Yes....it didnt "break" the windows but it surely disassembled the shack. There are way too many unknowns to this process to encourage it's execution in any sort of a populated area.
The mythbuster work was done at Alameda Naval Air Station, 100's of feet (not ~200') from probably empty hangers and a shipping channel.
Yes it will probably just whistle (if it is close to full of water) but is it worth the risk (if its only 1/4 full) ?
How much different is the construction of this boiler vs a residential water heater?
cheers Bob