New Refrigerant Standards Published

The 2016 editions of ASHRAE’s major refrigerants-related standards have been published as a package with 30 new refrigerants and refrigerant blends added. For both of the standards, the updates come from a continuing stream of changes made based on new science and research, experience, and proposals from designers, manufacturers and users, says ASHRAE.

ANSI/ASHRAE 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems, 2016 edition, incorporates addenda a, b, c, e and g to Standard 15-2013, which comprise the following changes:

• Incorporated changes to ensure improvement in the safe design, construction, installation and operation of refrigeration systems

• Updated requirements for safety relief systems, including revisions to relief vent pipe discharge locations and design provisions for headered relief vent systems

• Updated design pressure requirements applicable to systems using carbon dioxide

• Modified overpressure protection for heat exchangers and pressure limiting devices for positive displacement compressors

The 2016 edition of its sister standard, ANSI/ASHRAE 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, incorporates 35 addenda to the 2013 edition. Among the key changes to the 2016 edition are the following:

• Added three new refrigerants and 27 new refrigerant blends

• Changed the source of the WEEL (Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels) values from AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association) to TERA OARS-WEEL (Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment/Occupational Alliance for Risk Science)

• Changed requirements for the refrigerant application process

• Changed the requirement for submission of standard test result data to validate the method used to determine burning velocity

• Changed units required for refrigerant designation to require the submission of dual units

• Revised R-744 toxicity data for the RCL, LC 50, cardiac sensitization NOEL, anesthesia NOEL, ATEL, RCL and ATEL source

This Quick Read was submitted by Naomi Millán, senior editor of Building Operating Management magazine, naomi.millan@tradepress.com.

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