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New Regulations for Refrigeration Plants
Andrew Perks October 2010
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There are changes in
legislation that affect cold
store users and you need
to know how they can and
will affect you
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October 2009
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Have always been there
WAS: vessels under pressure regulations 1996
NOW: pressure equipment regulations 2009
BUT what does this new regulation mean to the
refrigeration industry?
It is now about a pressurized system
&
not just pressure vessels
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New clause 11 (d) :
All systems to be inspected at intervals
not exceeding
36 months
BUT MUST
be pressure tested every
9 years.
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What would that mean?
Empty all ammonia out of system
Fill with nitrogen & hold pressure for 24 hours
Empty all nitrogen & flush
Reintroduce all ammonia
Could take anything from 3 to 7 days
Expect major plant issues on restarting
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Where in the world did they get this idea?
This is not a requirement anywhere
else in the world for refrigeration
systems
?
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What are we doing about it?
We are making representation to the
Inspector of Machinery
to allow recertification of pressurized
systems on a 3 yearly basis for
refrigeration plants
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What are we doing about it?
If Inspector of Machinery
allows recertification on a 3 yearly basis
Then
regular plant scheduled inspections will
need to be carried out by competent
authorized registered practitioners and
inspectors.
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OHS Act requirements for refrigeration
systems
Driven Machinery Regulations
states in clause 15
that all refrigeration and air conditioning installations must conform to the
requirements of SANS 10147
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SANS 10147(Clause 15 Driven Machinery OHS Act )
Is Currently under review
Draft expected early next year which will
deal with plant inspection, training
requirements and a general upgrade.
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SANS 10147(Clause 15 Driven Machinery OHS Act )
Expected changes relative to the PE Regs
To incorporate mandatory plant inspections
by authorized practitioner to ensure
conformity with P E Regulations and
further conformity inspections by an
approved inspector
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SAQCC authorized?
Categories of competency for Ammonia plants:
Category 0 authorized plant operators
Category 1 authorized refrigeration operator training to a higher category
Category 4 technicians with trade lines an authorized person with limited ability to do a conformity certificate
Category 8 inspector an authorized person who can inspect the plant and complete a conformity assessment of the complete plant
All categories must have the relevant knowledge of the OHS Act and
SANS 10147 as applicable to pressurized system under inspection
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So what does it mean
All plants need to be operated by competent SAQCC Gas registered operator
All plants need to have a 3 yearly conformity inspection
All work done on a pressurized system needs to be done by a SAQCC Gas registered practitioner
The mandatory requirements of SANS 10147 need to be adhered to
The mandatory record keeping requirements of the P E regulations need to be adhered to
Continual training and monitoring of plant to the regulations is mandatory
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What happened? You were lucky to get out
of there in time!
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If this plant had been compliant with the
New Pressure Regulations this should not have
happened.
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If you need any further information or
require any training to incorporate the
requirements of the P E Regulations
concerning your plant
please contact us:
Office: 082 466 1415
Andrew Cell: 083 397 6241
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.andrewperks.co.za