The discharge of safety valves or safety relief valves must be located to prevent what?

The discharge of safety valves or safety relief valves must be located to prevent scalding. This is a critical safety consideration, as the primary function of these valves is to release excess pressure in the boiler to avoid catastrophic failures. If the discharged steam or hot water is not properly directed away from areas where personnel may be present, it can lead to severe burns or scalding injuries.

By positioning the discharge outlet away from walkways, work areas, and accessible surfaces, safety measures are enhanced to protect workers and maintenance personnel. This ensures that the high-temperature fluid released is safely vented into an area where it can dissipate without posing a danger to individuals nearby. Proper discharge location is fundamental in maintaining safe working conditions around high-pressure systems.

The other options, while they address important safety and maintenance concerns, do not encapsulate the primary goal of preventing immediate physical harm that can occur from exposure to high-temperature discharges.