Uniformat D3020
Boiler, steam
Also called steam boiler
Service life
Years in service. One stated life so far; the band will widen as sources are added.
Basis
- 24.8 years · Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Packaged Boilers (final rule), 85 FR 1592, January 10, 2020, p43 · IV.F.7 “Lifetime: "a retirement function ... with a resulting mean lifetime of 24.8 years"” — U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (planning life)Printed page 1634. DOE applies one lifetime to every commercial packaged boiler class, which includes hot-water condensing and steam boilers. Not specific to either. Also stated on p.3 (printed 1594).
How sources are chosen and recorded: sourcing policy.
Municipal accounting lives for HVAC (D30)
26 municipal policies from Ontario set a life for HVAC as a whole, from 22 distinct tables: 10–50 years, median 20. These are amortization periods chosen for accounting, not measured lives, and they describe the system rather than this component.
Years. Each dot is one stated life and each bar a stated range; equal values stack. The dashed line is the median. Policies that copy the same table count once.
All 35 stated lives
| Municipality | As written | Years | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Lakes | HVAC systems | 10 | p10 · 2009 |
| Grey Highlands | Furnace | 15 | p11 · 2026 |
| Kapuskasing | HVAC Systems | 15 | p14 · 2009 |
| Sarnia | HVAC | 15 | p1 |
| The Blue Mountains | Furnace | 15 | p11 · 2019 |
| Meaford | HVAC - Furnace | 15–25 | p17 · 2020 |
| Amherstburg | Mechanical/Electrical - HVA, Lighting, Security systems, Electrical Panel | 20 | p8 · 2026 |
| Amherstburg | Arena - Air Conditioner, Brine Chillers, Compressors, Dehumidifiers | 20 | p8 · 2026 |
| Chapple | Building Improvements - HVAC Systems | 20 | p1 |
| Greater Napanee | E20 Mechanical - Boilers, Fire Panel/Alarm, Unit Heaters, HVAC | 20 | p16 · 2012 |
| Grey Highlands | HVAC | 20 | p11 · 2026 |
| Kenora | Buildings - Mechanical System | 20 | p15 · 2026 |
| London | Building Components - Services (HVAC, lighting, communication, plumbing etc.) | 20 | p2 · 2023 |
| Meaford | HVAC - Air Distribution | 20 | p17 · 2020 |
| Prince Edward | Buildings - HVAC | 20 | p34 · 2022 |
| Rainy River | Building Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator | 20 | p11 · 2010 |
| Severn | Building Components - Air Conditioner | 20 | p400 · 2019 |
| The Blue Mountains | Boiler | 20 | p11 · 2019 |
| Welland | HVAC/Electrical/Mechanical | 20 | p8 · 2021 |
| Bancroft, Centre Hastings, Hastings Highlands, Wollaston · same table | HVAC Systems | 20–25 | p5, p4, p6, p5 |
| Orillia | Facility - HVAC, Boiler | 20–25 | p19 |
| Amherstburg | Arena - Refrigeration Condenser, Scoreboard, Sound System | 25 | p8 · 2026 |
| Greater Madawaska, Quinte West · same table | HVAC | 25 | p17, p38 · 2025 |
| Greater Napanee | E25 Plant Mechanical & Electrical | 25 | p16 · 2012 |
| Grey Highlands | Boiler | 25 | p11 · 2026 |
| Kingston | Mechanical Equipment | 25 | p15 · 2016 |
| Kirkland Lake | Buildings and Improvements - Mechanical/Electrical | 25 | p10 · 2020 |
| Orillia | Arena - Condenser/refrigeration, compressor, HVAC, heating units | 25 | p19 |
| Severn | Building Components - Furnace/Heating System | 25 | p400 · 2019 |
| Severn | Building Components - Condenser | 25 | p400 · 2019 |
| The Blue Mountains | HVAC System | 25 | p11 · 2019 |
| Greater Napanee | E30 Chillers, Rink Piping, Fuel Storage Tanks | 30 | p16 · 2012 |
| Simcoe | Mechanical | 30 | p19 · 2025 |
| Brockton | Mechanical/Electrical (Heating/Cooling System, Refridgerating System) | 40 | p2 · 2009 |
| Meaford | HVAC - System | 50 | p17 · 2020 |
Each row was matched to its page automatically: the label and the number appear in the text of the cited page. An editor has not yet compared every row with the table, so follow the page link before relying on one. About the policies · All approved rows as JSON
Preventive maintenance
42 tasks in 4 work orders. Intervals that fall due together are one visit: the annual visit also covers the monthly tasks.
