Safety
This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.
The appliance shall be installed in accordance with national wiring regulations.
The installation of the appliance and the refrigerant unit must only be made by the manufacturer’s service personnel or suitably qualified person.
The unit must be installed by qualified personnel with a capability certificated for handling R32 refrigerant. Refer to regulation and laws in use on installation location.
WARNING
Do not use means to accelerate the defrosting process or to clean, other than those recommended by the manufacturer.
The appliance shall be stored in a room without continuously operating ignition sources (for example: open flames, an operating gas appliance or an operating electric heater).
Do not pierce or burn.
Be aware that refrigerants may not contain an odor.
Qualification of workers
Only perform services outlined in the Installation Manual to avoid hazards.
Wear protective clothing and safety glasses when installing or working on sheet metal.
Every working procedure that affects safety means shall only be carried out by competent persons.
Examples for such working procedures are:
• breaking into the refrigerating circuit.
• opening of sealed components.
• opening of ventilated enclosures.
Checks to the area
Prior to beginning work on systems containing FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS, safety checks are necessary to ensure that the risk of ignition is minimized.
Work procedure
Do not use the dehumidifier to remove flammable fumes or gases.
Work shall be undertaken under a controlled procedure to minimize the risk of a flammable gas or vapor being present while the work is being performed.
General work area
All maintenance staff and others working in the local area shall be instructed on the nature of work being carried out. Work in confined spaces shall be avoided.
Checking for presence of refrigerant
The area shall be checked with an appropriate refrigerant detector prior to and during work, to ensure the technician is aware of potentially toxic or flammable atmospheres. Ensure that the leak detection equipment being used is suitable for use with all applicable refrigerants, i.e. non-sparking, adequately sealed or intrinsically safe.
Presence of fire extinguisher
If any hot work is to be conducted on the refrigerating equipment or any associated parts, appropriate fire extinguishing equipment shall be available to hand. Have a dry powder or CO2 fire extinguisher adjacent to the charging area.
No ignition sources
No person carrying out work in relation to a REFRIGERATING SYSTEM which involves exposing any pipe work shall use any sources of ignition in such a manner that it may lead to the risk of fire or explosion. All possible ignition sources, including cigarette smoking, should be kept sufficiently far away from the site of installation, repairing, removing and disposal, during which refrigerant can possibly be released to the surrounding space. Prior to work taking place, the area around the equipment is to be surveyed to make sure that there are no flammable hazards or ignition risks. “No Smoking” signs shall be displayed.
Indoor use only
Do not install the dehumidifier outdoors.
Do not Block Airflow
Do not obstruct or cover the air intake or outlet.
Connect Only to HVAC Ducting
Connect the dehumidifier only to HVAC ducting as shown in the installation guide.
Check Compatibility with Combustion Equipment
Assess how the dehumidifier interacts with vented combustion appliances.
Ventilated area
Ensure that the area is in the open or that it is adequately ventilated before breaking into the system or conducting any hot work. A degree of ventilation shall continue during the period that the work is carried out. The ventilation should safely disperse any released refrigerant and preferably expel it externally into the atmosphere.
Checks to the refrigerating equipment
Where electrical components are being changed, they shall be fit for the purpose and to the correct specification. At all times the manufacturer’s maintenance and service guidelines shall be followed. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s technical department for assistance.
The following checks shall be applied to installations using FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS:
– the actual REFRIGERANT CHARGE is in accordance with the room size within which the refrigerant containing parts are installed.
– the ventilation machinery and outlets are operating adequately and are not obstructed.
– if an indirect refrigerating circuit is being used, the secondary circuit shall be checked for the presence of refrigerant.
– marking to the equipment continues to be visible and legible. Markings and signs that are illegible shall be corrected.
– refrigerating pipe or components are installed in a position where they are unlikely to be exposed to any substance which may corrode refrigerant containing components, unless the components are constructed of materials which are inherently resistant to being corroded or are suitably protected against being so corroded.
Checks to electrical devices
Use a 120 VAC outlet only; do not use an extension cord.
Always unplug the unit and wait for internal parts to stop before servicing.
Repair and maintenance to electrical components shall include initial safety checks and component inspection procedures. If a fault exists that could compromise safety, then no electrical supply shall be connected to the circuit until it is satisfactorily dealt with. If the fault cannot be corrected immediately but it is necessary to continue operation, an adequate temporary solution shall be used. This shall be reported to the owner of the equipment, so all parties are advised.
Initial safety checks shall include:
• that capacitors are discharged: this shall be done in a safe manner to avoid possibility of sparking.
• that no live electrical components and wiring are exposed while charging, recovering or purging the system.
• that there is continuity of earth bonding.
Repairs to sealed components
Sealed electrical components shall be replaced.
Repair to intrinsically safe components
Intrinsically safe components must be replaced.
No unauthorized modifications
Do not modify the dehumidifier or power cord—risk of fire, shock, or injury.
Cabling
Check that cabling will not be subject to wear, corrosion, excessive pressure, vibration, sharp edges or any other adverse environmental effects. The check shall also consider the effects of aging or continual vibration from sources such as compressors or fans. Never operate the unit with a damaged power cord; it must be replaced by a qualified person.
Detection of flammable refrigerants
Under no circumstances shall potentially sources of ignition be used in the searching for or detection of refrigerant leaks. A halide torch (or any other detector using a naked flame) shall not be used.
The following leak detection methods are deemed acceptable for all refrigerant systems. Electronic leak detectors may be used to detect refrigerant leaks but, in the case of FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS, the sensitivity may not be adequate or may need recalibration. (Detection equipment shall be calibrated in a refrigerant-free area.) Ensure that the detector is not a potential source of ignition and is suitable for the refrigerant used. Leak detection equipment shall be set at a percentage of the LFL of the refrigerant and shall be calibrated to the refrigerant employed, and the appropriate percentage of gas (25 % maximum) is confirmed.
