NYC Boilers move to rooftops

Not unusual in newer buildings, especially high rises. Putting the boilers and pumps at the top of the system relieves them of high static pressure design.

I suppose in older buildings structural support for the new boiler room and replacement issues (a crane or an elevator??)

Could do it with steam, but would need a condensate pump in the basement and a boiler feed tank in the boiler room. But unless its a "Mills express riser system" the steam mains on the top floor would be undersized. In that case an " express main" would have to be run to the basement.

Don't know if that's ever been done!!!

@neilc sometime google steam explosions. This is a common occurence on district steam with underground steam.

Run a steam pipe through a manhole and the manhole floods with water. the steam inside condenses and makes a slug of water inside the pipe. the steam makes the water slug a battering ram.

total distruction