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1. Safety precautions
• Prior to beginning work on systems containing
flammable refrigerants, safety checks are neces-
sary to ensure that the risk of ignition is minimized.
For repair to the refrigerating systems, 1 to 5 shall
be completed prior to conducting work on the sys-
tems.
1 All maintenance staff and others working in the local
en
area shall be instructed on the nature of work being
carried out.
Work in confined spaces shall be avoided. The area
around the workspace shall be sectioned off. Ensure
that the conditions within the area have been made
safe by control of flammable material.
2 The area shall be checked with an appropriate refrig-
erant detector prior to and during work, to ensure the
technician is aware of potentially toxic or flammable
atmospheres. Ensure that the leak detection equip-
ment being used is suitable for use with all applicable
refrigerants, i.e. non-sparking, adequately sealed or
intrinsically safe.
3 If any hot work is to be conducted on the refrigeration
equipment or any associated parts, appropriate fire
extinguishing equipment shall be available to hand.
Have a dry powder or CO2 fire extinguisher adjacent
to the charging area.
4 No person carrying out work in relation to a refrigera-
tion system which involves exposing any pipe work
shall use any sources of ignition in such a manner
that it may lead to the risk of fire or explosion. All pos-
sible ignition sources, including cigarette smoking,
should be kept sufficiently far away from the site of
installation, repairing, removing and disposal, during
which refrigerant can possibly be released to the sur-
rounding space. Prior to work taking place, the area
around the equipment is to be surveyed to make sure
that there are no flammable hazards or ignition risks.
"No Smoking" signs shall be displayed.
5 Ensure that the area is in the open or that it is ad-
equately 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.
5
• Where electrical components are being changed,
they shall be fit for the purpose and to the correct
specification. At all times the manufacturer's main-
tenance and service guidelines shall be followed. If
in doubt, consult the manufacturer's technical de-
partment for assistance.
The following checks shall be applied to installa-
tions using flammable refrigerants:
- The charge size is in accordance with the room size
within which the refrigerant containing parts are in-
stalled.
- The ventilation machinery and outlets are operating
adequately and are not obstructed.
- Marking to the equipment continues to be visible and
legible. Markings and signs that are illegible shall be
corrected.
- 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 being
corroded or are suitably protected against being cor-
roded.
• 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 immedi-
ately 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 that:
- capacitors are discharged: this shall be done in a safe
manner to avoid possibility of sparking;
- no live electrical components and wiring are exposed
while charging, recovering or purging the system;
- there is continuity of earth bonding.
• 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.
Continued to next page.
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