Competence of service personnel
General
Information of procedures additional to usual information for refrigerating appliance installation, repair,
maintenance and decommission procedures is required when an appliance with FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS is
affected.The training of these procedures is carried out by national training organisations or manufacturers 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 depend 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 re-
leased when the enclosure is opened. Ventilated enclosure – (see Clause GG.4) Safety of the appliance depends
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 enclosures
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 refrigerant 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.
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 refrigerant loss and a refrigerant leak is
possible.
• Discharge capacitors in a way that won't cause any spark.
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ARP-2214P