Are There Red Flags in Your Boiler Room?

While conducting jurisdictional examinations of boilers and pressure vessels, Hartford Steam Boiler Inspectors see many conditions that cause a “red flag” to go up. As a boiler owner, operator, service technician, municipal code enforcement official, or insurance professional, you can learn to recognize them, too. 

The following article discusses some red flag indicators of problems that, if left unattended, can result in a boiler breakdown and expensive property and/or business income losses. These include:

• Inadequate lighting that makes it difficult, even dangerous, to examine and service the boiler properly.

• Clutter and disorder that result when the boiler room becomes a storage area. If you can’t get to the equipment, it’s probably not being checked and maintained.

• Failure to post the operating certificate, which can invite attention from fire and code enforcement officials, even federal inspectors.

• Open control panels — a key indication that something may not be quite right.

• Wet floors that can cause a boiler breakdown and discourage employees from performing maintenance.

• Cobwebs and dust that signal to you that no one is looking at the equipment.

• Discarded parts, which indicates problems and often results from sloppy service work.

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