1. Before use
5
5
3) General
work
area
All
maintenance
staff
and
others
working
in
the
local
area
shall
be
instructed
on
the
nature
of
work
being
carried
out.
Work
in
confined
spaces
shall
be
avoided. The
area
around
the
workspace
shall
be
sectioned
off.
Ensure
that
the
conditions
within
the
area
have
been
made
safe
by
control
of
flammable
material.
Checking
for
presence
of
refrigerant
The
area
shall
be
checked
with
an
appropriate
refrigerant
detector
prior
to
and
during
work,
to
ensure
the
technician
is
aware
of
potentially
flammable
atmospheres.
Ensure
that
the
leak
detection
equipment
being
used
is
suitable
for
use
with
flammable
refrigerants,
i.e.
non-sparking,
adequately
sealed
or
intrinsically
safe.
Presence
of
fire
extinguisher
If
any
hot
work
is
to
be
conducted
on
the
refrigeration
equipment
or
any
associated
parts,
appropriate
fire
extinguishing
equipment
shall
be
available
to
hand.
Have
a
dry
powder
or
CO2
fire
extinguisher
adjacent
to
the
charging
area.
No
ignition
sources
No
person
carrying
out
work
in
relation
to
a
refrigeration
system
which
involves
exposing
any
pipe
work
that
contains
or
has
contained
flammable
refrigerant
shall
use
any
sources
of
ignition
in
such
a
manner
that
it
may
lead
to
the
risk
of
fire
or
explosion.
All
possible
ignition
sources,
including
cigarette
smoking,
should
be
kept
sufficiently
far
away
from
the
site
of
installation,
repairing,
removing
and
disposal,
during
which
flammable
refrigerant
can
possibly
be
released
to
the
surrounding
space.
Prior
to
work
taking
place,
the
area
around
the
equipment
is
to
be
surveyed
to
make
sure
that
there
are
no
flammable
hazards
or
ignition
risks. No
Smoking”
signs
shall
be
displayed.
Ventilated
area
Ensure that the area is in the open or that it is adequately ventilated before breaking into the
system or conducting any hot work. A degree of ventilation shall continue during the period
that the work is carried out. The ventilation should safely disperse any released refrigerant
and preferably expel it externally into the atmosphere.
Checks to the refrigeration equipment
Where electrical components are being changed, they shall be fit for the purpose and to the
correct specification. At all times the manufacturer’s maintenance and service guidelines
shall be followed. If in doubt consult the manufacturer’s technical department for assistance.
The following checks shall be applied to installations using flammable refrigerants:
-The charge size is in accordance with the room size within which the refrigerant containing
parts are installed;
The ventilation machinery and outlets are operating adequately and are not obstructed;
-If an indirect refrigerating circuit is being used, the secondary circuit shall be checked for
the presence of refrigerant;
Marking to the equipment continues to be visible and legible. Markings and signs that are
illegible shall be corrected;
Refrigeration pipe or components are installed in a position where they are unlikely to be
exposed to any substance which may corrode refrigerant containing components, unless the
components are constructed of materials which are inherently resistant to being corroded or
are suitably protected against being so corroded.
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