Page 59 - Boiler Operator’s Handbook

44 Boiler Operator’s Handbook

the damage. Plans for fire are essential, especially if plant the building was untouched but all three boilers
your facility does not have sprinklers. Even if you have had their casings blown off by a simultaneous combus-
sprinklers you have to consider what you would do tibles explosion. The disaster plan for such an incident
if they were not available, as in loss of all water. Pick would include a list of suppliers of rental boilers that
spots at ten foot spacing all over the plant, imagine a have capacity and pressure ratings to match your
fire starting at that point then decide how you would plant, contact names and phone numbers, two sets of
fight it with and without water supply. Of course prepared directions for the contractors on truck routes
you’re going to have some duplicate situations; you’ll to deliver the boilers and set them up (two in case the
have areas where a fire is impossible (don’t bet on it primary site is unusable), in addition, a design for pip-
though, even concrete can burn) so you can simply re- ing to connect the boilers to existing service connec-
fer to plans for those other locations. In some cases you tions, with alternates for each source and each service
have to consider protecting a bigger potential loss (like pipe.
fuel oil storage tanks) before fighting the actual fire. It’s best to have plans broken down by area, here’s
Look at the equipment in the vicinity and pay what we will do to set up a temporary plant in area A
special attention to electrical conduits because it’s pos- and here’s the one for area B. Each plan should include
sible for a small fire in one location to completely shut an option for temporary water treatment facilities, de-
down the plant. For some dumb reason, probably be- aerator, etc. if needed. It’s best to include options for
cause it was cheaper for the contractor to do it, many of the ability to use some existing equipment in a plan
the plants I know of have all the control wiring for the that considers what to do if the entire plant is lost.
entire plant run through one spot. They’re extremely I’m going to give you a list of disasters which
vulnerable. Pay special attention to what you would do you can address by preparing a disaster plan that you
with a fire in the control room, if you have one, or at the would follow in each event. You will discover that
control panels. Once you’ve developed plans for fires throwing up your hands and walking away is your first
that start you can work on plans for fires that get out impression but after you have had time to think about
of control and, finally, how to restore operations after it that isn’t the only solution. Even with total disasters
a fire. This exercise typically leads to some decisions you should have a plan for what to do when they hap-
to reduce vulnerability to a fire by adding sprinklers, pen. Try developing a plan for each of these disasters
relocating systems (especially wiring) and duplicating where the conditions described relate to your plant:
some services to make a fire more survivable.
• You are experiencing heavy rain; flooding is oc-
A good appendix to put together for your disas-
curring all over the place; the nearby stream is
ter plan manual is a list of every piece of equipment
over it’s banks and threatening to enter the boiler
in your plant with a source for that equipment. In the
room; your relief can’t get in; oil delivery is out of
case of critical parts that are known to break down
the question; you have a natural gas supply line
regularly you probably have that equipment in your
over that stream that’s starting to catch debris and
parts inventory and can simply indicate “parts” in the
back up the water; the roof drains are plugged with
manual. Other devices that are too expensive to keep as
leaves so the roof is flooded and water is running
spares or are not likely to break down are the ones that
down all the walls.
you need sources for. Sources can be a rental company,
stocking parts distributor, or the manufacturer. Include
• All the weather just described happened up river
contact names, phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail
from you and all of a sudden the water is pouring
addresses and travel directions (in case you have to
into the boiler room because the river overflowed.
go get it) for each potential supplier. This list has to
be maintained and kept up to date. Don’t neglect any- • A tornado just swept through the plant; all the
thing when preparing your list, it should include such windows are blown out, the roof is gone and rain
items as transformers, transfer switches, distribution is coming in; the insulation was swept off several
panels, fuel oil storage tanks, large valves and pipe fit- hundred feet of distribution piping supplying an
tings that are not the standard stock item for your local area where steam supply is critical; the stack for
suppliers. your largest boiler was buckled over by the storm.
Some disasters we don’t expect to happen do.
Total loss of the plant is one possibility. I’ve seen boiler • It’s an unusually hot summer; temperatures in the
rooms practically flattened by an explosion. In another upper levels of the boiler room are so high that mo-