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Cast Iron Steam Radiator maximum pressure.

ssnowder
ssnowder Member Posts: 6
in THE MAIN WALL

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!

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,754

    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.

    ssnowder
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,754
    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.

    ssnowder
  • CLamb
    CLamb Member Posts: 319

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

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