INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION Minimising risks
Increasing safety and environmental concerns have led to a number of regulations in the UK industrial refrigeration industry. This has put emissions and sustainable operations high on the agenda, with all service providers needing to minimise leakages, improve safety and reduce spoilage. Shaun Evers, managing director of Stonegate Instruments, discusses the pivotal role regulation has had on industrial refrigeration, the risks associated with it and the technology available to support businesses.
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dentifying a leak as quickly as possible is absolutely vital, both for the environment and the safety of staff. 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 378S-R448A gas sensor.
energy costs. When gas escapes, equipment must work harder to remain at the right temperature, which means it uses increasingly greater amounts of energy.
Safety and environmental concerns While being highly valuable assets, there are a number of safety concerns with 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. Since January 2020, the F-Gas regulations on prohibited the use of any refrigerant with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of more than
28 May 2020
2,500. At the same time, 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) signifies a stronger safety stance from the government and puts more responsibility on to employers to control the risks to safety 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.
www.acr-news.com
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