8.9 Refrgierating Machinery Room, General Requirements.

When a refrigerating system is located indoors and a machinery room is required by section 7.4, the machinery room shall be in accordance with the following provisions.

8.9.5 Each refrigerating machinery room shall contain a detector, located in an area where refrigerant from a leak will concentrate, that actuates an alarm and mechanical ventilation in accordance with Section 8.9.7 at a set point not greater than the occupational exposure limit (OEL) value as published in ASHRAE 34. For refrigerants that do not have a published OEL value in Standard 34, a set point determine in accordance with OEL as designed by Standard 34 shall be approved by the AHJ. The alarm shall annunciate visual and audible alarms inside the refrigerating machineryr room and outside each entrance to the refrigerating machinery room. The alarms required in this section shall be of the manual reset type with the reset located inside hte refrigeranting machinery room. Alarms set at other levels (such as IDLH) and automatic reset alarms are permitted in addition to those required by this section. The meaning of each alarm shall be clearly marked by signage near the annunciators.

• Refrigerant Detection Systems:
  • Required in machinery rooms and areas where refrigerants are likely to accumulate.
  • Must trigger alarms and mechanical ventilation when refrigerant levels exceed safety thresholds.
• Alarm Systems:
  • Both audible and visual alarms are required to notify personnel of refrigerant leaks.
  • Systems must be capable of activating mechanical ventilation to disperse leaked refrigerant.
• Ventilation Systems:
  • Must be designed to dilute and remove leaked refrigerant to maintain concentrations below hazardous levels.
• Compliance and Installation:
  • All detection and alarm systems must comply with relevant standards and be installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and local code requirements.
  • Regular inspections and maintenance are required to ensure system functionality and compliance with EPA regulations.

608.9

Machinery rooms shall be provided with a refrigerant detector with an audible and visual alarm. Where ammonia used as the refrigerant, detection shall comply with IIAR 2. For refrigerants other than ammonia, refrigerant detection shall comply with Section 608.9.1.

608.9.1 Refrigerants other than ammonia.

A detector, or a sampling tube that draws air to a detector, shall be provided at an approved location where refrigerant from a leak is expected to accumulate. The system shall be designed to initiate audible and visible alarms inside of and outside each entrance to the refrigerating machinery room and transmit a signal to an approved location where the concentration of refrigerant detected exceeds the lesser of the following:

1) The corresponding TLV-TWA values shown in the International Mechanical Code for the refrigerant classification.
2) Twenty-give percent of the lower flammable limit (LFL)
Detection of a refrigerant concentration exceeding the upper detection limit or 25 percent of the lower flammable limit (LFL), which is lower, shall stop refrigerant equipment in the machinery room in accordance with Section 608.10.1.

608.9

Machinery rooms shall be provided with a refrigerant detector with an audible and visual alarm. Where ammonia used as the refrigerant, detection shall comply with IIAR 2. For refrigerants other than ammonia, refrigerant detection shall comply with Section 608.9.1.

608.9.1 Refrigerants other than ammonia.

A detector, or a sampling tube that draws air to a detector, shall be provided at an approved location where refrigerant from a leak is expected to accumulate. The system shall be designed to initiate audible and visible alarms inside of and outside each entrance to the refrigerating machinery room and transmit a signal to an approved location where the concentration of refrigerant detected exceeds the lesser of the following:

608.10.1 Refrigeration system emergency shutoff.

A clearly identified switch of the break-glass type or with an approved tamper-resistant cover shall provide off-only control of refrigerant compressors, refrigerant pumps and normally closed automatic refrigerant valves located in the machinery room. Additionally, this equipment shall be automatically shut off when the refrigerant vapor concentration in the machinery room exceeds the vapor detector’s upper detection limit or 25 percent of the LEL, whichever is lower.

608.10.2 Ventilation System

A clearly identified switch of the break-glass type or with an approved tamper-resistant cover shall provide on-only control of the machinery room ventilation fans.