10
Safety precautions
2-3. Checking for presence of
refrigerant
• The area shall be checked with an
appropriate refrigerant detector prior
to and during work, to ensure the
technician is aware of potentially
fl
ammable atmospheres.
• Ensure that the leak detection
equipment being used is suitable for
use with
fl
ammable refrigerants, i.e.
non sparking, adequately sealed or
intrinsically safe.
• In case of leakage/spillage
happened, immediately ventilate
area and stay upwind and away from
spill/release.
• In case of leakage/spillage
happened, do notify persons down
wind of the leaking/spill, isolate
immediate hazard area and keep
unauthorized personnel out.
2-4. Presence of
fi
re extinguisher
• If any hot work is to be conducted
on the refrigerating 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 refrigerating system
shall use any sources of ignition in
such a manner that it may lead to
the risk of
fi
re or explosion. They
must not be smoking when carrying
out such work.
• All possible ignition sources,
including cigarette smoking, should
be kept suf
fi
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.
