The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Plumbing Heating And Piping

In small plants, the probable logical limits will be the steam stop valve on the boiler or boiler header and the connection of the return main to the condensate receiver or pump. All other pipework beyond these points will be a part of mains and branches or distribution system.

Larger plants present a slightly different problem. For example, the high-pressure mains located within the boiler house or room may have take-offs leading to steam turbines which drive fans or pumps which are an integral part of the steam or hotwater-producing system. In this case, all these lines are actually a part of the boiler plant. The logical limits in this situation will be the last joint within the boiler room or house on all mains going out of or returning to the boiler room or house.

The estimator should establish these limits before starting the take-off or estimate and mark these limits plainly on the drawings.

6.3. Equipment, General Discussion

Article 6.1 indicated that the information series of this text pertaining to boiler plants would be broken down into two parts: (1) equipment and (2) piping. This breakdown is necessary because of the difference in the methods used in setting the labor involved in making the installation. The cost of labor for erecting a piping system may be developed using averages based on past results or logical determination. This is not true in the setting of equipment. The cost of setting any piece of equipment can be determined only by a logical consideration, on the part of the estimator, of the actual labor and construction equipment required to set that particular piece of equipment in that particular location. Based on this, consideration will be given only to the probable elements of cost which should be taken into consideration in the setting of equipment.

6.4. Boiler and Trim

From the standpoint of design, there can be several different methods of classification of boilers. The most logical of these is probably the one which places the boiler in one of the two following classifications:

1. Fire-tube boilers
2. Water-tube boilers

From the estimator's standpoint, however, boilers must be classified in a different manner. The classification here must be one based on the amount of work actually required on the project site for complete erection or setting of the boiler. This type of classification seems to place boilers into four categories:

1. Cast-iron sectional boilers
2. Steam generators; complete package boiler plant
3. Steel firebox boilers, requiring some special foundation and
firebox work
4. Project-assembled or built boilers, requiring special settings,
foundations, and brickwork.