MTG.LowGWP WebinarWS-1807September 22, 2016
DRAFT MINUTES
MTG.LowGWP COMMITTEE
WS-1807 Discussion & Possible Approval Vote to Bid
September 22, 2016 Meeting
(Webinar)
Thursday, September 22nd
12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.
- CALL TO ORDER & INTRODUCTIONS
ATTENDEES:
Voting Members / Guests / StaffChair / Jim Wolf / x / Nanette Lockwood / x / Mike Vaughn / x
Vice Chair / Julia Keen / x / Mark Menzer / P
Res. Co-Chair / Brian Fricke / x / John Shonder / P
Res. Co-Chair / Ken Schultz / x / David Yashar / x
Codes & Stds / Phil Johnson
Program / Steve Eckels / x / Alternate 1 / Alternate 2 / Alternate 3 / Alternate 4 / Alternate 5
SSPC 34 / Debra Kennoy / x / Sam Yana-Motta / Chris Seeton / Sean Cunningham
SSPC 15 / Dennis Dorman / Greg Scrivener
TC 1.1 / Ray Rite / Sankar Padhmanabhan / x / Samuel Sami
TC 1.3 / Omar Abdelaziz / x / Satheesh Kulankara / Evraam Gorgy
TC 2.5 / Larry Burns / John Karakash
TC 3.1 / Steve Kujak / x / Barbara Minor / x / Bob Richard / x / Greg Linteris / x / Kenji Takizawa / Bob Low / x
TC 3.2 / Thomas Leck / x / Sonny Sundaresan / Alan Cohen
TC 3.3 / Marc Scancarello / Joe Nigro
TC 3.4 / Joe Karnaz / Danny Halel / Chris Seeton / x
TC 8.2 / Phil Johnson / Konstantinos Kontomaris
TC 8.4 / Vikrant Aute / x / Yirong Jiang / x / Patrick Geoghegan
TC 8.5 / Steve Eckels / x / Satheesh Kulankara
TC 8.7 / Dermot McMorrow / Doug Tucker / x
TC 8.11 / Dutch Uselton / x / Ankit Sethi
TC 10.1 / Doug Scott / x / Dan Dettmers / Wayne Borrowman
TC 10.7 / Brian Fricke / x / Charles Hon / Tim Anderson
AHAM / Wayne Morris / x / Randy Cooper
AHRI / Xudong Wang / x / Karim Amrane
U.L. / Brian Rodgers / x / Scott MacLeod
UNEP / Shamila
Nair-Bedouelle / Ayman Eltalouny
X – Denotes Member, Alternate, Guest, or Staff noted was in attendance for this meeting.
P – Denotes Member, Alternate, Guest, or Staff noted was in attendance for part of this meeting.
Bold–Denotes committee or person was represented in MTG votes at this meeting
a) The ASHRAE Code of Ethics is to be adhered to by those doing ASHRAE business whether or not they are an ASHRAE member.
22 Voting Members Currently – 12 needed for Quorum – Quorum Satisfied
- ADDITIONS AND/OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA - None
- WS – 1807 Discussion and Possible MTG Approval Vote to Bid
(1)WS-1807 (Guidelines for Flammable Refrigerant Handling, Transporting, Storing and Equipment Servicing and Installation) conditionally approved for bid pending incorporation of the suggested edits that were made during today’s meeting. See ATTACHMENT 1 – Revised Version after meeting sent to RAC
MOTION #1 PASSED: 17-0-0-5 (22) CV (Individual Voice votes)
ACTION ITEMS FROM 9/22/16 MEETING
Action Item / Action / Responsible Party / Status1 / Revise WS-1807 based upon suggested edits made during today’s meeting and then pass on to MORTS so RAC can next consider WS-1807 for bid. / Fricke / NEW
ACTION ITEMS FROM 8/22/16 MEETING
Action Item / Action / Responsible Party / Status1 / Seek ASHRAE legal counsel opinion on concern expressed by one of the MTG.LowGWP committee members is about ASHRAE taking on undue liability by documenting the severity (or consequences) of injurious or damaging events that may occur when using a flammable refrigerant in an HVACR system. / MORTS / Complete
ASHRAE Legal Counsel Opinion: “Generally, we think it is fine for ASHRAE’s committee to conduct the proposed analysis re: refrigerant combustion and severity risk. With regard to potential liability, there is a strong argument that ASHRAE’s voluntary standards do not create a duty of care on ASHRAE for end users. Even if ASHRAE owed a duty of care to end users, we think it is arguably reasonable for ASHRAE to take severity into account in this analysis, and thus doing so would not violate the duty of care that is typically owed.”
