IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
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
isabsolutelynecessary 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) 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 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 flammable atmospheres. Replacement parts
shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
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.
8. Repair to intrinsically safe components (Annex DD.5)
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.
9. Cabling(Annex DD.6)
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.
10. Detection of flammable refrigerants(Annex DD.7)
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.
11. Leak detection methods(Annex DD.8)
The following leak detection methods are deemed acceptable for systems containing
flammable refrigerants.
Electronic leak detectors shall be used to detect flammable refrigerants, but the
sensitivity may not be adequate, or may need re-calibration. (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 confirmed.
Leak detection fluids are suitable for use with most refrigerants but the use of
detergents containing chlorine shall be avoided as the chlorine may react with the
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