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S&B Mechanical Refrigeration Questions and Answers 1. What are the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (previously Department of Commerce) licensing requirements for a contractor installing ammonia and freon refrigeration equipment?Answer: There is no refrigeration exam required. Contractors installing refrigeration equipment that serves HVAC equipment are required to obtain a Safety and Buildings Division (S&B) HVAC Contractor registration. SPS 305.70 Each service technician handling ozone depleteting refrigerants is required to have an EPA-608 certification. HVAC Contractor Registration application are online as PDF files. 2. What are the Safety and Professional Services rules governing the installation of mechanical refrigeration equipment? Answer: Safety and Professional Services’s administrative rules for refrigeration are found in SPS 345. The rules are enforced by S&B inspectors and the department’s authorized agents. 3. What type of refrigeration systems require inspection and how is S&B notified of refrigeration systems requiring inspection? Answer: Systems using an A1/B1 refrigerant 50 ton above and A2/B2 and A3/B3 refrigerants 10 ton and above are required to be inspected. A contractor must submit the SBD-34 refrigeration registration form prior to installation of the system. The form is online as a PDF file. 4. What are the inspection requirements for installation of welded steel piping for refrigeration systems? Answer: For any system installed, modified or repaired using welded steel piping, a contractor must complete a SBD-5204 registration form, PDF file, and arrange an inspection at least five business days prior to the start of fabrication (all welded steel piping shall be fabricated to ANSI B31.5, 2001 std. pipe welders need welder qualifications per piping code ASME B31.5 and ASME Section IX.) and in accordance with SPS 345.07 and 345.08. An S&B boiler inspector districts map is online. 5. What is the classification of R-502 refrigerant? Answer: R-502 is in the A-1 Group Classification. See the refrigerant safety group classification matrix in ASHRAE 15-1994 section 6.1. The classification in part reflects the amount of refrigerant that is allowed in occupied space or the type of mechanical room equipment installed. For example, if flammable refrigerants might leak from a system the room must meet special electrical and ventilation requirements. 6. When does refrigerant have to be removed from a refrigerator? Answer: When a refrigerator is scrapped, the unit falls under the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources salvage and disposal rules. Contact Cory Carter, 608-789-5512. NR 488 rules require refrigerant and oils be removed by either a Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection certified person (mobile AC) or a Dept. Safety and Professional Services Commercial Refrigerant Handling Technician (commercial and residential service person) prior to disposal of unit. 7. If mechanical room ventilation must remove refrigerants from the room when a leak is detected and discharge to the outdoors, what distance requirements are imposed on the ventilation system? Answer: See IMC 1105.6.1 Discharge location. The discharge of the air shall be to the outdoors in accordance with Chapter 5. Exhaust from mechanical ventilation systems shall be discharged not less than 20 feet from a property line or openings into buildings. 8. What is required if two solenoid valves are added to a refrigeration system? The equivalent length of pipe involved is under 20 feet and a max of 1-1/4 inch. Answer: Assuming the piping and solenoid valves are new and welded, SPS 345.08 requires inspection. SPS 345.02 Scope. (1) APPLICATION. This chapter applies to all of the following: (a) The installation of mechanical refrigerating systems and heat pumps. (b) A change to a refrigerant of a different number designation. (c) Parts or components replaced only if they are not identical in function. (d) Additions or alterations to any refrigerating system that exceeds the registration criteria in SPS 345.07. SPS 345.08(2)(b) The department shall inspect refrigerant steel piping using welded joints to be erected on the premises after the piping material is delivered to the job site and prior to the start of construction. The installer shall give the department a minimum of five business days notice to arrange for the inspection. SPS 345.08(2)(c) The installer shall complete form SBD–5204 and retain it at the job site prior to the refrigerant piping inspection. The certified inspector shall indicate acceptance of the refrigerant piping system design by signing form SBD–5204. 9. Must a refrigerant release be reported in writing within 24 hours, using Safety and Buildings Division form SBD-10788? Answer: SPS 345.10: “Reporting of accidents. Whenever mechanical refrigeration equipment or system components fail and cause injury to any person, the owner or user shall report in writing the facts involved to the department within the following 24 hours. The owner or user may not remove or disturb mechanical refrigeration equipment or any of its parts nor permit any such removal or disturbance prior to receiving authorization from the department, except for the purpose of saving human life or preventing further property damage. If the release involves someone being injured, the circumstance should be reported via that form. 10. SPS 345 refers to Group A1, B1, A2, B3, A3, and B3 refrigerant. How do I determine what group the refrigerant I use falls in? Answer: See SPS 345.32 System requirements, PDF file. This section refers reader to IMC 1102.2 and Table 1103.1. Table 1103.1 lists numerically by R# all refrigerants classified as per ASHRAE 34 with applicable A1, B1, A2, B2, A3 and B3 classifications. 11. How does someone obtain a copy of the International Model Codes; International Mechanical Code, for example? Answer: The I-Codes are available for purchase through the Internet, http://www.iccsafe.org. Or, contact the International Code Council, 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233). 12. What are the requirements for ammonia refrigeration pressure relief replacement? Answer: SPS 345.35 (3) states “reliefs shall be replaced in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations but not to exceed five years from the date of installation.” See SPS 345 PDF online. Comm 45.35 (3) AMMONIA DISCHARGE. This is a department rule in addition to the requirements in IMC section 1105.8: Pressure relief valves for ammonia systems shall be replaced in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations but not to exceed five years from the date of installation. In lieu of the expiration date, a relief valve may be used for a total of five years if a record is maintained of when it was installed and it was not over two years old at the time of installation. 13. What is the requirement for use of a water diffusion tank? Release of the largest relief for one hour or One gallon of water / pound of ammonia? Answer: ASHRAE 9.7.8.2 Ammonia Discharge. Ammonia from pressure-relief valves shall be discharged into one or more of the following: (a) The atmosphere, per 9.7.8; (b) A tank containing one gallon of water for each pound of ammonia that will be released in one hour from the largest relief device connected to the discharge pipe. The water shall be prevented from freezing. The discharge pipe from the pressure-relief device shall distribute ammonia in the bottom of the tank but no lower than 33 feet below the maximum liquid level. The tank shall contain the combined volume of ammonia and water without overflowing. (c) Other treatment systems that meet the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction. Also review of the following code sections: - SPS 345.35(3) Ammonia Discharge - IMC 1105.8 which sends one to ASHRAE 15 - ASHRAE 15, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7 pressure relief section(s) - IIAR 5.14 County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Build Your Business The Department of Safety and Professional Services Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TDD Relay dial 711 in Wisconsin or 800-947-3529. |