Industries Served | Commercial & Industrial Heating Solutions

Food & Beverage

Process steam at 15-50 psig for cooking vessels, pasteurization tunnels (160-185F hold temperature), and CIP wash-down cycles. Fire-tube boilers with stainless steel trim packages meet USDA and FDA sanitation requirements for direct food-contact steam.

Healthcare

Saturated steam at 15-30 psig for autoclave sterilization (270F, 15-minute exposure), HVAC humidification, and laundry operations. Dual-boiler plants with automatic failover maintain uninterrupted service to critical care areas per Joint Commission facility standards.

Manufacturing

High-pressure steam at 150-250 psig for hydraulic presses, drying ovens, shell-and-tube heat exchangers, and process heating. Water-tube boilers with thermal output up to 33,500 lbs/hr of steam serve continuous-duty manufacturing operations.

Hospitality

Hot water supply (120-140F) and hydronic space heating for hotels, resorts, and convention centers. Condensing boilers at 95-98.5% thermal efficiency with sound levels below 65 dB(A) at 3 feet maintain guest comfort without mechanical noise intrusion.

District Heating

Central plant boilers for campus and municipal hot water distribution networks. Multi-boiler plants with cascade sequencing optimize part-load efficiency across seasons.

Pharmaceutical

Pure steam generators and validated temperature control for GMP environments. Our boiler systems support autoclave sterilization, reactor jacketing, and HVAC humidification.

Boiler Selection by Application

Choosing the right boiler type and configuration depends on your specific process requirements, fuel availability, and operating conditions. The table below summarizes key selection factors.

Application	Recommended Type	Typical Capacity	Key Consideration
Food Processing (steam for cooking/CIP)	Fire-tube steam boiler	100-400 HP	Must meet USDA sanitation standards; stainless steel trim required for direct food contact areas
Healthcare (autoclaves, humidification)	Dual-boiler plant with automatic failover	150-300 HP per unit	Redundancy is mandatory for critical care; 15 psig steam typical for autoclave sterilization
Manufacturing (presses, dryers)	Water-tube boiler (high pressure)	400-800 HP	Pressure above 150 psig often required; water treatment program critical to prevent tube scaling
Hospitality (space heating, DHW)	Condensing hot water boiler	1-6 MMBTU/hr	Low return water temperature (<130F) maximizes condensing benefit; noise level is a design constraint near guest areas
District Heating (campus/municipal)	Multi-boiler cascade plant	3-12 MMBTU/hr total	Lead-lag sequencing optimizes part-load efficiency; pipe heat loss increases with distribution distance
Pharmaceutical (pure steam, GMP)	Pure steam generator + clean steam boiler	50-200 HP	Feedwater quality must meet USP standards; validation documentation required for GMP compliance

Operating Limitations to Consider

Altitude derating: Boiler capacity decreases approximately 4% for every 1,000 feet above sea level due to reduced air density affecting combustion.
Water quality dependency: Untreated or poorly treated feedwater causes scale buildup on heat transfer surfaces, reducing efficiency by 1% per 1/32-inch of scale and eventually leading to tube failure.
Minimum load limits: Most burners have a minimum firing rate (typically 25-33% of rated capacity). Operating below minimum load causes short-cycling, which accelerates wear on ignition components and reduces overall efficiency.
Ambient temperature range: Outdoor boiler installations require freeze protection for condensate lines and feedwater systems when ambient temperatures fall below 32F (0C).

Industries Served by Burnham Boilers