FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Compliance and conformity
– some misconceptions
By John Ackermann
ervice technicians are at greater
risk when repairing or servicing such
pressurised equipment if not properly
trained to do same. Injuries can stem from
burst piping, component failure, explosions,
or due to asphyxiation. All systems have the
potential of catastrophic failure in the event
of excessive high pressure due to human
error, component failure, or the absence of
safety components, for example pressure
relief valves.
NOT ALL REFRIGERANTS ARE EQUAL
There is a misconception that only ammonia plants require certificates of conformity and
need to follow the requirements of the PER.
REGULATIONS ARE THERE
FOR A REASON
To prevent such unfortunate incidents,
a number of codes and standards have
been drafted and promulgated, including
SANS 10147, the Pressure Equipment
Regulations (PER), and the OHS Act.
Although each is referenced to one
another, the purpose and the focus are
In addition to the risk from excessive
pressures, each refrigerant used in systems
has a unique risk due to its toxicity and
flammability. ASHRAE Standard 34 rates
each refrigerant A for non-toxic or B for
toxic and the numeral 1 to 3 for its level
of flammability. R22 has a toxicity rating
of A and ammonia B. Under certain
concentrations, ammonia will be explosive
and has a rating of B2L, while R22 is rated as
A1, or in layman terms, is odourless and non-
explosive. The 2L of ammonia indicates that
at certain concentration levels and under
certain conditions, it is explosive. Propane
(R290), with a rating of A3, is odourless, but
highly explosive.
It must not be overlooked that even
‘safe refrigerants’ such as R22 with a rating
of A1 can indirectly cause fatal harm. A
death reportedly occurred when a service
technician entered the hold of a fishing
vessel to diagnose the failure of a R22
refrigeration system. The malfunctioning
of the plant was due to a leak in the
evaporator. The leaked R22 gas collected
in the hold and reduced the oxygen
level. Due to the lack of oxygen and not
being able to smell the odourless R22,
the technician lost consciousness and
collapsed while in the restricted space of
the hold. It was only much later that he was
found by a fellow crew member, but by
then he had passed away.
Admittedly, the mentioned death
was not directly as a result of R22 being
harmful, but due to lack of workplace
safety procedures and proper training;
in other words: do not enter confined
areas alone or without notice given to
another person who can be alerted by
way of rope or the like. Safety equipment
such as automatic gas detectors fitted in
the hold would also have prevented the
unfortunate death. Sadly, there have been
more than one such tragic incidence of
persons working on R22 systems, reported
along the South African coastline.
S
All closed-circuit refrigeration and air-conditioning systems, by way of being pressurised,
pose a risk to the safety of persons close to it.
Training in the safe handling of refrigerants and proof of competency are requirements for
SAQCC Gas registration in category B.
Pressure vessels in supermarket installations with synthetic refrigerants also require
certificates of conformity and certificates of compliance to be issued by those who charge
and pressure test.
clear: to safeguard the safety of persons
who install, service, and repair HVAC&R
systems and to ensure that all system
components and equipment are able to
safely withstand the duty and operating
conditions to which subjected. It is also
of importance that the system is able to
withstand any build-up of pressure when
the plant is idle.
In simple terms, the regulations
require that the design, installation, and
components comply with the minimum
safety standards and is certified through
the issue of a certificate of conformity by
authorities or persons who are conversant
COLD LINK AFRICA • March/April 2019
with the regulations and have the
knowledge to issue such certificates.
CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY VS
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
The PER requires that persons who service,
maintain, or repair the pressurised circuit of
the system be suitably trained and certified
to perform such tasks. On completion
of such work, the technician is required
to complete and sign a certificate of
compliance stating that all work had been
done in accordance with the regulations.
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