Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

Be sure to read Part I of this series to learn about emissions requirements in the SCAQMD.

In the last edition of Boiler Blog 101, we discussed air permitting rules and regulations in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). In part II, we will cover the basics of air permitting for boilers in another California district that leads the country in air pollution control; the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD).

The SJVAPCD was founded in 1991 with a mission to improve the health and quality of life for all Valley residents through efficient, effective and entrepreneurial air quality management strategies. The SJVAPCD is made up of eight counties in the Central Valley of California; San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern.

The rules that have been set forth specifically for boilers, steam generators, and process heaters are outlined below:

Starting at the beginning of 2019, the SJVAPCD implemented a new rule titled, Best Available Control Technology (BACT). This rule requires that all new permits meet the lowest NOx limits that have been achieved, regardless of what is mandated. In addition, due to Assembly Bill 617, boiler owners in the SJVAPCD are mandated to meet Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) for any existing equipment retrofits. This means that when your boiler needs to be upgraded or replaced, it must meet more stringent NOx limits, which can be as low as 7 ppm.

These rules can be overwhelming, which is why Nationwide Boiler’s AQMD experts are capable and ready to assist you with the permitting process needed for your facility. Furthermore, we can help you reduce NOx to comply with your air emissions regulations. Nationwide Boiler’s CataStak™ SCR system is proven to reduce NOx levels to as low as 2.5 ppm. Contact us today for more details.

Promoting a sustainable future is the focus now more than ever in the boiler industry, and Nationwide Boiler has been at the forefront of identifying and supplying reliable ultra-low NOx solutions to industry for more than three decades. Today, we can proudly state that we have achieved 5 ppm NOx performance with a recent ultra-low NOx burner/boiler package - and the outlook is bright for this ultra low NOx burner. 

With half of the state covered in forests, it is no surprise that Washington is one of the country's largest lumber and plywood producers. Exterior Wood is a leader in the industry for pressure treated wood products and is in the same business park as Nationwide Control Solutions, a division of Nationwide Boiler Inc. Facing operational issues with their existing 700 HP CB boiler, Exterior Wood consulted Nationwide Control Solutions to evaluate their system and recommend the best solution to address each of the problem areas.

The problem areas that were identified included: (1) the burner head assembly constantly getting burnt out and replaced, (2) the combustion air fan motor which was rebuilt many times without a like-in-kind replacement option, and (3) stack temperatures at low fire were so low that the stack gases would condense in the stack and rain down corrosive condensate on the boiler tubes. Plus, the boiler tuning was becoming increasingly difficult to meet their local emissions requirements due to the age and condition of the existing burner controls. After a thorough review of existing equipment, site conditions, and natural gas usage reports, we concluded that the boiler was greatly oversized and that continuing to replace and rebuild components was not a viable solution for the longevity of the system.

Based on these results, our team offered a new 250 HP Superior package firetube boiler with an Oilon LN30 ultra-low NOx burner that was capable of not just meeting but exceeding their NOx emissions requirements of 12 ppm. Upon start-up and source testing, the ultra-low NOx capabilities of the Oilon burner were proven with the impressive results of 5 ppm NOx and 0 ppm CO output. Plus, the LN30 recently completed additional testing on a boiler from Nationwide's stock inventory, with results that prove it to be a reliable 2.5 ppm option.

Built upon cutting-edge technology, this new Superior Boiler/Oilon burner package will provide Taiga / Exterior Wood with many years of low maintenance and reliable operation. And, with a commitment to sustainability and efficiency, this solution ensures future emissions compliance to help minimize environmental impact.

Check out Nationwide Boiler's recent press release for additional information. If you would like to learn more about how you can achieve ultra-low emissions requirements, contact us or call 1-800-227-1966.

Every year and in many countries across the world, the month of June is recognized as National Safety Month. It is a reminder to organizations and individuals to prioritize safety not only in the workplace, but in their everyday lives. National Safety Month aims to raise awareness about potential hazards and educate people on how to prevent accidents, injuries, and illness.

What are we doing at Nationwide Boiler to make sure that our workplace is safe for employees? We ensure that employees understand the emergency procedures and respond in the right way. Some of the procedures that we have implemented at Nationwide Boiler are:

Emergency & Evacuation: We have guidance procedures for active shooters, bomb threats, earthquakes, fires, gas leaks, workplace violence, and more.

Accident Investigations: We have procedures on what to do if an employee is injured, how the accident is investigated, and investigation hints.

Hearing Conservation: We have a Hearing Conservation Program that is designed to protect employees from hearing loss caused by hazardous noise. This includes identifying these noises, using hearing protection, and audiometric testing every year.

First Aid & CPR: First Aid training is offered to NBI employees and training is provided by an accredited trainer every two years.

Injury Illness Prevention: One person is given the responsibility to implement this program, and that is our Health & Safety Coordinator. The program includes a system where employees comply with safe practices, have a form readily understandable on safety and health, and know procedures for identifying workplace hazards.

Safety in the boiler industry is of top importance due to the nature of boiler operations. At Nationwide Boiler, we take every precaution to ensure that we are adhering to all standards and keeping our employees safe. How do we do that? We adhere to safety regulations mandated by CAL-OSHA/OSHA guidelines specific to our industry. Throughout the year, Nationwide's shop team holds regular safety meetings twice a month, covering 40-50 topics. These meetings serve as platforms to discuss safety protocols, address concerns, and reinforce best practices.

It is also important that each employee has the right gear for the position that they are in. Every shop employee is equipped with appropriate PPE based on their specific job roles. Safety glasses, fall protection gear, respirators, safety toe boots, Tyvek suits, sand blast suits, hoods, and gloves are among the PPE enforced at Nationwide. Employees are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and effectiveness of their PPE, and they are trained to recognize when their equipment requires replacement so they can request new gear accordingly. The Health & Safety Coordinator also conducts biannual checks to ensure PPE compliance.

Proper housekeeping is also enforced to minimize risks associated with slips and falls. We implement safety protocols for handling chemicals, conduct regular fire safety drills, address electrical hazards promptly, and provide ergonomic training to prevent injuries. An ergonomically designed workspace reduces muscle fatigue, increases productivity, and reduces injuries. And to promote physical well-being, Nationwide employees engage in stretch and flex exercises regularly throughout each day. This routine helps warm up bodies and prevent ergonomic injuries.  

Lastly, our facility in Fremont, CA adheres to Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements to ensure environmental safety. The SWPPP identifies all industrial operations conducted at our facility and identifies pollution control practices that will implement and minimize pollutants from reaching Stormwater runoff. Nationwide Boiler’s SWPPP committee meets regularly to review plan requirements, analyze test results, and determine next steps for ensuring continual compliance.

At Nationwide Boiler, safety is an important part of our company culture. By encouraging a strong safety mindset, ensuring compliance with regulations, providing necessary training, and maintaining a safe working environment, we prioritize the well-being of our employees in every aspect of our operations.