7
2-4. Presence of
fi
re extinguisher
• If any hot work is to be conducted on the
refrigeration equipment or any associated
parts, appropriate fi re extinguishing
equipment shall be available at hand.
• Have a dry powder or CO
2
fi re extinguisher
adjacent to the charging area.
2-5. 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
fl ammable refrigerant shall use any sources
of ignition in such a manner that it may lead
to the risk of fi re or explosion. He/She must
not be smoking when carrying out such work.
• All possible ignition sources, including
cigarette smoking, should be kept suffi ciently
far away from the site of installation,
repairing, removing and disposal, during
which fl ammable 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 fl ammable hazards or
ignition risks.
• “No Smoking” signs shall be displayed.
2-6. 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.
2-7. Checks to the refrigeration equipment
• Where electrical components are being
changed, they shall be fi t for the purpose
and to the correct specifi cation.
• 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 fl ammable 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 properly protected
against being so corroded.
2-8. Checks to electrical devices
• Repair and maintenance to electrical
components shall include initial safety
checks and component inspection
procedures.
• Initial safety checks shall include but not
limit to:-
-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.
• At all times the manufacturer’s maintenance
and service guidelines shall be followed.
• If in doubt consult the manufacturer’s
technical department for assistance.
• 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.
• The owner of the equipment must be
informed or reported so all parties are
advised thereinafter.
3. 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 specifi cation, damage to
seals, incorrect fi tting 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
fl ammable atmospheres.
• Replacement parts shall be in accordance
with the manufacturer’s specifi cations.
NOTE: The use of silicon sealant 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.
