Mechanical

System Failures

Boiler Failure

Mechanical System Failures

Boiler Failure

Mechanical System Failures

Boiler Failure

The heating boiler to a high-rise apartment building in the Washington, DC area failed and caught fire during operation.  The incident tripped the fire alarm in the mechanical penthouse located on the roof.  An EIS engineer was promptly mobilized to the site to perform an inspection and evaluation of the boiler to determine the cause of the fire.

Boiler

Natural gas fired boilers of this kind are typically constructed of steel.  The cylindrical area of the boiler, within which the burner flame resides, is known as the boiler furnace.  Temperatures inside the boiler  furnace are greater than the melting point of steel.  In order to protect the steel from damage due to high temperatures, the furnace is lined with fire bricks and coated with refractory material.  It is important to regularly inspect a boiler’s furnace refractory for damage and to make necessary repairs.  

Evidence of Leaks at Tube Ends
Cracks & Flaking in the Refractory

Inspection of the boiler revealed a lack of maintenance and a state of general disrepair.  Specifically, there were multiple leaks between the tube ends and the tube sheet which had caused corrosion.  There were also cracks and flaking in the refractory material of the boiler furnace.  Ultimately, it was determined that the boiler failed and caught fire when the flame inside the boiler furnace breached the damaged refractory and burned a hole through the steel substrate.

Failed Boiler Furnace

The heating boiler to a high-rise apartment building in the Washington, DC area failed and caught fire during operation.  The incident tripped the fire alarm in the mechanical penthouse located on the roof.  An EIS engineer was promptly mobilized to the site to perform an inspection and evaluation of the boiler to determine the cause of the fire.

Boiler

Natural gas fired boilers of this kind are typically constructed of steel.  The cylindrical area of the boiler, within which the burner flame resides, is known as the boiler furnace.  Temperatures inside the boiler  furnace are greater than the melting point of steel.  In order to protect the steel from damage due to high temperatures, the furnace is lined with fire bricks and coated with refractory material.  It is important to regularly inspect a boiler’s furnace refractory for damage and to make necessary repairs.  

Evidence of Leaks at Tube Ends
Cracking & Flaking in the Refractory

Inspection of the boiler revealed a lack of maintenance and a state of general disrepair.  Specifically, there were multiple leaks between the tube ends and the tube sheet which had caused corrosion.  There were also cracks and flaking in the refractory material of the boiler furnace.  Ultimately, it was determined that the boiler failed and caught fire when the flame inside the boiler furnace breached the damaged refractory and burned a hole through the steel substrate.

Failed Boiler Furnace

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The heating boiler to a high-rise apartment building in the Washington, DC area failed and caught fire during operation.  The incident tripped the fire alarm in the mechanical penthouse located on the roof.  An EIS engineer was promptly mobilized to the site to perform an inspection and evaluation of the boiler to determine the cause of the fire.

Boiler

Natural gas fired boilers of this kind are typically constructed of steel.  The cylindrical area of the boiler, within which the burner flame resides, is known as the boiler furnace.  Temperatures inside the boiler  furnace are greater than the melting point of steel.  In order to protect the steel from damage due to high temperatures, the furnace is lined with fire bricks and coated with refractory material.  It is important to regularly inspect a boiler’s furnace refractory for damage and to make necessary repairs.  

Evidence of Leaks at Tube Ends

Inspection of the boiler revealed a lack of maintenance and a state of general disrepair.  Specifically, there were multiple leaks between the tube ends and the tube sheet which had caused corrosion.  There were also cracks and flaking in the refractory material of the boiler furnace. 

Cracks & Flaking in Refractory

Ultimately, it was determined that the boiler failed and caught fire when the flame inside the boiler furnace breached the damaged refractory and burned a hole through the steel substrate.

Failed Boiler Furnace