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MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1977
PROPER USE OF AUTOMATIC DEVICES IN STEAM BOILERS
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AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICES IN STEAM BOILERS, WHERE PROVIDED FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF FEED WATER AND FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND INDICATION OF WATER LEVEL, SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON ENTIRELY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
HE ADVISED THE OWNERS OF STEAM BOILERS AND BOILER INSPECTORS THAT IT WAS IMPERATIVE THE EQUIPMENT WAS SUBJECT TO REGULAR PERIODIC INSPECTIONS AND TO ROUTINE TESTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MAKERS' RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL ALARMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED,
THE ROUTINE TESTING OF BOILER WATER GAUGES DURING SHIFTS, AND THE CONTROL UNITS AND ALARMS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, WAS AN IMPORTANT DUTY OF BOILER ATTENDANTS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE REMARKS WERE MADE FOLLOWING A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE EXPLOSION OF A FULLY AUTOMATIC, FIRE TUBE, BOILER IN A LOCAL HOTEL.
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS INSPECTED BY AN APPROVED BOILER INSPECTOR ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE EXPLOSION.
THE INQUIRY REVEALED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION WAS SHORTAGE OF WATER AS A RESULT OF A FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC DEVICE CONTROLLING THE WATER LEVEL IN THE BOILER. HOWEVER, WITH CAREFUL SUPERVISION, ANY REDUCTION IN WATER LEVEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPARENT TO THE BOILER ATTENDANT IN GOOD TIME TO AVERT THE EXPLOSION. THE SHORTNESS OF WATER ALLOWED THE FURNACE CROWN TO BECOME OVERHEATED AND COLLAPSE AND RUPTURE UNDER PRESSURE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FAILURE OF THE CONTROL UNIT IS ASCRIBED TO LACK OF SATISFACTORY MAINTENANCE AND POSSIBLY ABSENCE OF REGULAR TESTING OF THIS EQUIPMENT.
FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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