4
Safety precautions
6-8
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.
6-9
Checks to electrical devices
•Repair and maintenance to electrical components shall include initial safety checks and component inspection
procedures.
•If a fault exists that could compromise safety, then no electrical supply shall be connected to the circuit until it is
satisfactorily dealt with.
•If the fault cannot be corrected immediately but it is necessary to continue operation, an adequate temporary
solution shall be used.
•This shall be reported to the owner of the equipment so all parties are advised.
•Initial safety checks shall include:
•That capacitors are discharged: this shall be done in a safe manner to avoid possibility of sparking;
•That there no live electrical components and wiring are exposed while charging, recovering or purging the
system;
•That there is continuity of earth bonding.
7.
Repairs to sealed components
•During repairs to sealed components, all electrical supplies shall be disconnected from the equipment being
worked upon prior to any removal of sealed covers, etc.
• If it is absolutely necessary to have an electrical supply to equipment during servicing, then a permanently
operating form of leak detection shall be located at the most critical point to warn of a potentially hazardous
situation.
• Particular attention shall be paid to the following to ensure that by working on electrical components, the casing
is not altered in such a way that the level of protection is affected.
•This shall include damage to cables, excessive number of connections, terminals not made to original
specification, damage to seals, incorrect fitting of glands, etc.
• Ensure that apparatus is mounted securely.
• Ensure that seals or sealing materials have not degraded such that they no longer serve the purpose of
preventing the ingress of flammable atmospheres.
• Replacement parts shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
NOTE: The use of silicon sealants may inhibit the effectiveness of some types of leak detection equipment.
Intrinsically safe components do not have to be isolated prior to working on them.
8.
Repair to intrinsically safe components
• Do not apply any permanent inductive or capacitance loads to the circuit without ensuring that this will not
exceed the permissible voltage and current permitted for the equipment in use.
• Intrinsically safe components are the only types that can be worked on while live in the presence of a flammable
atmosphere. The test apparatus shall be at the correct rating.
• Replace components only with parts specified by the manufacturer.
• Other parts may result in the ignition of refrigerant in the atmosphere from a leak.
9.
Cabling
• Check that cabling will not be subject to wear, corrosion, excessive pressure, vibration, sharp edges or any other
adverse environmental effects.
• The check shall also take into account the effects of aging or continual vibration from sources such as
compressors or fans.
WARNING
