unfinished.one

Uniformat D3020

Boiler, steam

Also called steam boiler

  • Confidence C
  • Version 0.2.0 (permanent link)
  • Reviewed 2026-10-22

This is version 0.2.0. The latest is 0.3.0.

Service life

24.8 yearsmedian of the stated lives · sources say 15.5–25 years
05101520253015.525

Years in service. The band runs from the shortest to the longest life the sources state, so it shows how much they disagree, not how long 80% of units last. The line is the median of the stated lives.

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).
  • 25 years · General depreciation rates (IR265), July 2021, p44 · BOIL “Boilers” — Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake), New Zealand (accounting life)
    Printed page 44. Boilers, type not stated. Asset category 'Boilers and heaters (where not industry specified)'. Printed DV 8%, SL 6%. Tax depreciation lives set by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue for New Zealand income tax, not engineering or asset-management lives; they are banded and often short (e.g. reticulation piping 25 years). The July 2021 edition was the newest PDF reachable; the online Depreciation Rate Finder may hold later determinations.
  • 15.5 years · General depreciation rates (IR265), July 2021, p44 · BOIL “Boilers (packaged)” — Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake), New Zealand (accounting life)
    Printed page 44. Packaged boilers, hot water or steam not stated. Asset category 'Boilers and heaters (where not industry specified)'. Printed DV 13%, SL 8.5%. Tax depreciation lives set by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue for New Zealand income tax, not engineering or asset-management lives; they are banded and often short (e.g. reticulation piping 25 years). The July 2021 edition was the newest PDF reachable; the online Depreciation Rate Finder may hold later determinations.

How sources are chosen and recorded: sourcing policy.

Municipal lives for HVAC (D30)

48 municipalities in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta state a life for HVAC as a whole, in 39 distinct tables: 10–50 years, median 20. 65 rows come from capital asset policies (accounting lives, used for amortization) and 6 from asset management plans (planning lives, used to forecast replacement). They describe the system rather than this component, and none is a measured life.

Median 20 yearsTrent Lakes: HVAC systems, 10 yearsDuncan and North Cowichan: Building Other (HVAC), 15 yearsLantzville: HVAC, 15 yearsGrey Highlands: Furnace, 15 yearsKapuskasing: HVAC Systems, 15 yearsSarnia: HVAC, 15 yearsThe Blue Mountains: Furnace, 15 yearsLloydminster: Permanent Structures - HVAC, 20 yearsLloydminster: Permanent Structures - Mechanical equipment, 20 yearsLloydminster: Portable Structures - HVAC, 20 yearsLloydminster: Portable Structures - Mechanical equipment, 20 yearsComox Valley: HVAC systems, mechanical, plumbing, wiring, etc., 20 yearsCranbrook: HVAC, plumbing, lighting, etc, 20 yearsParksville: HVAC, 20 yearsTelkwa: HVAC Systems, 20 yearsAmherstburg: Mechanical/Electrical - HVA, Lighting, Security systems, Electrical Panel, 20 yearsAmherstburg: Arena - Air Conditioner, Brine Chillers, Compressors, Dehumidifiers, 20 yearsChapple: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems, 20 yearsGreater Napanee: E20 Mechanical - Boilers, Fire Panel/Alarm, Unit Heaters, HVAC, 20 yearsGrey Highlands: HVAC, 20 yearsHuron: Patrol Yards - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Property Services - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Housing - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Homes for the Aged - Mechanical, 20 yearsKenora: Buildings - Mechanical System, 20 yearsLondon: Building Components - Services (HVAC, lighting, communication, plumbing etc.), 20 yearsMeaford: HVAC - Air Distribution, 20 yearsPrince Edward: Buildings - HVAC, 20 yearsRainy River: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator, 20 yearsRainy River: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator, 20 yearsSevern: Building Components - Air Conditioner, 20 yearsThe Blue Mountains: Boiler, 20 yearsWelland: HVAC/Electrical/Mechanical, 20 yearsCanmore: Mechanical, 25 yearsLeduc: Mechanical Systems, 25 yearsDuncan and North Cowichan: Building Other (Electrical, Mechanical, etc.), 25 yearsLantzville: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, 25 yearsTofino: Systems - mechanical, electrical, HVAC, 25 yearsAmherstburg: Arena - Refrigeration Condenser, Scoreboard, Sound System, 25 yearsGreater Madawaska and Quinte West: HVAC, 25 yearsGreater Napanee: E25 Plant Mechanical & Electrical, 25 yearsGrey Highlands: Boiler, 25 yearsKingston: Mechanical Equipment, 25 yearsKirkland Lake: Buildings and Improvements - Mechanical/Electrical, 25 yearsOrillia: Arena - Condenser/refrigeration, compressor, HVAC, heating units, 25 yearsSevern: Building Components - Furnace/Heating System, 25 yearsSevern: Building Components - Condenser, 25 yearsThe Blue Mountains: HVAC System, 25 yearsBrantford: Buildings - Mechanical, 30 yearsGreater Napanee: E30 Chillers, Rink Piping, Fuel Storage Tanks, 30 yearsSimcoe: Mechanical, 30 yearsBrockton: Mechanical/Electrical (Heating/Cooling System, Refridgerating System), 40 yearsMeaford: HVAC - System, 50 yearsFort St. James, Revelstoke and 3 more: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsOkanagan-Similkameen: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsSalmo: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsWestlock: HVAC, 15–20 yearsMeaford: HVAC - Furnace, 15–25 yearsBancroft, Centre Hastings and 2 more: HVAC Systems, 20–25 yearsOrillia: Facility - HVAC, Boiler, 20–25 yearsVulcan County: HVAC (electrical, mechanical), 20–30 years0102030405060

