Much talk and discussion on what must be the doors to your engine room. Looking at IIAR as a best practice source lets see what some of their bulletins and standards suggest.
Since the late 90’s IIAR suggest in bulletin 109 to have signage in/around the engine room displaying the following. Some have had this on or near the principle door to the machinery room. Notice neither 4.10.4 nor 4.10.5 of this bulletin say this information has to on the main door or even close to a door to the engine room.
4.10.4 There shall be a legible, permanent sign easily accessible on each refrigerating system displaying the following information:
a) Name and address of the installer
b) The refrigerant number and the amount of refrigerant in the system
c) The lubricant identity and amount
c) The field test pressure(s) applied
(noted above the bulletin has two sections “c” and is believed to be a typo)
4.10.5 A sign or signs should be posted in a conspicuous location providing emergency instructions and phone numbers of emergency safety and operating personnel.
IIARs bulletin 114 has suggest since the early 90’s that a chart also be established and posted of the unique pipe labeling names and color functions of piping is using a color code.
A reference chart that fully explains the ammonia refrigeration piping and component identification markers, including the approved abbreviations, should be placed in areas that are conspicuous to operating personnel. Regardless of the piping color scheme selected, a legend or key to the meaning of the colors should be posted in a conspicuous area. The reference chart, legend, or key should be made of durable material that will remain legible.
A superseding best practice by hierarchy of RAGAGEP and date from the same publishing organization requires the following starting in late 2008. The following is from ANSI/IIAR 2 Standard but from the informative section. What does that mean? It means when a standard such as IIAR has an informative section. This means “it is merely informative and does not contain requirements necessary for the conformance of the standard”.
- Refrigeration Machinery Room – Authorized Personnel Only
- Caution – Ammonia R-717
- Caution – Eye and Ear protection must be worn in this area.
- Warning – When alarms are activated ammonia has been detected (sticker referencing the lights and sirens suggested outside of door of machinery room)
- Signage for the E-Stop of the machinery room and applicable conditions that warrant its uses and whom can active and emergency shutdown.
- Signage for the refrigeration machinery room ventilation activation switch
- NFPA 704 – Ammonia Fire Diamond
If your doors are not labeled just like IIAR’s suggestion that may be OK! Can you defend what labels you have on your door? Do you have controlled access into your machinery rooms? Do you have the ability and a perform an emergency shutdown from outside the engine following a specific procedure and do your employees know the condition that allows them to perform this task? Can you turn your ventilation on manually from outside your engine room doors? Can you see in your engine room before walking in your engine room?
