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 refrigeration equipment or
any associated parts, appropriate
fi re extinguishing equipment shall
be available at hand.
• Have a dry powder or CO
extinguisher adjacent to the
charging area.
10
fi re
2
2-5. No ignition sources
• No person carrying out work in
relation to a refrigeration system
which involves exposing any pipe
work that contains or has contained
fl ammable refrigerant shall use
any sources of ignition in such a
manner that it may lead to the risk
of fi re or explosion. He/She must
not be smoking when carrying out
such work.
• All possible ignition sources,
including cigarette smoking, should
be kept suffi 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.