10
Ventilated area
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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
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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:
1. The charge size is in accordance with the room size within which the
refrigerant containing parts are installed.
2. The ventilation machinery and outlets are operating adequately and are not
obstructed.
3. If an indirect refrigerating circuit is being used, the secondary circuit shall be
checked for the presence of refrigerant.
4. Marking to the equipment continues to be visible and legible. Markings and
signs that are illegible shall be replaced.
5. 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 corrosion or are suitably protected against
corrosion.
Checks to electrical devices
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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:
1. That capacitors are discharged: this shall be done in a safe manner to avoid
possibility of sparking.
2. That there no live electrical components and wiring are exposed while
charging, recovering or purging the system.
3. That there is continuity of earth bonding.
Repairs to sealed components
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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.
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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
