mech code, which like alot of other cities and states has been "harmonized" with the imc.

different cities/states that i have look at are darn
near identical.

maybe some of the other gents will chime in as well,
who knows? my "intepretation" may be wrong.

i only do industrial shtuff, easier in my view.

truth be told dealing with residential and commercial
"code" specs are like trying to nail jelly to the wall,
to many loopholes, opinions and legal chicanery.

glad everything is working out.

Unknown

Monday will be better

E-mail me a fax number at work, nmurdough at slantfin dot com.

Noel

Jack Ennis Martin

Steam header installation

I think after everyone has "killed"the inspector we should try to see what he sees. Your job is very professional and I congratulte you on being one of a few that own a level and a measuring tape. Now, what does the inspector see? He sees in his experince and piping installtion that will fill with condensate over time and in his perspective rot the pipe. He also sees mallable fittings on steam as a possible corrosion point over the years. Cast fittings on steam are still the correct way to go -- mallable are just much easier to obtain this day and age. The relief valve piping is beyond me ;could it be that the termination hieght from the floor is what he is concerned with? The one point of contention in your otherwise workman installtion is the connection of the copper line going out to the appliances. I hope that you have not succumbed to the 50/50 point of view. Use 95/5 or better yet silfoss your joint for long life. I would like to ask a question on heating of the system does the copper piping have enough "play" to allow for expansion before reaching a point of no movement? Teflon tape is good but Maters Metallic is better for turning that fitting out in fifteen years. Perhaps this is the inspectors point of contention with mallable fittings how do you get one out that has rust welded itself together? Cast always gives to a hammer and a little muscle. Nice job and do not get down if we all agreed on everything what a boring world it would be.
Best of luck and all the best to you and yours.

Jack Ennis Martin
PS: It has been this old man's experince a some ernest discussion and fair play will most of the time lead to a good outcome for all. The more you want to fight the more the other guy will commodate you.

Al Gregory

Im south of Boston. Here we need both an electrical and a oil fire-o-matic. I notice some states dont even require mixxing valves on tankless coils and oil tanks can be piped with copper. I think its time to move

Robert O'Connor_7

Jack...

The end of his drop is the turn down to the equalizer. Look again, there's no way water will pool in there.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

ScottMP

Jack

If you look closly at the installation the drop header is dripped back into the return by the equalizer. I see no point where the pipe " will fill with condensate over time and in his perspective rot the pipe. " Where in your opinion will and how will this happen ??

I agree with the mallable vs cast iron view, but there is the sawzall and new nipple approach also.

I would like your thoughts on which pipe will fill with condesate ? Thanks.

Scott

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Mad Dog

You'll be fine, Ron

once he gets the paperwork from Peerless, you should be covered. He is a very tough inspector, but reasonable and fair. Mad Dog

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