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Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION

1116.2 Field Tests.

California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

Refrigerant-containing parts of a system that is field-erected shall be tested and proved tight after complete installation and before the operation. The high and low sides of each system shall be tested and proved tight at not less than the lower of the pressure in Table 1116.2 or the setting of the pressure-relief device.

(1) Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, or a combination of

them with nonflammable refrigerant in concentrations of a refrigerant weight fraction (mass fraction) not exceeding 5 percent shall be permitted for tests. (2) Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, or a combination of

them with flammable refrigerants in concentrations not

(2) Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, or a combination of

them with flammable refrigerants in concentrations not exceeding the lower of a refrigerant weight fraction (mass fraction) of 5 percent or 25 percent of the LFL shall be permitted for tests. (3) Compressed air without added refrigerants shall be per mitted for tests, provided the system is subsequently

Compressed air without added refrigerants shall be per mitted for tests, provided the system is subsequently evacuated to less than 1000 microns (0.1333 kPa) before charging with refrigerant. The required evacuation level is atmospheric pressure for systems using R-718 (water) or R-744 (carbon dioxide) as the refrigerant.

2019 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 225

REFRIGERATION any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or parti es.

(4) Systems erected on the premises using Group A1 refrig erant and with copper tubing not exceeding 0.62 of an inch (15.7 mm) outside diameter shall be tested by means of the refrigerant charged into the system at the saturated vapor pressure of the refrigerant at not less than 68°F (20°C). [ASHRAE 15:10.1.2]

