COLD STORES
Frostbite, chemical burns and even brain damage can all be attributed to prolonged exposure to refrigerant gases. While such serious scenarios are thankfully rare,
employees working with cold stores can be at risk of these.
Early detection of gas leaks is key to
minimising risk, and the latest detectors can pinpoint the leak of a comprehensive range of popular refrigerants including HFCs, CFCs and HCFCs.
This ensures not only a company’s workforce remains safe but also the environment. In order to tackle climate change, the EU has drawn up a list of targets to meet, including reducing F-gas emissions by two-thirds by 2030 compared with 2014 levels, and by up to 95% of 1990 levels by 2050.
It is not only inefficient but also extremely dangerous to rely on staff to detect leaks when up to 60% of gas can escape unnoticed and The Carbon Trust has recorded an average annual leak rate of up to 20% in UK refrigeration systems. The government has shifted responsibility to employers with further regulations such as the DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres
Regulation 2002).
A leak can occur for a number of reasons, from mechanical damage to equipment failure or poor maintenance work. A gas detection system will help ensure that leaks are quickly identified and repaired at the first opportunity. This minimises the risk to the health and safety of employees, complies with the requirements of the EU F-Gas Regulations, supports the DSEAR legislation, of course and can save businesses money.
Advanced detection systems are now more intelligent and capable of combatting risks posed by toxic and non-toxic gases including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). There are high- tech refrigerant sensors with signalling alarms, LED lights indicating the presence and status of each sensor, audio/visual alarms and a battery back-up system, in the event of power failure.
Gas leaks also lead to spiralling energy
costs. When gas escapes, equipment must work harder to remain at the right temperature, which means it uses increasingly greater amounts of energy.
This can prove extremely costly. For example, if left unrepaired for three months, a
small leak in an average 300kW refrigeration system could result in increased energy costs of £1,400 – not to mention the bill for the repair when the leak is eventually identified.
These high specification detectors alert workers with audio and visual alarms and also feature a battery back-up system in the case of power failure. LED colours can be used to indicate the status of each sensor. These are arranged in different zones, so in the event of a gas leak, it can be swiftly identified and repaired without delay.
Even the most sophisticated devices on the market have a return on investment time of just two years, therefore installing technology to monitor leaks in cold storage offers a simple yet effective solution for operators in any sector. Many leading businesses are already seeing the value in adopting them. As soon as cafes, bars and restaurants
reopen their doors to the public, the demand for effective, reliable cold store equipment will only increase. Making the right choice, not only for your cold storage unit, but your cold storage safety equipment should remain an important consideration.
SBS
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