ACTION ITEMS FROM 7/28/16 MEETING
Action Item / Action / Responsible Party / Status1 / Incorporate suggested edits/additions from committee members into draft minutes from St. Louis Meeting and recirculate for letter ballot approval vote. / Staff / Complete 7/31/16
2 / Send preferred subcommittee assignment(s), if not done already, to Secretary (Mike Vaughn) in ranked order. / MTG members / Complete
3 / Work with subcommittee to develop regular subcommittee meeting plan and notify chair, vice chair, and staff / MTG Subc. Chairs / On-going
4 / Extend an invitation to TC 8.7 (Variable Refrigerant Flow – VRF) Chair, Dermot McMorrow, to join MTG. / Chair Wolf / Completed
7/30/16
5 / Check AHRTI research archive to determine what, if any, research has been done on A3 refrigerants (Possible project done approx. 20 years ago) / Xudong Wang / On-Going
6 / Research Subcommittee is still in need of more members. If interested in serving, please notify Research Co-Chairs and staff () / MTG members / Complete
7 / Send current and updated drafts of WSs 1806, 1807, and 1808 to all members of MTG and to AHRTI Flammable Refrigerant Subcommittee for information and possible feedback after content is inserted into ASHRAE WS template. In addition, prepare for discussion draft timelines for 1807 and 1808 projects / Research Co-chairs / 1806, 1807 Complete
1808
On-Going
8 / Xudong submit program submission by 8/8/16 deadline – Research Co-Chairs present the update on ASHRAE flammable refrigerant projects in Las Vegas / Xudong Wang & Research Co-chairs / Complete
9 / Work with Steve Ferguson (ASHRAE Staff) to establish liaison between MTG and Standards Committee - CIS / Phil Johnson / On-Going
Kennoy Interim Liaison
MEETING ADJOURNED – 12:38 PM EDT, Thursday, 9/22/16
ATTACHMENT 1WS-1807-v4
WORK STATEMENT COVER SHEET / Date: / 25 September 2016 – Revised version after 9/22meeting(Please Check to Insure the Following Information is in the Work Statement )
A. Title / x / Title: Guideline 36Validation of RP-1455 Advanced Control Sequences for HVAC Systems – Air Distribution and Terminal SystemsValidation of RP-1455 Advanced Control Sequences for HVAC Systems – Air Distribution and Terminal SystemsValidation of RP-1455 Advanced Control Sequences for HVAC Systems – Air Distribution and Terminal Systems
B Executive Summary / x / Guidelines for Flammable Refrigerant Handling, Transporting, Storing and Equipment Servicing, Installation and Dismantling
C. Applicability to ASHRAE Research Strategic Plan / x
D. Application of the Results / x
E. State-of-the-Art (background) / x
F. Advancement to State-of-the-Art / x
G. Justification and Value to ASHRAE / x / WS# / 1807
H. Objective / x / (To be assigned by MORTS - Same as RTAR #)
I. Scope / x
J. Deliverables/Where Results will be Published / x
K. Level of Effort / Results of this Project will affect the following Handbook Chapters,
Project Duration in Months / x / Special Publications, etc.:
Professional-Months: Principal Investigator / deline 36
Professional-Months: Total / Standard 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems
Estimated $ Value / x / Standard 15.2P, Safety Standard for Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump
L Proposal Evaluation Criteria & Weighting Factors / x / Systems in Residential Applications (Proposed)
M. References / x
N. Other Information to Bidders ((optional) / (Optional)
Responsible TC/TG: / MTG.LowGWP / Date of Vote: / 9/22/16
For / 17 / This W/S has been coordinated with TC/TG/SSPC (give vote and date):
Against / * / 0
Abstaining / * / 0
Absent or not returning Ballot / * / 5
Total Voting Members / 22 / Has RTAR been submitted? / NO
Strategic Plan
Work Statement Authors: / ** / Theme/Goals
AHRTI, Brian Fricke, , D. Kennoy, B. Minor, W. Morris, D. Scott, D. Uselton
TC 0.0
Proposal Evaluation Subcommittee: / Project Monitoring Subcommittee:
Chair: / Brian Fricke (if appropriate and no objections?) / (If different from Proposal Evaluation Subcommittee)
Members: / Xudong Wang (AHRI) / Same as PES
Wayne Morris and/or Randy Cooper (AHAM)
Recommended Bidders (name, address, e-mail, tel. number): **
** / Potential Co-funders (organization, contact person information):
Navigant Consulting, Inc.
30 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: 312.583.5700
ICF International, Inc.
9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031 Tel: 703.934.3000
(Three qualified bidders must be recommended, not including WS authors.)
Yes / No / How Long (weeks)
Is an extended bidding period needed? / X
Has an electronic copy been furnished to the MORTS? / X
Will this project result in a special publication? / X
Has the Research Liaison reviewed work statement? / X
* Reasons for negative vote(s) and abstentions
WORK STATEMENT#
Title:
Guidelines for Flammable Refrigerant Handling, Transporting, Storing and Equipment Servicing, Installation and DismantlingSponsoring TC/TG/MTG/SSPC:
MTG.LowGWPCo-Sponsoring TC/TG/MTG/SSPCs (List only TC/TG/MTG/SSPCs that have voted formal support)
Executive Summary:
The next generation of lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants come with the caveat of being flammable. The new hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants and many of their blends with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have lower flammability with low burning velocity and an ASHRAE Standard 34 classification of A2L. Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, such as propane and the butanes, have higher flammability and a classification of A3. Guidance to the HVAC&R industry, in the form of best practice guidelines and updated safety standards and codes, is needed to promote the safe use of the next generation A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants.One deficiency identified by the North American HVAC&R industry is the lack of information related to potential issues associated with handling, storing and transporting A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants, as well as installing, servicing, maintaining, decommissioning and dismantling equipment containing these refrigerants. Several countries outside the U.S. are adopting the use of such flammable refrigerants, however their specific requirements for safe handling and use are unknown to the US HVAC&R industry.