Years. Each dot is one stated life and each bar a stated range; equal values stack. Hollow marks are planning lives from asset management plans; filled marks are accounting lives from policies. The dashed line is the median. Policies that copy the same table count once.

All 61 stated lives
MunicipalityAs writtenYearsKindSource
Trent LakesHVAC systems10accountingp10 · 2009
Fort St. James, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sicamous, Tumbler Ridge · same tableHVAC Systems10–12accountingp5, p9, p7, p9, p5 · 2010
Okanagan-SimilkameenHVAC Systems10–12accountingp11 · 2023
SalmoHVAC Systems10–12accountingp6 · 2016
Duncan, North Cowichan · same tableBuilding Other (HVAC)15accountingp17, p9 · 2011
LantzvilleHVAC15accountingp11 · 2019
Grey HighlandsFurnace15accountingp11 · 2026
KapuskasingHVAC Systems15accountingp14 · 2009
SarniaHVAC15accountingp1
The Blue MountainsFurnace15accountingp11 · 2019
WestlockHVAC15–20accountingp11 · 2021
MeafordHVAC - Furnace15–25accountingp17 · 2020
LloydminsterPermanent Structures - HVAC20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPermanent Structures - Mechanical equipment20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPortable Structures - HVAC20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPortable Structures - Mechanical equipment20accountingp11 · 2023
Comox ValleyHVAC systems, mechanical, plumbing, wiring, etc.20accountingp6 · 2010
CranbrookHVAC, plumbing, lighting, etc20accountingp9 · 2010
ParksvilleHVAC20accountingp9 · 2023
TelkwaHVAC Systems20accountingp8
AmherstburgMechanical/Electrical - HVA, Lighting, Security systems, Electrical Panel20accountingp8 · 2026
AmherstburgArena - Air Conditioner, Brine Chillers, Compressors, Dehumidifiers20accountingp8 · 2026
ChappleBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems20accountingp1
Greater NapaneeE20 Mechanical - Boilers, Fire Panel/Alarm, Unit Heaters, HVAC20accountingp16 · 2012
Grey HighlandsHVAC20accountingp11 · 2026
HuronPatrol Yards - Building Mechanical20planningp42 · 2025
HuronProperty Services - Building Mechanical20planningp57 · 2025
HuronHousing - Building Mechanical20planningp68 · 2025
HuronHomes for the Aged - Mechanical20planningp77 · 2025
KenoraBuildings - Mechanical System20accountingp15 · 2026
LondonBuilding Components - Services (HVAC, lighting, communication, plumbing etc.)20accountingp2 · 2023
MeafordHVAC - Air Distribution20accountingp17 · 2020
Prince EdwardBuildings - HVAC20accountingp34 · 2022
Rainy RiverBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator20accountingp11 · 2010
Rainy RiverBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator20planningp17 · 2026
SevernBuilding Components - Air Conditioner20accountingp400 · 2019
The Blue MountainsBoiler20accountingp11 · 2019
WellandHVAC/Electrical/Mechanical20accountingp8 · 2021
Bancroft, Centre Hastings, Hastings Highlands, Wollaston · same tableHVAC Systems20–25accountingp5, p4, p6, p5
OrilliaFacility - HVAC, Boiler20–25accountingp19
Vulcan CountyHVAC (electrical, mechanical)20–30accountingp5 · 2024
CanmoreMechanical25accountingp10 · 2025
LeducMechanical Systems25accountingp13 · 2019
Duncan, North Cowichan · same tableBuilding Other (Electrical, Mechanical, etc.)25accountingp17, p9 · 2011
LantzvilleElectrical, Mechanical, Plumbing25accountingp11 · 2019
TofinoSystems - mechanical, electrical, HVAC25accountingp12 · 2009
AmherstburgArena - Refrigeration Condenser, Scoreboard, Sound System25accountingp8 · 2026
Greater Madawaska, Quinte West · same tableHVAC25accountingp17, p38 · 2025
Greater NapaneeE25 Plant Mechanical & Electrical25accountingp16 · 2012
Grey HighlandsBoiler25accountingp11 · 2026
KingstonMechanical Equipment25accountingp15 · 2016
Kirkland LakeBuildings and Improvements - Mechanical/Electrical25accountingp10 · 2020
OrilliaArena - Condenser/refrigeration, compressor, HVAC, heating units25accountingp19
SevernBuilding Components - Furnace/Heating System25accountingp400 · 2019
SevernBuilding Components - Condenser25accountingp400 · 2019
The Blue MountainsHVAC System25accountingp11 · 2019
BrantfordBuildings - Mechanical30planningp10 · 2025
Greater NapaneeE30 Chillers, Rink Piping, Fuel Storage Tanks30accountingp16 · 2012
SimcoeMechanical30accountingp19 · 2025
BrocktonMechanical/Electrical (Heating/Cooling System, Refridgerating System)40accountingp2 · 2009
MeafordHVAC - System50accountingp17 · 2020

