A water reservoir for a domestic wallpaper stripper exploded causing scalds to the operator. The unit appeared undamaged, so why should a seemingly faultless unit over-pressurize? Investigation into the nature of the unfortunate operator’s injuries showed that it resulted from a combination of cold weather and a failure to read the instructions – the steam pipe was full of ice preventing steam flow, so the operator held the pressure relief valve down to try to get some steam to the heating head. The result was that the unfortunate operator received a new steamer and the safety valve was redesigned to prevent anyone holding it down.
A water reservoir for a domestic wallpaper stripper exploded causing scalds to the operator. The unit appeared undamaged, so why should a seemingly faultless unit over-pressurize? Investigation into the nature of the unfortunate operator’s injuries showed that it resulted from a combination of cold weather and a failure to read the instructions – the steam pipe was full of ice preventing steam flow, so the operator held the pressure relief valve down to try to get some steam to the heating head. The result was that the unfortunate operator received a new steamer and the safety valve was redesigned to prevent anyone holding it down.