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▸Contents — California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — VENTILATION AIR
  5. Chapter 5 — EXHAUST SYSTEMS
  6. Chapter 6 — DUCT SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — COMBUSTION AIR
  8. Chapter 8 — CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
  9. Chapter 9 — INSTALLATION OF SPECIFIC APPLIANCES
  10. Chapter 10 — BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
  11. ▸Chapter 11 — REFRIGERATION
    Overview
    1. 1103.3 Higher Flammability Refrigerants. Group A3
    2. 1101.1 Applicability. 1101.0 General. Part I governs the desig…
    3. 1101.2 Equipment. Equipment for refrigerant recovery,
    4. 1102.1 General.1102.0 Refrigeration Systems. Refrigeration sys…
    5. 1102.2 Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. Refrigeration
    6. 1102.3 Refrigerants. The refrigerant used shall be of a type
    7. 1103.1 Classification of Refrigerants. 1103.0 Classification. …
    8. 1104.1 System Selection. tion System Use. Refrigeration system…
    9. 1104.2 Refrigerant Concentration Limit. The concentration of r…
    10. 1104.5 Flammable Refrigerants. The total of Group A2,
    11. 1104.6 Applications for Human Comfort and for Non-industrial O…
    12. 1104.7 Refrigerant Type and Purity. Refrigerants shall
    13. 1104.3 Institutional Occupancies. The RCL value
    14. 1104.8 Changing Refrigerants. A change in the type of
    15. 1105.2 Supports and Anchorage. Supports and anchorage for refr…
    16. 1105.3 Access. An unobstructed readily accessible opening and …
    17. 1105.4 Illumination and Service Receptacles. In addition to th…
    18. 1105.6 Prohibited Locations. Refrigeration systems or
    19. 1105.7 Condensate. Condensate from air-cooling coils
    20. 1105.8 Defrost. Where defrost cycles are required for portions…
    21. 1105.9 Overflows. Where condensate or defrost liquids are
    22. 1105.11 Refrigerant Port Protection. Air conditioning
    23. 1105.12 Storage. Refrigerants and refrigerant oils not
    24. 1106.5 Combustion Air. No open flames that use combustion air …
    25. 1106.6 Airflow. There shall be no airflow to or from an occupi…
    26. 1106.7 Ventilation Intake. Makeup air intakes to replace
    27. 1106.8 Maximum Temperature. Ventilation or mechanical
    28. 1106.9 Refrigerant Parts in Air Duct. Joints and refrigerant-c…
    29. 1106.3 Normal Operation. A part of the refrigeration
    30. 1106.4 Natural Ventilation. Where a refrigerating system
    31. 1108.2 Electrical. Electrical equipment and installations shall
    32. 1108.3 Emergency Shut-off. A clearly identified emergency shut…
    33. 1106.10 Dimensions. Refrigeration machinery rooms shall
    34. 1106.11 Restricted Access. Access to the refrigeration
    35. 1106.12 Exits. Exits shall comply with the building code for
    36. 1107.0 Machinery Room, Special Requirements.1107.1 General. In…
    37. 1108.4 Installation, Maintenance, and Testing. Detection and a…
    38. 1108.5 Emergency Pressure Control System. Where
    39. 1109.1 Materials. 1109.0 Refrigeration Piping, Containers, and…
    40. 1109.2 Joints. Iron or steel pipe joints shall be of approved
    41. 1109.3 Penetration of Piping. Refrigerant piping shall not
    42. 1109.4 Location of Refrigeration Piping. Refrigerant
    43. 1109.5 Underground Piping. Refrigerant piping placed
    44. 1109.6 Support. In addition to the requirements of Section
    45. 1109.7 Pipe Enclosure. Refrigerant piping and tubing
    46. 1109.8 Visual Inspection. Refrigerant piping and joints
    47. 1109.9 Condensation. Piping and fittings that convey
    48. 1109.10 Identification. Piping shall be in accordance with
    49. 1110.4 Access. Stop valves required by Section 1110.0 shall
    50. 1110.5 Identification. Stop valves shall be identified by tagg…
    51. 1111.1 Where Required.1111.0 Pressure-Limiting Devices. Pressu…
    52. 1111.2 Setting. Pressure limiting devices shall be set in
    53. 1110.2 More than 110 Pounds of Refrigerant. Systems
    54. 1110.3 Support. Stop valves installed in copper refrigerant
    55. 1111.3 Location. Stop valves shall not be installed between
    56. 1111.4 Emergency Stop. Activation of a pressure limiting
    57. 1112.2 Positive Displacement Compressor. A positive
    58. 1112.5 Hydrostatic Expansion. Pressure rise resulting
    59. 1112.6 Actuation. Pressure-relief devices shall be directpress…
    60. 1112.3 Liquid-Containing Portions of Systems. Liquid-containin…
    61. 1112.4 Evaporators. Heat exchanger coils located downstream, o…
    62. 1112.7 Stop Valves Prohibited. Stop valves shall not be
    63. 1112.8 Location. Pressure-relief devices shall be connected
    64. 1112.9 Materials. The seats and discs of pressure-relief
    65. 1112.10 Pressure-Relief Device Settings. Pressure-relief
    66. 1112.11 Discharge from Pressure-Relief Devices. Pressure-relie…
    67. 1112.12 Discharge Piping. The piping used for pressurerelief d…
    68. 1113.2 Type of Protection. Pressure vessels with an internal g…
    69. 1113.3 Discharging into Lowside of System. For pressure-relief…
    70. 1113.4 Parallel Pressure-Relief Devices. Two or more
    71. 1113.5 Discharge Capacity. The minimum required discharge capa…
    72. 1112.13 Rating of Pressure-Relief Device. The rated
    73. 1114.0 Special Discharge Requirements.1114.1 General. Systems …
    74. 1114.2 Design Requirements. Flaring devices shall be
    75. 1114.3 Testing. Flaring systems shall be tested to demonstrate…
    76. 1113.6 Three-Way Valve. Pressure vessels of 10 cubic feet
    77. 1115.1 General. 1115.0 Labeling and Identification. In additio…
    78. 1115.2 Volume and Type. A condenser, receiver, absorber,
    79. 1115.3 Permanent Sign. In a refrigeration machinery room
    80. 1115.4 Marking of Pressure-Relief Devices. Pressurerelief valv…
    81. 1116.1 Factory Tests. 1116.0 Testing of Refrigeration Equipmen…
    82. 1116.3 Test Gases. Tests shall be performed with dry nitrogen …
    83. 1116.2 Field Tests. Refrigerant-containing parts of a system t…
    84. 1116.4 Declaration. A dated declaration of test shall be provi…
    85. 1116.5 Brine Systems. Brine-containing portions of a system sh…
    86. 1117.1 Inside Dimensions 6 inches or Less.1117.0 Refrigerant-C…
    87. 1117.2 Inside Dimensions More than 6 inches. Pressure vessels …
    88. 1117.3 Pressure Vessels for 15 psig or Less. Pressure
    89. 1122.2 Automated Control of Cycles of Concentra-tion. Cooling …
    90. 1123.1 General. 1123.0 Location. Cooling towers, evaporative c…
    91. 1124.1 General. 1124.0 Electrical. Electrical systems shall be…
    92. 1125.1 General. 1125.0 Refrigerants and Hazardous Fluids. Equi…
    93. 1126.0 Drift Eliminators.1126.1 General. Cooling towers, evapo…
  12. Chapter 12 — HYDRONICS
  13. Chapter 13 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  14. Chapter 14 — PROCESS PIPING
  15. Chapter 15 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 16 — STATIONARY POWER PLANTS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RESIDENTIAL PLAN EXAMINER REVIEW FORM FOR HVAC SY…
  19. Appendix B — PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO PLACE GAS EQUIPMENT …
  20. Appendix C — INSTALLATION AND TESTING OF OIL (LIQUID) FUEL-FIR…
  21. Appendix D — FUEL SUPPLY: MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND R…
  22. Appendix E — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  23. Appendix F — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION …
  24. Appendix G — EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF OUTDOOR AIR RATE

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