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Important Safety Information
READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Repairs to sealed components
1. 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.
2. To ensure that by working on electrical components the casing is not altered in such a way that the level
of protection is affected, particular attention shall be paid to the following:
• Damage to cables, excessive number of connections, terminals not made to original specifi cation,
damage to seals, incorrect fi tting of glands, etc.
• Ensure the 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.
Repair to intrinsically safe components
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 fl ammable
atmosphere. The test apparatus shall be at the correct rating. Replace components only with parts specifi ed
by the manufacturer. Other parts may result in the ignition of refrigerant in the atmosphere from a leak.
Cabling
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.
Detection of fl ammable refrigerants
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 fl ame shall not be used.
Leak detection methods
The following leak detection methods are deemed acceptable for systems containing fl ammable
refrigerants:
• Electronic leak detectors shall be used to detect fl ammable refrigerants but the sensitivity may not be
adequate or may need recalibration. 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
confi rmed.
• Leak detection fl uids are suitable for use with most refrigerants but the use of detergents containing
chlorine shall be avoided as the chlorine may react with the refrigerant and corrode the copper or
pipe-work.
• If a leak is suspected, all naked fl ames shall be removed or extinguished.
• If a leakage of refrigerant is found which requires brazing, all of the refrigerant shall be recovered
from the system or isolated by means of shut off valves in a part of the system remote from the leak.
Oxygen free nitrogen (OFN) shall then be purged through the system both before and during the
brazing process.