Of 71 rows, 4 were compared with an image of their page; 67 were matched to their page automatically (the label and number appear in the page text). Follow the page link before relying on an automatically matched row. 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.

  1. 1Monthly
  2. 2Monthly
  3. 3Monthly
  4. 4Monthly
  5. 5Monthly
  6. 6Monthly
  7. 7Monthly
  8. 8Monthly
  9. 9Monthly
  10. 10Monthly
  11. 11Monthly
  12. 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

TaskPage
Shut down or re-sequence boilers that are not neededp150
Do an overall visual inspection: all equipment operating and safety systems in placep150
Check steam pressure varies as expected with loadp150
Check for unstable water level (sign of contaminated feedwater, overload or malfunction)p150
Check burner for proper control and cleanlinessp150
Check motor condition: proper function and temperaturesp150
Check boiler room air temperature stays within design limitsp150
Verify bottom, surface and water column blowdowns are happening and effectivep150
Keep daily boiler log: fuel used, flue gas temperature, makeup water, steam output; watch for variationsp151
Check and clean or replace oil filters and strainersp151
Check oil is at proper temperature before burningp151
Confirm the boiler water treatment system is workingp151

Weekly · 8 tasks

Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)

TaskPage
Measure flue gas composition and temperature at selected firing positionsp151
Check all relief valves for leaksp151
Test water level control: stop feedwater pump and confirm burner fuel cuts offp151
Clean pilot and burner assemblies; look for mineral or corrosion buildupp151
Stop fuel flow to check flame failure response, restart and observe flamep151
Inspect system for water or steam leaks, defective valves and traps, corroded piping, insulationp151
Inspect combustion air damper and fuel valve linkages for setting and tightnessp151
Inspect boiler for air leaks; check damper sealsp151

Monthly · 12 tasks

Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)

TaskPage
Check blowdown is adequate to prevent solids buildupp151
Measure flue gas composition over the full firing range and compare with last monthp151
Check combustion air openings to boiler room and boiler are adequate and cleanp152
Check fuel system pressure gauge, pumps, filters and transfer lines; clean filtersp152
Check belt tension and packing glands for leakagep152
Check for air leaks around access openings and flame scannerp152
Check blower belts for tightness and slippagep152
Check gaskets seal tightly; replace if notp152
Inspect boiler insulation and casing for hot spotsp152
Calibrate steam control valves per manufacturerp152
Check pressure reducing/regulating valves operate properlyp152
Test boiler water quality for chemical balancep152

Annual · 10 tasks

Source: Operations & Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency, Release 3.0, Boiler Checklist (contd)

TaskPage
Clean water-side surfaces per manufacturerp152
Clean fire-side surfaces per manufacturerp152
Inspect and repair fire-side refractoriesp152
Remove and recondition or replace relief valvep152
Clean and recondition feedwater pumps, condensate receivers and deaeratorp152
Clean and recondition fuel system pumps, filters, pilot, oil preheaters, oil tanksp152
Clean electrical terminals; check electronic controls and replace defective partsp152
Check and repair hydraulic and pneumatic valvesp152
Adjust for optimal flue gas composition; record composition, firing position, temperaturep152
Eddy current test tubes for wall thickness, as requiredp152

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, v0.2.0. https://unfinished.one/c/boiler-steam/v/0.2.0

BibTeX

@misc{unfinished_boiler_steam_0_2_0,
  title = {Boiler, steam},
  author = {{unfinished.one}},
  year = {2026},
  version = {0.2.0},
  url = {https://unfinished.one/c/boiler-steam/v/0.2.0},
  note = {CC BY 4.0}
}

Licence CC BY 4.0 · How to cite · JSON · Versions: 0.3.0, 0.2.0, 0.1.0