1106.2 Refrigeration Machinery Room, General

Requirements. Where a refrigeration system is located indoors and a machinery room is required in accordance with Section 1106.1, the machinery room shall be in accordance with Section 1106.2.1 through Section 1106.2.9.1.

1106.2.1 Access. Machinery rooms shall not be prohibited from housing other mechanical equipment unless specifically prohibited elsewhere in this chapter. A machinery room shall be so dimensioned that parts are accessible with space for service, maintenance, and operations. There shall be clear head room of not less than

7.25 feet (2210 mm) below equipment situated over passageways. [ASHRAE 15:8.11.1]

232 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE

REFRIGERATION

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1106.2.2 Openings. Each refrigeration machinery room shall have a tight-fitting door or doors opening outward, self-closing where they open into the building and adequate in number to ensure freedom for persons to escape in an emergency. With the exception of access doors and panels in air ducts and air-handling units in accordance with Section 1106.2.3, there shall be no openings that will permit passage of escaping refrigerant to other parts of the building. [ASHRAE 15:8.11.2]

1106.2.3 Airflow. There shall be no airflow to or from an occupied space through a machinery room unless the air is ducted and sealed in such a manner as to prevent any refrigerant leakage from entering the airstream. Access doors and panels in ductwork and air-handling units shall be gasketed and tight fitting. [ASHRAE 15:8.11.3]

1106.2.4 Restricted Access. Access to the refrigeration machinery room shall be restricted to authorized personnel. Doors shall be clearly marked, or permanent signs shall be posted at each entrance to indicate this restriction. [ASHRAE 15:8.11.4]

1106.2.5 Detectors and Alarms. Each refrigeration machinery room shall contain one or more refrigerant detectors in accordance with Section 1106.2.6, located in areas where refrigerant from a leak will concentrate, that actuate an alarm and mechanical ventilation in accordance with Section 1106.2.7 at a set point not more than the corresponding Occupational Exposure Limit, OEL, in accordance with Table 1102.3, a set point determined in accordance with the OEL as defined in Chapter 2 shall be approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction. The alarm shall annunciate visual and audible alarms inside the refrigeration machinery room and outside each entrance to the refrigeration machinery room. The alarms required in this section shall be of the manual reset type with the reset located inside the refrigeration machinery room. Alarms set at other levels, such as IDLH, and automatic reset alarms shall be permitted in addition to those required in accordance with this section. The meaning of each alarm shall be clearly marked by signage near the annunciator.

Exception: Refrigerant detectors are not required where only systems using R-718 (water) are located in the refrigeration machinery room. For Group A2L and B2L, refrigerant detectors shall comply with Section 1106.11.

1106.2.6 Refrigerant Detectors. Refrigerant detectors required in accordance with Section 1106.2.5 or Section 1107.1.7 shall meet all of the following conditions:

(1) The refrigerant detector shall perform automatic self-testing of sensors. Where a failure is detected, a trouble signal shall be activated.

(2) The refrigerant detector shall have one or more set points to activate responses in accordance with Section 1106.2.5 or Section 1107.1.7.

(3) The refrigerant detector as installed, including any sampling tubes, shall activate responses within a time not to exceed 30 seconds after exposure to refriger

ant concentration exceeding the set point value specified in Section 1106.2.5 or Section 1107.1.7.

1106.2.7 Mechanical Ventilation. Machinery rooms shall be vented to the outdoors, utilizing mechanical ventilation in accordance with Section 1106.2.8 and Section

1106.2.9.

1106.2.8 Ventilation. Mechanical ventilation referred

to in Section 1106.2.7 shall be by one or more powerdriven fans capable of exhausting air from the machinery room at not less than the amount shown in accordance

with Section 1106.2.9.

To obtain a reduced airflow for normal ventilation, multiple fans or multispeed fans shall be used. Provision shall be made to supply makeup air to replace that being exhausted. Ducts for supply and exhaust to the machinery room shall serve no other area. The makeup air supply locations shall be positioned relative to the exhaust air locations to avoid short-circuiting. Inlets to the exhaust ducts shall be located in an area where refrigerant from a leak will concentrate, in consideration of the location of the replacement supply air paths, refrigerating machines, and the density of the refrigerant relative to air.

Inlets to exhaust ducts shall be within 1 foot (305 mm) of the lowest point of the machinery room for refrigerants that are heavier than air, and shall be within 1 foot (305 mm) of the highest point for refrigerants that are lighter than air. The discharge of the exhaust air shall be to the outdoors in such a manner as not to cause a nuisance or danger.

1106.2.9 Emergency Ventilation-Required Air- flow. An emergency ventilation system shall be required to exhaust an accumulation of refrigerant due to leaks or a rupture of the system. The emergency ventilation required shall be capable of removing air from the machinery room in not less than the airflow quantity in Section 1106.2.9.1. Where multiple refrigerants are present, then the highest airflow quantity shall apply.

1106.2.9.1 Ventilation - A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3 Refrigerants. The emergency ventilation for A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 and B3 refrigerants shall have the capacity to provide mechanical exhaust at a rate as determined in accordance with Equation 1106.2.9.1.

Q = 100 √ G (Equation 1106.2.9.1)

Where:

Q = Air flow rate, CFM.

G = Refrigerant mass in largest system, pounds.

For SI units: 1 pound = 0.453 kg, 1 cubic foot per minute =

0.0283 m [3] /min, 1 cubic foot per minute = 0.4719 L/s