Boilers for University and Campus Central Plants
Central plant boilers for steam and hot water heating across a campus, designed, built, installed, and serviced by McKenna Boiler Works, Inc.
Code-built boilers and vessels
Code repairs and alterations
Factory-authorized Tech Center
Factory-authorized Burner Tech Center
Fifth generation, family-owned
QUICK ANSWER
McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. designs and builds boilers for university, college, school district, and campus central plants, ships them to facilities across the United States and internationally, with startup and commissioning in any state, and installs and services them across California. McKenna phases boiler replacements around the academic calendar, engineers multi-boiler plants with sequencing controls, builds the boilers in its ASME code shop in Oceanside, trains plant operators, and services McKenna boilers and other brands. A live person answers (323) 987-1816 24/7.
Universities & Campuses
One plant heating many buildings.
Campus central plants make steam or hot water for building heat, domestic hot water, kitchens, labs, and athletic facilities across many buildings. Loads change by season and by hour, so most plants run several boilers with sequencing controls.
Replacing a central plant boiler usually happens in phases, between semesters or in the off season, while the rest of the plant carries the campus. We plan the phases with your facilities team.
What matters
What a campus central plant boiler room needs.
Seasonal loads
Several boilers sequenced so the plant follows the load from summer to winter.
Phased replacements
Work scheduled around the academic calendar, planned to keep buildings heated.
Long-term planning
Replacement plans that account for air rules and electrification goals.
Distribution lines
Steam and condensate lines that run between buildings, with traps and returns checked on a schedule.
What we do
Designed, built, and installed by McKenna.
New systems from our own shop, and service and repair on the boilers you already run, including other brands.
New boilers
Firetube, firebox, and vertical boilers built in our ASME code shop, sized to replace one central plant boiler at a time.
Lead-lag systems
Two or more boilers run as one plant, with a standby boiler ready while another is replaced.
Operator training
Classroom and hands-on training for the people who run the boilers.
Electric boilers
A McKenna electric boiler is in development for campuses planning to move off on-site combustion.
Codes and rules
Campus air rules and electrification.
Large central plant boilers have to meet the air district’s NOx limits, and the smaller boilers and water heaters in individual campus buildings may face zero-emission dates under rules like South Coast AQMD Rule 1146.2. For central plant boilers over their limit, McKenna retrofits ultra-low NOx burners and supports the permit and source test.
Many campuses have climate goals that phase out on-site combustion, and we plan boiler replacements to fit them.
Project photos
In most cases, yes. McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. phases central plant replacements around the academic calendar so the remaining boilers or a rental boiler carry the campus while the new boiler is installed.
Yes. McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. sets up lead-lag sequencing with Autoflame controls or controls from other manufacturers, so several boilers run as one plant and follow the load.
Yes. McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. trains operators in the classroom, hands-on at the campus’s own boilers, and through factory training at its Oceanside shop.
Not yet. McKenna Boiler Works, Inc. has an electric boiler in development. Call (323) 987-1816 to talk through electric steam or hot water for your campus.