Sign plate to protect and mark the working area.
Appropriate detectors, suitable for hydrocarbons, must be available and operational all the time. Appropriate tools and
appliances must be available and ready for operation.
Any employees need to be instructed extensively about the safety measures and the possible safety hazard.
Gas Detection
While servicing the unit it is recommended for the whole period of work — before,during
and after — to monitor the gas concentration in the air within the work environment. By
monitoring the air within the work environment the danger of a possible formation of
flammable atmosphere can be detected early.
Doing the monitoring, ensure that the gas detectors are suitable for hydrocarbon detection.
Never use open fire or a device with an ignition source for the detection of gas or for leak
detection.
Before operation of the gas detector the instruction manual must be read carefully. In case of
any questions refer to the detector manufacturer. Furthermore ensure the detector is correctly
calibrated. Instructions for calibration can be found in the instruction manual of the detector or
upon request from the manufacturer.
A possible re-calibration must be done within an area which is free of refrigerants.
In case of a positive detection by the detector any work must be stopped immediately. Any
open flames or ignition sources must be extinguished or removed. In addition to a suitable and
approved HC gas detectors, portable gas detectors can be used.
Such a detector can be clipped to clothing or placed on the floor within the working area.
It should be switched on for the duration of the work, and set to alarm at 15% of the lower
flammability level (LFL), to warn that flammable concentration may be nearby. In this way,
technicians can be alerted whenever an inadvertent release of fl refrigerant occurs,
and can immediately act upon the relevant emergency procedures.
Portable HC Gas Detector
The HC leak de-
tector is indeed
a Personal
Protective
Equipment
(PPE)
device!
The HC leak de-
tector is indeed
a PPE device!