Article- The Boiler Operator Knowledge Gap

Steamhead · June 4

from FacilitiesNet:

https://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/The-Boiler-Operator-Knowledge-Gap-Is-Becoming-a-Safety-Risk--20983?source=facility_insider

Mad Dog_2 · June 4

Great article and dead on. Seeing the effects of this. These buildings often had U.S. Navy Vets running their Plants. Still great training via the Military route. Mad Dog

EBEBRATT-Ed · June 5

My brother Started as a 2d class fireman (boiler operator in MA) then first-class fireman. the 2d class engineer, then first class engineer. So he can operate as chief engineer of a moderate size plant like a hospital.

He has been doing this for 50 years and will be 70 shortly. He just retired a month ago from his main job working in a electrical utility. He also for the last 20 years operates a hospital power plant part time as chief engineer. The chief they had 20 years ago got fired and my brother took the job as a temp to cover the plat with his license and he is still there. Over the years they have replaced him but end up calling him back

The hospital is trying to ease him out but can't find a replacement so they just gave him a 7% raise.

The hospital can burn wood or gas. They like burning wood as it saves $$$$. Problem is it takes more people to be on site to burn wood.

No, they don't shovel it. It's mostly automated but you need someone to operate the bucket loader and from time to time the auger will clog so you need more people to attend to that or to fire a back up boiler if the wood boiler goes down.

Problem is no one wants to work. The pay is over $40 and there is overtime and the plant has to be manned 24/7.

No one wants nights, no one wants weekends…………………and when they are on site, they really don't want to do anything………………..They only want a paycheck

clammy · June 5

Larger facilities are usually ran by the union like local 68 who trains operating engineers offering schooling and prep courses for licensing . Aside from high pressure boiler lic and courses on power plant and critical operation systems ,i know in nj they are the only one offering a course in toxic ref lic for ammonia ref and chiller operation over 65 tons and the only one who the state allows to test w the endorsement . As much as some may dislike unions i did attend there school and have my chiller lic w toxic ref endorsement and having attend a hvac schooling 40 years ago i will say that there course was a no bull section and i passed my test first time .In my experience most larger non union facilities even major computer centers /health care are loaded w high unskilled operators .Being there being driven by saving money and the state inspections for such facilities is at best lack luster the insurance co are tougher usually being the states pressure vessel handles them which ain t saying zip just another money grab . Aside from local 68 the us navy is by far the best environment for both exposure and knowledge being ur on a floating city producing everything from electric to de salinated water and steam for more then turbine produced electric . With the advent of vrf systems the days of chilled water tower and large centrifugal are slowly disappearing and other issues will arise especially since none of that junk will be working in 10 years it will be in a land fill . Show me a chilled water system that s at the curb after 10 years and ill show you a incontinent unskilled maintenance engineering crew but seeing a 10 years vrf being tossed would make a eye blink

mattmia2 · June 5

if you bust the unions you get rid of the people that recruit and train the next generation.

jumper · June 9

Province of Quebec passed make work legislation for stationary engineers. The great inflation of the seventies contributed to de-industrialization of North America. There was a market in the seventies for unfired boilers and subatmospheric chillers to avoid requirements.

Steamhead · June 15

https://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/How-Boiler-Room-Technology-Has-Evolved--20998?oly_enc_id=3469J6081834H9X&source=facility_insider&utm_source=facility_insider&utm_campaign=fnnewsletter-2026&utm_medium=email

Larry Weingarten · June 15

Hi, @Steamhead , This line from the article sums it up. “Operators have to go from understanding the tools of the trade to understanding the technology of the trade,” Nice 👍️

Yours, Larry

SlamDunk · June 21

I cant remember if I read it here or elsewhere but someone’s tagline said: “Good mechanics know how; great mechanics know why.” That always seems to some things up.

mattmia2 · June 22

i wouldn't go as far as good for only knowing how

Article- The Boiler Operator Knowledge Gap

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