Which refrigerants are flammable

By contrast, R is 36, ppm; R has a low toxicity but it is flammable. Standards e. Search for: Search. Refrigerant Flammability There are four classes of flammability: 1, 2L, 2 or 3. Talk to an Expert - Fixed and Portables. Please describe your application or project and what gas monitoring or detection problems you are looking to solve. Facilities managers should understand what is permitted and in what quantities. Hospitals and nursing homes clearly fall within this classification.

Exception 7. Listed equipment containing not more than 6. These two references appear to permit any refrigerant. This restriction does not apply to listed self-contained systems containing no more than 0. In the AHJ world facilities operate within, the most stringent code requirement prevails. Now, 6. After researching the currently available health care refrigerators and ice machines, the typical under-counter health care grade refrigerator contains 74 grams of R, and a double-door health care refrigerator typically contains grams of R This exception appears to permit an unlimited number of devices given none of the individual devices contain more than grams of flammable refrigerant.

Some facilities managers report the location and quantity of flammable refrigerant containing devices to their AHJ as an added safety measure, although the standard does not require reporting. The gram maximum charge does carry some limitations.

Quick temperature recovery places significant demands on mechanical systems and often requires larger refrigerant charges to manage these heat transfer requirements. Consideration should be given to the selection process, taking into account the capability of the unit to meet the specifications for cooling medications or food.

One may question why manufacturers would choose to use flammable refrigerants when there are other alternative refrigerants available. The answer is complicated at best; however, ASHRAE has determined what levels of flammable refrigerant is required to propagate a fire.

The gram maximum limit is based upon the science of the compounds necessary to support a fire. If the LFL is not reached, there can be no fire as a result of a flammable refrigerant leak since there would not be an adequate amount of flammable gas relative to the amount of air in the room to support combustion.

In simpler terms, if the amount of flammable gas is limited, relative to the air in the room, it will not ignite. To further support the use of flammable refrigerants, consider the fact that most hospitals are fully sprinkled and those that are not will be by Additionally, hospitals are surveyed regularly by AHJs to ensure the facilities do not have excessive flammable loads, thereby further reducing the hazard presented.

ASHRAE 15, Chapter 9, Design and Construction of Equipment and Systems, specifically addresses how these refrigeration systems should be manufactured to safeguard against unintended failures. This standard provides manufacturers with the necessary guidelines to design and manufacture refrigeration systems that are both reliable and safe. An internet search for catastrophic failures from flammable refrigerant leaks provided few results.

There is an occasional household refrigerator that has experienced a failure that caused damage, but none have been reported as catastrophic. The most notable fire involving a refrigerator with flammable refrigerant was in London at the Grenfell Tower, which killed 72 occupants. This fire apparently originated with a refrigerator; however, subsequent reporting on Nov. The fire spread from the apartment to the exterior building cladding, which provided an unobstructed path for the fire to envelop the building.

The Grenfell Tower did not have a sprinkler system installed. Hospitals utilize all of the missing components of the Grenfell Tower to alert and protect the occupants. Taking into account all of the standards and information discussed here, health facilities managers should consider the following when using flammable refrigerants:.

Fire and smoke alarm. It implies ozone-depleting and easy to switch to. Carrier has already declared by that all their ducted air conditioning products in North America will be manufactured with this product. But most of us who have been following the phaseout of RA are concerned about the composition of these refrigerants. Mildly Flammable? As opposed to what? R22 and RA are considered to have low flammability levels and are listed as A1. According to an article written for the Department of Energy Technology, author Pavel Makhnatch described a comparison as to what Mildly Flammable means.

R32 is described as having a lower flammability rating than ammonia which is already known for being a difficult substance to ignite. That makes me feel all warm and cozy, but when ACHR News and Indoor Comfort News started releasing stories about the dangers that could arise when switching over to an A2L refrigerant, it made my ears perk up.

One article I read said we technicians will have to switch to recovery machines that vacate any accumulating nearby fumes. Machines that have a source of ignition like something as little as a spark. The International Code Council recently met and discussed routine changes to the upcoming code.

These changes rarely make as big of an impact on the community as this topic does. Usually they just change some wording for new emerging technologies. Citing a deadline to get this new refrigerant mainstream, the companies are trying to get it pushed through to the International Code Council via the Fire Code, Mechanical Code and Residential Code.

Well, no governmental agency is pushing them. This particular refrigerant is not mandated to be used by a certain time. These companies should be looking out for the real people who will be using it every day as well as those protecting us from it.

HVAC mechanics and firefighters should be protected, fully trained, and prepared to handle and battle a potential fire breakout. This sets a very bad precedent, raises safety concerns, and conflicts with the votes of the International Mechanical Code, Uniform Mechanical Code and International Fire Code committees.

I can train them! RA has no ozone-depleting potential and very low GWP.