Boiler room explosion

@SlamDunk I saw that and missed getting the article. Thanks

Here in Pennsylvania, I was involved in 2 boiler explosions where I and others were in the boiler room when the explosion happened. The state inspectors I dealt with usually called a fuel explosion a "furnace explosion" and a failure of the pressure vessel a "boiler explosion" Lucky for me, both were furnace explosions and not a catastrophic pressure vessel failure. The occurrence in both instances was a terrifying learning experience. Witnessing just how fast the accident can happen educates a person on how careful and attentive you must be around all these pressure vessels. I rarely allowed anyone in a boiler room on the start-up of a new boiler system unless they were there to assist me or they were well versed in boiler systems. I was also called upon to assist boiler inspectors in trying to determine the causes of other accidents as to whether they were caused by fuel or a vessel failure. One of the worst explosions was a brand new H.B.Smith 4500 hot water boiler firing #2 fuel oil,that had been in service only about 2-3 days when the accident occurred, The boiler literally came apart. The boiler base was blown out from under the boiler, the ID fan blew off, the burner was dislodged from its mount, the 3" gas line separated at the burner, and one of the walls of the boiler room cracked. It is quite an experience to see a screw nipple boiler, a fire tube or water tube boiler come apart.