If you're a maintenance supervisor in a cold climate, chances are that boiler upkeep is part of your regular maintenance regimen. There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that any maintenance done on the boiler is safer for everyone involved.
Safety
According to an incident report put out by the NBBPVI, which is the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, it is a combination of a lack of maintenance and operator error that causes the most accidents. There are a few ways to help prevent this from happening.
Preventative Maintenance
This is one of the most important things that needs to be kept up with on a boiler. Without regular upkeep, such as checking and testing the low-water cutoff, the boiler can become unsafe and not only need repairs but can be dangerous.
Clean Storage
The storage area of the boiler itself should be kept clear of any type of item that can be flammable. This includes items such as cleaning products, gas cans, and even your items such as a lawnmower or weed eater that uses gas. The storage area must also have areas that are not blocked around the combustion air openings.
Obviously these are not the only things that can cause a boiler to malfunction – relief valves, piping, controls, and components on the boiler can need repair or cause it to not work properly – but the points featured are imperative to a safe workplace when it comes to your boiler room and the machinery itself.
One way to help keep up with preventative maintenance is to use a CMMS Program which stands for Computerized Maintenance Management Software. This allows you to schedule preventative maintenance in advance so that it is never forgotten by accident. With this software you can make sure the boiler is checked on a regular basis and that any upkeep is always done regularly and not pushed aside when other work is needed.
CMMS helps in a number of ways as well such as keeping up with your assets, scheduling work orders, and of course – preventative maintenance measures.
Read More: The Importance of Safety
By keeping up with the regular care on the boiler at your facility, you can feel more at ease knowing it is safer and will work longer without needing repairs or a total replacement.
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