OMEGA ALTISE
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Repair 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
specification, damage to seals, incorrect fitting of glands, etc.
• Ensure that seals or sealing materials have not degraded to the point that they no longer serve
the purpose of preventing the ingress of flammable atmospheres. Replacement parts shall be in
accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
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 flammable atmosphere. The test apparatus shall be at the correct rating.
• Replace components only with parts specified 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 flammable 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 flame) shall not be
used.
• Electronic leak detectors may be used to detect refrigerant leaks but, in the case of flammable
refrigerants, the sensitivity may not be adequate, or may need re-calibration.
• 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
confirmed.
• Leak detection fluids are also 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 pipework.
• If a leak is suspected, all naked flames shall be removed/extinguished.
• If a leakage of refrigerant is found which requires brazing, all of the refrigerants shall be recovered
from the system, or isolated (by means of shut off valves) in a part of the system remote from the leak.
Removal and evacuation
• When breaking into the refrigerant circuit to make repairs – or for any other purpose –
conventional procedures shall be used. However, for flammable refrigerants it is important that best
practice is followed since flammability is a consideration. The following procedure shall be adhered
to:
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