Competence of service personnel
General
Special training additional to usual refrigerating equipment repair proce-
dures is required when equipment with flammable refrigerants is affected.
In many countries, this training is carried out by national training organ-
isations that are accredited to teach the relevant national competency
standards that may be set in legislation.
The achieved competence should be documented by a certificate.
Training
The training should include the substance of the following:
• Information about the explosion potential of flammable refrigerants to
show that flammables may be dangerous when handled without care.
• Information about potential ignition sources, especially those that are
not obvious, such as lighters, light switches, vacuum cleaners, electric
heaters.
Information about the different safety concepts
Unventilated – (see Clause GG.2) Safety of the appliance does not de-
pend on ventilation of the housing. Switching off the appliance or opening
of the housing has no significant effect on the safety. Nevertheless, it is
possible that leaking refrigerant may accumulate inside the enclosure and
flammable atmosphere will be released when the enclosure is opened.
Ventilated enclosure – (see Clause GG.4) Safety of the appliance de-
pends on ventilation of the housing. Switching off the appliance or opening
of the enclosure has a significant effect on the safety. Care should be
taken to ensure a sufficient ventilation before.
Ventilated room – (see Clause GG.5) Safety of the appliance depends
on the ventilation of the room. Switching off the appliance or opening of
the housing has no significant effect on the safety. The ventilation of the
room shall not be switched off during repair procedures.
Information about the concept of sealed components and sealed enclo-
sures according to IEC 60079 - 15 : 2010.
Information about the correct working procedures
a) Commissioning
• Ensure that the floor area is sufficient for the refrigerant charge or that
the ventilation duct is assembled in a correct manner.
• Connect the pipes and carry out a leak test before charging with
refrigerant.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
b) Maintenance
• Portable equipment shall be repaired outside or in a workshop specially
equipped for servicing units with flammable refrigerants.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the repair place.
• Be aware that malfunction of the equipment may be caused by refriger-
ant loss and a refrigerant leak is possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won't cause any spark. The standard
procedure to short circuit the capacitor terminals usually creates sparks.
• Reassemble sealed enclosures accurately. If seals are worn, replace
them.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
8
Service-Anleitung
c) Repair
• Portable equipment shall be repaired outside or in a workshop specially
equipped for servicing units with flammable refrigerants.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the repair place.
• Be aware that malfunction of the equipment may be caused by refriger-
ant loss and a refrigerant leak is possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won't cause any spark.
• When brazing is required, the following procedures shall be carried out
in the right order:
1. Remove the refrigerant. If the recovery is not required by national
regulations, drain the refrigerant to the outside. Take care that the
drained refrigerant will not cause any danger. In doubt, one person
should guard the outlet. Take special care that drained refrigerant
will not float back into the building.
2. Evacuate the refrigerant circuit.
3. Purge the refrigerant circuit with nitrogen for 5 min.
4. Evacuate again.
5. Remove parts to be replaced by cutting, not by flame.
6. Purge the braze point with nitrogen during the brazing procedure.
7. Carry out a leak test before charging with refrigerant.
• Reassemble sealed enclosures accurately. If seals are worn, replace
them.
• Check safety equipment before putting into service.
d) Decommissioning
• If the safety is affected when the equipment is put out of service, the
refrigerant charge shall be removed before decommissioning.
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the equipment location.
• Be aware that malfunction of the equipment may be caused by refriger-
ant loss and a refrigerant leak is possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won't cause any spark.
• Remove the refrigerant. If the recovery is not required by national reg-
ulations, drain the refrigerant to the outside. Take care that the drained
refrigerant will not cause any danger. In doubt, one person should guard
the outlet. Take special care that drained refrigerant will not float back
into the building.
• Evacuate the refrigerant circuit.
• Purge the refrigerant circuit with nitrogen for 5 min.
• Evacuate again.
• Fill with nitrogen up to atmospheric pressure.
• Put a label on the equipment that the refrigerant is removed.
e) Disposal
• Ensure sufficient ventilation at the working place.
• Remove the refrigerant. If the recovery is not required by national reg-
ulations, drain the refrigerant to the outside. Take care that the drained
refrigerant will not cause any danger. In doubt, one person should guard
the outlet. Take special care that drained refrigerant will not float back
into the building.
• Evacuate the refrigerant circuit.
• Purge the refrigerant circuit with nitrogen for 5 min.
• Evacuate again.
• Cut out the compressor and drain the oil.
07.01.2021