BOILER ROOM FACILITIES
6.01
GENERAL
A. Scope. This Section covers the recommended pro-
cedures for the safe, economical operation and mainte- nance of automatically fired boilers.
B. Intention. It is not intended that this Section serve
as operating instructions for any specific heating plant. Due to the wide variety of types and makes of equipment used, this Section should be supplemented with Manufac- turers’ recommendations concerning maintenance and care and specific written operating instructions for each system.
C. Inspection of New Boilers.
(a) Inspection for Acceptance. Before any new heating
plant (or boiler) is accepted for operation, a final (or ac- ceptance) inspection should be completed and all items of exception corrected. In addition to determining that all equipment called for is furnished and installed in ac- cordance with the plans and specifications, all controls should be tested by a person familiar with the control system.
(b) Inspection for Operating Integrity. Before a boiler is
put into operation for the first time, it should be inspected by an authorized boiler inspector as required by law. If such an inspection is neither required or available, the boiler should be inspected by a reputable boiler insurance company inspector. It is also recommended that subse- quent inspections be made by an Authorized Inspector at intervals required by law or as recommended by the boiler insurance company.
6.02
SAFETY
Safety is very important to boiler operation and it should be foremost in the minds of those who are as- signed to operation and maintenance of heating systems. Only properly trained qualified personnel should work on or operate mechanical equipment, and adequate supervi- sion should be provided.
6.03
LIGHTING
The boiler room should be well lighted and it should have an emergency light source for use in case of power failure. If a flashlight is used for this purpose, it should be maintained in usable condition and it should be pro- tected against removal from the boiler room.
6.04
VENTILATION
The boiler room must have an adequate air supply to permit clean, safe combustion and to minimize soot for- mation. An unobstructed air opening should be provided. It may be sized on the basis of 1 in.2 free area per 2,000 Btu/hr (0.586 kW) maximum fuel input of the com- bined burners located in the boiler room, or as specified in the National Fire Protection Association standards for oil and gas burning installations for the particular job con- ditions. The boiler room air supply openings must be kept clear at all times.
6.05
WATER AND DRAIN CONNECTIONS
A. Water Connections. Proper and convenient water
fill connections should be installed and provisions should be made to prevent boiler water from back‐feeding into the service water supply. Provision should also be made in every boiler room for a convenient water supply that can be used to flush out the boiler and to clean the boiler room floor.
B. Drain Connections. Proper and convenient drain
connections should be provided for draining boilers. Un- obstructed floor drains, properly located in the boiler room, will facilitate proper cleaning of the boiler room. Floor drains that are used infrequently should have water poured into them periodically to prevent the entrance of sewer gases and odors. If there is a possibility of freezing, an antifreeze mixture should be used in the drain traps. See9.09.
6.06
FIRE PROTECTION
Fire protection apparatus and fire prevention proce- dures for boiler room areas should conform to recom- mendations of NFPA.
6.07
HOUSEKEEPING
Generally, a neat boiler room indicates a well‐run plant. The boiler room should be kept free of all material and equipment not necessary to the operation of the heating system. Good housekeeping should be encouraged and procedures should include routine inspections to main- tain the desired level of cleanliness.
6.08
POSTING OF CERTIFICATES AND/OR
LICENSES
Some states and municipalities require licensing or cer- tification of personnel who operate or maintain heating equipment. Also, some authorities require posting of in- spection certificates in the boiler room. The supervisor in charge of a given installation should make sure such re- quirements are met.
6.09
RECORDKEEPING, LOGS, ETC.
A. Drawings, Diagrams, Instruction Books, etc. All
drawings, wiring diagrams, schematic arrangements, Manufacturers’ descriptive literature and spare parts lists, and written operating instructions should be kept permanently in the boiler room or other suitable location so it will be available to those who operate and maintain the boiler. Where space permits, drawings and diagrams should be framed or sealed in plastic and hung adjacent to the related equipment. Other material should be
assembled and enclosed in a suitable binder. When changes or additions are made, the data and drawings should be revised accordingly.
B. Log Book. A permanent log book should be pro-
vided in each boiler room to record maintenance work, inspections, certain tests, and other pertinent data. Brief details of repairs or other work done on a boiler plant (in- cluding time started, time completed, and signature of person in charge) should be recorded. Performance and results of tests, inspections, or other routines required by codes or laws, insurance company inspection reports, and initial acceptance test data should be recorded.
C. Maintenance Schedules and Records. A suggested
chart type log for scheduling and recording work per- formed on maintenance, testing, and inspection during a 1‐year period is shown inMandatory Appendix I, I.01
(steam heating boilers) andI.02(water heating boilers). The routine work normally performed on heating boilers is listed. As each portion of the work is completed, the person performing the work should enter the date and his initials in the appropriate space.