The achieved competence should be documented by a certificate.
Training
The training should include the substance of the following:
Information about the explosion potential of flammable refrigerants to show that
flammables may be dangerous when handled without care.
Information about potential ignition sources, especially those that are not
obvious, such as lighters, light switches, vacuum cleaners, electric heaters.
Information about the different safety concepts:
Unventilated – (see Clause GG.2) Safety of the appliance does not depend on
ventilation of the housing. Switching off the appliance or opening of the housing
has no significant effect on the safety. Nevertheless, it is possible that leaking
refrigerant may accumulate inside the enclosure and flammable atmosphere
will be released when the enclosure is opened.
Ventilated enclosure – (see Clause GG.4) Safety of the appliance depends on
ventilation of the housing. Switching off the appliance or opening of the enclo-
sure has a significant effect on the safety. Care should be taken to ensure a
sufficient ventilation before.
Ventilated room – (see Clause GG.5) Safety of the appliance depends on the
ventilation of the room. Switching off the appliance or opening of the housing
has no significant effect on the safety. The ventilation of the room shall not be
switched off during repair procedures.
Information about the concept of sealed components and sealed enclosures
according to IEC 60079-15:2010.
Information about the correct working procedures:
a) Commissioning
• Ensure that the floor area is sufficient for the refrigerant charge or that the
ventilation duct is assembled in a correct manner.
• Connect the pipes and carry out a leak test before charging with refrigerant.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
b) Maintenance
• Portable equipment shall be repaired outside or in a workshop specially
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equipped for servicing units with flammable refrigerants.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the repair place.
• Be aware that malfunction of the equipment may be caused by refrigerant loss
and a refrigerant leak is possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won’t cause any spark. The standard
procedure to short circuit the capacitor terminals usually creates sparks.
• Reassemble sealed enclosures accurately. If seals are worn, replace them.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
c) Repair
• Portable equipment shall be repaired outside or in a workshop specially
equipped for servicing units with flammable refrigerants.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the repair place.
• Be aware that malfunction of the equipment may be caused by refrigerant loss
and a refrigerant leak is possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won’t cause any spark.
• When brazing is required, the following procedures shall be carried out in the
right order:
– Remove the refrigerant. If the recovery is not required by national regulations,
drain the refrigerant to the outside. Take care that the drained refrigerant will
not cause any danger. In doubt, one person should guard the outlet. Take
special care that drained refrigerant will not float back into the building.
– Evacuate the refrigerant circuit.
– Purge the refrigerant circuit with nitrogen for 5 min.
– Evacuate again.
– Remove parts to be replaced by cutting, not by flame.
– Purge the braze point with nitrogen during the brazing procedure.
– Carry out a leak test before charging with refrigerant.
• Reassemble sealed enclosures accurately. If seals are worn, replace them.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
d) Decommissioning
• If the safety is affected when the equipment is putted out of service, the
refrigerant charge shall be removed before decommissioning.
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