INSTRUMENTATION AND LEAK DETECTION
Detecting and tackling the silent killer
Industrial gases such as refrigerants can present a substantial danger to the health and safety of workers if a leak occurs, not to mention the threat to the environment. Shaun Evers, managing director of Stonegate Instruments, discusses the potential risks of refrigerant leaks and how these coupled with increasingly stringent legislation, has led to companies across a wide range of sectors to seek out the latest leak detection and alert systems.
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dentifying a leak as quickly as possible is absolutely vital, as exposure to such gases can be extremely harmful, with symptoms ranging from irritation of the throat, eyes and skin to frostbite, chemical burns and even lung or brain damage. Meanwhile, the Carbon Trust estimates that a leak of 1kg of refrigerant gas can have the same impact as a van driving continuously for approximately 10,000 miles. For businesses, gas leaks also lead to spiralling energy costs. Refrigerant gas leaks are the foremost contributor to energy loss in modern heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, because when a leak occurs the system has to work harder to maintain the temperature, using more costly energy. While being highly valuable assets, there are a number of safety concerns with HVAC and refrigeration units. The primary issue is with gas leaks. According to The Carbon Trust, refrigeration systems within the UK have an average annual leak rate of up to 20%. With 60% of leaked gas escaping before detection, this poses a serious risk to personnel. Some refrigeration gases are toxic while the flammable nature of some class A2L refrigerants means leaks present a threat of ignition. As a result of these concerns, companies now have to comply
with increasingly stringent regulations. Under UK and EU legislation, since January 2020, imposed F-Gas regulations has meant a ban has been in force that prevents refrigerants with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) greater than 2,500 being used to service or refill refrigeration systems, with a refrigerant
28 December 2020
charge size of 40 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more. In addition, the topping up with new fluid of systems that use some hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant gases, such as R404a and R507a, has been banned. The F-Gas regulations have also raised the requirements for regular gas leak checks on refrigeration systems. EU regulations now stipulate that systems with 300kg or more of refrigerants be fitted with a leak detector, a shift that will affect operators of stationary refrigeration equipment, air conditioning, heat pumps and refrigeration units on refrigerated trucks and trailers. Where gas leak detection systems aren’t installed on apparatus, the frequency of mandatory gas leak checks will of course increase. Additionally, to prevent the risk of ignition posed by the flammability of some class A2L refrigerants, operators will be required to maintain in-room concentration levels below the lower flammability level (LFL). This requirement is reinforced by safety legislation and standards such as ISO 5149 and EN 378. Further regulations, such as the DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002) signify a stronger safety stance from the government and put more responsibility on to building and facilities managers to control the risks from fire and explosions. A leak can occur for a number of reasons, from mechanical damage to equipment failure or poor maintenance work, but thankfully equipment exists to help building and facilities managers.
www.acr-news.com
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