New Regulations for Refrigeration Plants

Andrew Perks October 2010

There are changes in

legislation that affect cold

store users and you need

to know how they can and

will affect you

October 2009

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

New clause 11 (d) :

All systems to be inspected at intervals

not exceeding

36 months

BUT MUST

be pressure tested every

9 years.

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

Where in the world did they get this idea?

This is not a requirement anywhere

else in the world for refrigeration

systems

?

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

What happened? You were lucky to get out

of there in time!

If this plant had been compliant with the

New Pressure Regulations this should not have

happened.

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: andrew@andrewperks.co.za

Web: www.andrewperks.co.za