Safety, Emergency Procedures, and Codes/Regulations
Core concepts
Codes and standards: ASME Section I (power boilers), Section IV (heating boilers), Sections VI and VII (care and operation), ASME CSD-1 (controls and safety devices for automatically fired boilers), B31.1 (power piping), NBIC (repairs and alterations), NFPA 85 (boiler combustion systems), plus OSHA and the state or provincial boiler act that licenses operators and sets inspection intervals.
Emergency priority is always: cut the fuel, protect people, then protect equipment. Low water - secure firing, and do not add water until the level is proven; if the boiler was uncovered, cool it before refilling. High water - reduce feed, blow down carefully, watch for carryover into the steam line. Flame failure - the programmer must close the fuel valve, and no relight is attempted without a full purge. Tube rupture - secure firing, feed water if possible to protect the boiler, then isolate. Loss of power - fuel valves fail closed, feedwater stops, watch level closely.
Safety valve lifting, water hammer, furnace puff-back, and fuel leaks each have a defined response sequence worth memorizing.
Traps
Questions test the order of actions, especially on low water and flame failure. Restart immediately and add water quickly are almost always the wrong choices.
Worked example
Low water alarm at the panel: cut the burner, verify the gauge glass and try cocks, then follow the manufacturer's procedure. If the glass shows no water after blowing down, treat as an uncovered boiler and do not feed.