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 the apparatus is mounted securely.
Ensure that seals or sealing materials have not degraded to the point 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.
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.
Under no circumstances shall potential sources of ignition be used in the searching
for or detection of refrigerant leaks. A halide torch (or any other detector using a
naked flame) shall not be used.
The following leak detection methods are deemed acceptable for all refrigerant
systems Electronic leak detectors may be used to detect refrigerant leaks but, in
the case of FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS,the sensitivity may not be adequate,
or may need re-calibration. (Detection equipment shall be calibrated in a
refrigerant-free area.) Ensure that the detector is not a potential source of ignition
and is suitable for the refrigerant used. Leak detection equipment shall be set at a
percentage of the LFL of the refrigerant and shall be calibrated to the refrigerant
employed, and the appropriate percentage of gas (25 %maximum) is confirmed.
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.
Repair to intrinsically safe components
Cabling
Detection of flammable refrigerants
Leak detection methods
