Section 3 Refrigerating machinery and refrigerant storage compartment arrangements

3.1.1 Compartments containing refrigerating machinery and refrigerant storage compartments are to comply with the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 11, Ch 4 Refrigeration System Arrangements.

3.2.1 Components intended for use with a primary refrigerant are to be subject to strength and leak pressure tests as detailed in Table 2.3.1 Test pressure.

3.2.2 Component strength pressure tests are to be hydraulic or, where suitable safety measures are taken, may be pneumatic. The latter is to be carried out with a suitable dry inert gas.

3.2.3 Component leakage pressure tests are to be carried out only after completion of satisfactory strength pressure tests. Pneumatic pressure is to be applied using a suitable dry inert gas.

3.2.4 Components for use with a secondary refrigerant or cooling water are to be hydraulically tested to 1,5 times the design pressure, which in no case is to be less than 3,5 bar g.

3.3.1 For primary refrigerant piping welded in place, strength pressure tests of the welds are to be carried out at a test pressure of 1,5p. This will normally take the form of a pneumatic test since hydraulic testing media such as water are not acceptable due to their incompatibility with the primary refrigerants and the difficulty of removing all traces from a completed system.

3.3.2 Pneumatic pressure tests are to be carried out using a suitable inert gas. All pneumatic tests are potentially dangerous and due precautions are to be observed.

3.3.3 Where pneumatic tests are prohibited by relevant authorities, the tests required by Vol 3, Pt 1, Ch 2, 3.2 Pressure testing at manufacturers' works 3.2.1 and Vol 3, Pt 1, Ch 2, 3.2 Pressure testing at manufacturers' works 3.2.2 may be omitted provided non-destructive examination has been carried out by an approved operator to the satisfaction of LR and in accordance with the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 1, Ch 4, 6 Non-Destructive Examination.

3.3.4 After completion of the test required by Vol 3, Pt 1, Ch 2, 3.2 Pressure testing at manufacturers' works 3.2.1, Vol 3, Pt 1, Ch 2, 3.2 Pressure testing at manufacturers' works 3.2.2 or Vol 3, Pt 1, Ch 2, 3.2 Pressure testing at manufacturers' works 3.2.3, a leak pressure test is to be carried out using a suitable inert gas at a pressure equal to the design pressure, in the presence of the Surveyor.

3.3.5 Secondary refrigerant piping welded in place is to be hydraulically tested to 1,5 times the design pressure, which in no case is to be less than 3,5 bar g.