Leak detection fluids are also suitable for use with most refrigerants but the use of detergents containing chlorine shall be avoided as the chlorine may react with the refrigerant and corrode the copper pipework.
If a leak is suspected, all naked flames shall be removed/extinguished. If a leakage of refrigerant is found which requires brazing, all the refrigerants shall be recovered from the system, or isolated (by means of shut off valves) in a part of the system remote from the leak. Removal of refrigerant shall be according to Removal and evacuation.
Removal and evacuation
When breaking into the refrigerant circuit to make repairs – or for any other purpose – conventional procedures shall be used. However, for flammable refrigerants it is important that best practice be followed, since flammability is a consideration. The following procedure shall be adhered to:
– safely remove refrigerant following local and national regulations.
– evacuate.
– purge the circuit with inert gas (optional for A2L).
– evacuate (optional for A2L).
– continuously flush or purge with inert gas when using flame to open circuit; and
– open the circuit.
The refrigerant charge shall be recovered into the correct recovery cylinders if venting is not allowed by local and national codes. For appliances containing flammable refrigerants, the system shall be purged with oxygen-free nitrogen to render the appliance safe for flammable refrigerants. This process might need to be repeated several times. Compressed air or oxygen shall not be used for purging refrigerant systems.
For appliances containing flammable refrigerants, refrigerants purging shall be achieved by breaking the vacuum in the system with oxygen-free nitrogen and continuing to fill until the working pressure is achieved, then venting to atmosphere, and finally pulling down to a vacuum (optional for A2L). This process shall be repeated until no refrigerant is within the system (optional for A2L). When the final oxygen-free nitrogen charge is used, the system shall be vented down to atmospheric pressure to enable work to take place.
The outlet for the vacuum pump shall not be close to any potential ignition sources, and ventilation shall be available.
Charging procedures
In addition to conventional charging procedures, the following requirements shall be followed.
• Ensure that contamination of different refrigerants does not occur when using charging equipment. Hoses or lines shall be as short as possible to minimize the amount of refrigerant contained in them.
• Cylinders shall be kept in an appropriate position according to the instructions.
• Ensure that the REFRIGERATING SYSTEM is earthed prior to charging the system with refrigerant.
• Label the system when charging is complete (if not already).
• Extreme care shall be taken not to overfill the REFRIGERATING SYSTEM.
Prior to recharging the system, it shall be pressure-tested with the appropriate purging gas. The system shall be leak-tested on completion of charging but prior to commissioning. A follow up leak test shall be carried out prior to leaving the site.
Decommissioning
Before carrying out this procedure, it is essential that the technician is completely familiar with the equipment and all its detail. It is recommended good practice that all refrigerants are recovered safely. Prior to the task being carried out, an oil and refrigerant sample shall be taken in case analysis is required prior to re-use of recovered refrigerant. It is essential that electrical power is available before the task is commenced.
a) Become familiar with the equipment and its operation.
b) Isolate system electrically. Electrical shock and fire hazard—disconnect power before servicing.
c) Before attempting the procedure, ensure that:
• mechanical handling equipment is available, if required, for handling refrigerant cylinders.
• all personal protective equipment is available and being used correctly.
• the recovery process is always supervised by a competent person.
• recovery equipment and cylinders conform to the appropriate standards.
d) Pump down refrigerant system, if possible.
e) If a vacuum is not possible, make a manifold so that refrigerant can be removed from various parts of the system.
f) Make sure that cylinder is situated on the scales before recovery takes place.
g) Start the recovery machine and operate in accordance with instructions.
h) Do not overfill cylinders (no more than 80 % volume liquid charge).
i) Do not exceed the maximum working pressure of the cylinder, even temporarily.
j) When the cylinders have been filled correctly and the process completed, make sure that the cylinders and the equipment are removed from site promptly and all isolation valves on the equipment are closed off.
k) Recovered refrigerant shall not be charged into another REFRIGERATING SYSTEM unless it has been cleaned and checked.
Labelling
Equipment shall be labelled stating that it has been de-commissioned and emptied of refrigerant. The label shall be dated and signed. For appliances containing FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANTS, ensure that there are labels on the equipment stating the equipment contains FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANT.
Recovery
When removing refrigerant from a system, either for servicing or decommissioning, it is recommended good practice that all refrigerants are removed safely.
When transferring refrigerant into cylinders, ensure that only appropriate refrigerant recovery cylinders are employed. Ensure that the correct number of cylinders for holding the total system charge is available. All cylinders to be used are designated for the recovered refrigerant and labelled for that refrigerant (i.e. special cylinders for the recovery of refrigerant). Cylinders shall be complete with pressure-relief valve and associated shut-off valves in good working order. Empty recovery cylinders are evacuated and, if possible, cooled before recovery occurs.
The recovery equipment shall be in good working order with a set of instructions concerning the equipment that is at hand and shall be suitable for the recovery of the flammable refrigerant. If in doubt, the manufacturer should be consulted. In addition, a set of calibrated weighing scales shall be available and in good working order. Hoses shall be complete with leak-free disconnect couplings and in good condition.
The recovered refrigerant shall be processed according to local legislation in the correct recovery cylinder, and the relevant waste transfer note arranged. Do not mix refrigerants in recovery units and especially not in cylinders.
If compressors or compressor oils are to be removed, ensure that they have been evacuated to an acceptable level to make certain that flammable refrigerant does not remain within the lubricant. The compressor body shall not be heated by an open flame or other ignition sources to accelerate this process. When oil is drained from a system, it shall be carried out safely.
Secure Installation
Ensure the unit is properly installed and when applicable, properly suspended, to prevent injury.