52-EN
51-EN
– 26 –
Warnings on Refrigerant Leakage
Check of Concentration Limit
The room in which the air conditioner is to be installed requires a design that in the event of refrigerant
gas leaking out, its concentration will not exceed a set limit.
The refrigerant R410A which is used in the air conditioner is safe, without the toxicity or combustibility of ammonia,
and is not restricted by laws to be imposed which protect the ozone layer. However, since it contains more than
air, it poses the risk of suffocation if its concentration should rise excessively. Suffocation from leakage of R410A
is almost non-existent. With the recent increase in the number of high concentration buildings, however, the
installation of multi air conditioner systems is on the increase because of the need for effective use of
fl
oor space,
individual control, energy conservation by curtailing heat and carrying power etc.
Most importantly, the multi air conditioner system is able to replenish a large amount of refrigerant compared
with conventional individual air conditioners. If a single unit of the multi conditioner system is to be installed in a
small room, select a suitable model and installation procedure so that if the refrigerant accidentally leaks out, its
concentration does not reach the limit (and in the event of an emergency, measures can be made before injury
can occur).
In a room where the concentration may exceed the limit, create an opening with adjacent rooms, or install
mechanical ventilation combined with a gas leak detection device.The concentration is as given below.
Total amount of refrigerant (kg)
Min. volume of the indoor unit installed room (m³)
≤
Concentration limit (kg/m³)
The concentration limit of R410A which is used in multi air conditioners is 0.3 kg/m³.
▼
NOTE 1
If there are 2 or more refrigerating systems in a single refrigerating device, the amounts of refrigerant should be as
charged in each independent device.
e.g., charged amount (10 kg)
Outdoor unit
e.g., charged amount (15 kg)
Indoor unit
Room A
Room B
Room C
Room D
Room E
Room F
For the amount of charge in this example:
The possible amount of leaked refrigerant gas in rooms A, B and C is 10 kg.
The possible amount of leaked refrigerant gas in rooms D, E and F is 15 kg.
▼
NOTE 2
The standards for minimum room volume are as follows.
1) No partition (shaded portion)
Important
2) When there is an effective opening with the adjacent room for ventilation of leaking refrigerant gas (opening
without a door, or an opening 0.15% or larger than the respective
fl
oor spaces at the top or bottom of the
door).
Outdoor unit
Refrigerant piping
Indoor unit
3) If an indoor unit is installed in each partitioned room and the refrigerant piping is interconnected, the smallest
room of course becomes the object. But when a mechanical ventilation is installed interlocked with a gas
leakage detector in the smallest room where the density limit is exceeded, the volume of the next smallest
room becomes the object.
Outdoor unit
Small
room
Medium
room
Large room
Indoor unit
Very small room
Refrigerant piping
Mechanical ventilation device - Gas leak detector
▼
NOTE 3
The minimum indoor
fl
oor area compared with the amount of refrigerant is roughly as follows:
(When the ceiling is 2.7 m high)
0
5
10
10
20
30
15
20
25
30
35
40
Total amount of refrigerant
kg
Range below the
density limit of
0.3 kg/m³
(countermeasures
not needed)
Range above the
density limit of 0.3 kg/m³
(countermeasures
needed)
Min. indoor
fl
oor
area
m²