- 1Monthly
- 2Monthly
- 3Monthly
- 4Monthly
- 5Monthly
- 6Monthly
- 7Monthly
- 8Monthly
- 9Monthly
- 10Monthly
- 11Monthly
- 12Annual
Months from the schedule start. Daily and weekly rounds run in between. Download the tasks as CSV for a CMMS, or ask the MCP tool get_pm_schedule for dated visits.
Daily · 12 tasks
Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, 9.2.12 Boiler Checklist
| Task | Page |
|---|---|
| Shut down or re-sequence boilers that are not needed | p150 |
| Do an overall visual inspection: all equipment operating and safety systems in place | p150 |
| Check steam pressure varies as expected with load | p150 |
| Check for unstable water level (sign of contaminated feedwater, overload or malfunction) | p150 |
| Check burner for proper control and cleanliness | p150 |
| Check motor condition: proper function and temperatures | p150 |
| Check boiler room air temperature stays within design limits | p150 |
| Verify bottom, surface and water column blowdowns are happening and effective | p150 |
| Keep daily boiler log: fuel used, flue gas temperature, makeup water, steam output; watch for variations | p151 |
| Check and clean or replace oil filters and strainers | p151 |
| Check oil is at proper temperature before burning | p151 |
| Confirm the boiler water treatment system is working | p151 |
Weekly · 8 tasks
Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)
| Task | Page |
|---|---|
| Measure flue gas composition and temperature at selected firing positions | p151 |
| Check all relief valves for leaks | p151 |
| Test water level control: stop feedwater pump and confirm burner fuel cuts off | p151 |
| Clean pilot and burner assemblies; look for mineral or corrosion buildup | p151 |
| Stop fuel flow to check flame failure response, restart and observe flame | p151 |
| Inspect system for water or steam leaks, defective valves and traps, corroded piping, insulation | p151 |
| Inspect combustion air damper and fuel valve linkages for setting and tightness | p151 |
| Inspect boiler for air leaks; check damper seals | p151 |
Monthly · 12 tasks
Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)
| Task | Page |
|---|---|
| Check blowdown is adequate to prevent solids buildup | p151 |
| Measure flue gas composition over the full firing range and compare with last month | p151 |
| Check combustion air openings to boiler room and boiler are adequate and clean | p152 |
| Check fuel system pressure gauge, pumps, filters and transfer lines; clean filters | p152 |
| Check belt tension and packing glands for leakage | p152 |
| Check for air leaks around access openings and flame scanner | p152 |
| Check blower belts for tightness and slippage | p152 |
| Check gaskets seal tightly; replace if not | p152 |
| Inspect boiler insulation and casing for hot spots | p152 |
| Calibrate steam control valves per manufacturer | p152 |
| Check pressure reducing/regulating valves operate properly | p152 |
| Test boiler water quality for chemical balance | p152 |
Annual · 10 tasks
Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)
| Task | Page |
|---|---|
| Clean water-side surfaces per manufacturer | p152 |
| Clean fire-side surfaces per manufacturer | p152 |
| Inspect and repair fire-side refractories | p152 |
| Remove and recondition or replace relief valve | p152 |
| Clean and recondition feedwater pumps, condensate receivers and deaerator | p152 |
| Clean and recondition fuel system pumps, filters, pilot, oil preheaters, oil tanks | p152 |
| Clean electrical terminals; check electronic controls and replace defective parts | p152 |
| Check and repair hydraulic and pneumatic valves | p152 |
| Adjust for optimal flue gas composition; record composition, firing position, temperature | p152 |
| Eddy current test tubes for wall thickness, as required | p152 |
Frequencies are ISO 8601 durations in the data (P3M = every 3 months).
Open questions
- Every source here is a published planning, design or accounting life. None is observed replacement data.
Know the answer? Send it with a source to [email protected].
Cite this
Citation
unfinished.one (2026). Boiler, steam, v0.1.0. https://unfinished.one/c/boiler-steam/v/0.1.0BibTeX
@misc{unfinished_boiler_steam_0_1_0,
title = {Boiler, steam},
author = {{unfinished.one}},
year = {2026},
version = {0.1.0},
url = {https://unfinished.one/c/boiler-steam/v/0.1.0},
note = {CC BY 4.0}
}Licence CC BY 4.0 · How to cite · JSON · Versions: 0.1.0