One of the defining challenges in today’s boiler rooms is the growing complexity of the systems themselves. While the fundamental science of boilers—heat transfer, combustion and water management—remains consistent, the systems that control and monitor those processes have evolved.
“Everything in that place is invisible. It’s water, steam, fire and electricity, none of which you can really see. The best way to see those things is through the numbers,” explains Jon Kapel, CEO of Steamworks. “You must have logs and test the boiler regularly.”
Operators are now expected to interpret data streams, navigate digital interfaces and respond to system alerts rather than relying solely on direct observation. Ronald Boidi, a professor at Maine Maritime Academy, describes this as a fundamental shift in skill requirements.
“Operators have to go from understanding the tools of the trade to understanding the technology of the trade,” he says.
Glynn agrees that technology has made boilers more efficient and, many times, easier to operate, but not necessarily easier to understand.
“It’s gotten more sophisticated,” he says. “But with all the instrumentation, the people who work on these systems have to be very knowledgeable.”
The increased reliance on automation has also created a more segmented workforce. Operators are often responsible for monitoring and basic operation, while specialized technicians handle advanced diagnostics, controls and burner tuning.
“Operators are not trained to do that. That's a whole other skill set,” says John Glynn, a veteran boiler trainer and former inspector who has spent decades working in and teaching the trade.
This division of responsibilities underscores the need for clearly defined training objectives. Operators must understand enough to maintain safe and reliable operation, even if they are not responsible for every technical aspect of the system.
Ronnie Wendt is the owner of In Good Company Communications and a freelance writer specializing in articles for the facilities management, aviation, RV and automotive, meetings and events, security, logistics and business technology industries.
