4. 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.
Unspecified parts by manufacturer
may result ignition of refrigerant in
the atmosphere from a leak.
5. 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.
6. Detection of flammable
refrigerants
• Under no circumstances shall
potential sources of ignition be used
in the searching or detection of
refrigerant leaks.
• A halide torch (or any other detector
using a naked flame) shall not be
used.
7. The following leak detection
methods are deemed acceptable
for all refrigerant systems
• No leaks shall be detected when
using detection equipment with a
sensitivity of 5 grams per year of
refrigerant or better under a pressure
of at least 0.25 times the maximum
allowable pressure (>1.04 MPa, max
4.15 MPa), for example, a universal
sniffer.
• Electronic leak detectors may
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 also
suitable for use with most
refrigerants, for example, bubble
method and fluorescent method
agents. The use of detergents
containing chlorine shall be avoided
as the chlorine may react with the
refrigerant and corrode the copper
pipe-work.
• 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
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. The
precautions in #8 must be followed
to remove the refrigerant.
EN
13