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BULLETIN Vote - Scary Photos Contest 2025

In fall 2023, we started Scary Photos – a feature showcasing inspection issues captured by National Board Commissioned Inspectors. These photos highlight hazards and serve as valuable reminders of what to watch for in the field. Have a question or a submission? Contact Lee Cochran, senior editor, at lcochran@nationalboard.org.

Once a year, readers will vote on the “scariest” photo from all the submissions, and now is the time! The inspector who submitted the winning photo will receive a $100 gift card.

Read the descriptions below the photos, and then vote for the "scariest" photo. Only one vote per person.

Voting ends December 31, 2025.
Click an image to select your choice for scariest photo. Then click the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page to cast your vote.(Required.)
  • SUBMISSION #1: This 2 NPS boiler blowoff pipe was mechanically attached to a 150 psi firetube boiler. Because of possible incomplete thread engagement, the pipe was leaking for an undetermined amount of time. The pipe nipple was replaced with a new Schedule 80 nipple, and the remaining Schedule 80 piping was in good shape.
  • SUBMISSION #2: This is a Section I, 150 PSI boiler located at a dry cleaner. The owner attempted a repair after breaking off the flange bolts on the low water cutoff. The device was held in place with three bolts, epoxy, and three vice grips. The boiler was turned off, and a red tag was applied to prevent further use until a qualified technician could make suitable repairs.
  • SUBMISSION #3: This air receiver tank is installed with the pressure relief valve at the bottom, which is obviously the lowest point. The test ring is missing, and a set of vice grips was used as a substitute to test it. Violations included the required drain valve was not installed, an incorrect pressure relief valve, and improper installation location of the pressure relief valve. The violations were corrected.
  • SUBMISSION #4: During an annual internal inspection, it was discovered that the firetube had been damaged to the point of bulging due to overheating. The owner was told to either replace the firetube or scrap the unit, and the owner chose the latter.
  • SUBMISSION #5: This pressure-relief device was found during a routine inspection. The maintenance staff secured the heat exchanger, locked it, tagged it out of service, removed the energy, and ordered a replacement.
  • SUBMISSION #6: Upon inspection of this low-pressure steam boiler, the waterside showed severe scaling up to a half inch. A snake camera with an articulating head was used to view the lower tubes. The second row of tubes showed bridging taking place, and a little lower, complete bridging was evident. The furnace tube had a huge bulge on the fireside, and you couldn’t see through the second pass tubes. There was little to no water circulation in the boiler. It is a miracle the boiler did not relocate itself. A boiler repair company did a total tube replacement and added new tube sheets. The furnace bulge was cut out and weld-repaired, and an AI inspection was performed with hydro testing. The boiler was down for about two weeks.