Steam Water Hammer Accident Investigation and Steam Training


Kirsner Consulting Engineering logo
Wayne Kirsner, P.E. / Principal


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What caused the steam system
Accident that Killed Jack Smith

Contact us at:

3319 Turtle Lake Drive, Marietta, GA 30067
770-953-8262
email: kirsner@kirsner.org


Start-up/Warm-up Procedures


Virtual Tour of Steam Tunnel Problems


Anchor/ Expansion Joint Common Mistakes--A Detailed Report for NASA at Langley


Water Hammer in Boiler Plants (Column Closure Water Hammer)


Bucket traps can lose their prime upon a sudden pressure drop in the steam system. Link to Incident. (Why this happens is a seminar topic, if requested)


Fascinating historical articles on water hammer in steam systems which correctly anticipated the mechanism of condensation-induced waterhammer from 1882 (by steam pioneer Professor R.H. Thurston on page 404), and 1901, (by the clearly brilliant C.H. Stromeyer, Chief Engineer for the Manchester England Steam System).

Reducing Boiler Steam Pressure


Surviving a Steam Release in a Confined Space


Removing Insulation from Live Steam Lines


Flooded Manholes and Submerged Steam Lines


Toilet Water Hammer – Just for Fun


Interesting 1951 short paper on extensive damage to 60 foot long 16" pipe built to conduct "Water-Hammer Experiments" with 30 psi steam by Detroit Edison Engineer and Superintendent for Steam Distribution.







Kilimanjaro Trip


Frequently Asked Questions

  • What makes Kirsner Consulting Engineering so Unique?

    Wayne Kirsner, PE has performed over 150 4-hour and 8-hour seminars on :”Understanding Water Hammer in Steam Systems” since December 1999.  The popularity of these seminars can be judged by how many clients have requested repeat seminars over the years,  For example, for Harvard’s steam maintenance crew and supervisors, Mr. Kirsner has done  6 complete 8-hour seminars with the first in 2009 and the most recent late 2022). These seminars are based on actual steam accidents he has  investigated and the magazine articles he’s written about the most interesting of them. The aim of the seminar is to enable steam workers to understand and foresee what can happen when they open an isolation valve in a high pressure steam system. The steam accidents he has investigated are linked at “Accidents and Investigations” above, and the seminars are listed by client at the link “Steam Training”.  His seminars show videos in glass models of actual water hammer incidents and usually contain two live demonstrations.  Evaluations by attendees are linked on the training page.

  • What services do you provide?

    Wayne Kirsner is a steam design engineer specializing in forensic engineering. He is a professional engineer. For the last 30 years, he has investigated suspected Water Hammer Accidents in Steam Systems. He also provides 8-hour seminars on understanding water hammer in steam systems for operators and engineers, especially Condensation–Induced Water Hammer. He has been hired many times to inspect steam system piping to ascertain if the piping arrangement is susceptible to water hammer. He assists Attorneys in lawsuits where steam accidents have caused harm to individuals. His reports on what caused these accidents have been decisive in settling these cases.


  • What's the best way to contact you?

    You can always give us a call at 770-953-8262 or you may contact us via email at kirsner@kirsner.org


Condensation Induced Water Hammer

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