This project addresses need to develop requirements and guidelines for the safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance, decommissioning and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants. Guidance will also be provided regarding the safe handling, storing and transporting of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants. In addition to providing consistent general handling requirements for flammable refrigerants in all sectors, the requirements and guidelines resulting from this project will inform proposed changes to ASHRAE Standard 15, UL/IEC 60335-2-40 and ISO-5149 (including refrigerant charge limits and mitigation strategies), and will assist with the development of the proposed ASHRAE Standard 15.2P, Safety Standard for Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems in Residential Applications.
Applicability to the ASHRAE Research Strategic Plan:
The outcomes of this research project directly support the following goals which are defined in the ASHRAE Research Strategic Plan:Goal 8: Facilitate the use of natural and low global warming potential (GWP) synthetic refrigerants and seek methods to reduce their charge.
Goal 9: Support the development of improved HVAC&R components ranging from residential through commercial to provide improved system efficiency, affordability, reliability and safety.
Application of Results:
The results of this project will consist of requirements and guidelines for the safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants. These requirements and guidelines will be used to guide the US HVAC&R industry and inform technicians of the best practices for safely implementing A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants, thereby assuring the safety of property and personnel. In addition, the requirements and guidelines developed in this project will inform proposed changes to ASHRAE Standard 15, UL/IEC 60335-2-40 and ISO-5149 (including refrigerant charge limits and mitigation strategies), and assist with the development of the proposed ASHRAE Standard 15.2.State-of-the-Art (Background):
With the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants, manufacturers turned to hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) as substitutes. The zero ozone-depleting potential (ODP) of HFCs is appealing; however, many HFCs have relatively high global warming potentials (GWPs). As pressure grows to phase down the use of HFCs because of their high GWPs, the next generation of low GWP refrigerants being considered (HFOs and blends of HFOs with HFCs) have lower flammability with an ASHRAE Standard 34 classification of A2L with laminar burning velocities (LBV) less than or equal to 10 cm/s. These lower flammability refrigerants may pose a safety concern when used in equipment not originally designed for flammable refrigerants. In addition, hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants are receiving consideration due to their zero ODP and relatively low GWP. However, HC refrigerants have higher flammability, with an ASHRAE classification of A3.In order to support safety codes and standards activities related to the use of flammable refrigerants, the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Institute, Inc. (AHRTI) Flammable Refrigerants Subcommittee (FRS) conducted a survey of committees and working groups investigating the use of flammable refrigerants in HVAC&R equipment. The focus of the survey was to identify knowledge gaps related to the use of flammable refrigerants. One deficiency identified through the survey and through the completed AHRI Research Project 8004 is the lack of information related to the potential issues associated with installing, servicing, maintaining and dismantling equipment containing flammable refrigerants. Note that in the US, flammable refrigerants are specifically forbidden in “direct” air conditioning applications by product safety standards, and very limited use exists today in indirect air conditioning as well as residential refrigeration and self-contained residential air-conditioning applications.
ASHRAE Standard 15 and ISO 5149-4 have very limited requirements for the safe handling, installation, servicing and maintenance of flammable refrigerants and products containing flammable refrigerants. Several U.S. regulations and codes may include pertinent informationregarding the transportation and storage of flammable chemicals, including 29 CFR 1910.119 (OSHA), 49 CFR 173 (DOT), NFPA 55, NFPA 70 and NFPA 497.
Several countries outside the U.S. are adopting the use of flammable refrigerants, however their specific requirements for safe handling and use (outside of ISO 5149-4) are generally unknown to the US HVAC&R industry. Notwithstanding, it is anticipated that in December 2016, the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (JRAIA) will be publishing standards and guidelines applicable to the use of flammable refrigerants, including JRA 4048, JRA GL-14, JRA GL-15, and JRA GL-20.
This project addresses need to develop requirements and guidelines for the safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance, decommissioning and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants.
Advancement to the State-of-the-Art:
Although flammable refrigerants have been used in select applications in Europe and Asia, they have had very limited commercial use in North America. It is necessary to fully understand the best practices that have been developed by those countries which are currently utilizing A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants, and to develop guidelines for flammable refrigerant handling, storing and transporting, as well as equipment servicing, installation and dismantling that are specific to North American applications. The intent of this effort is to compile all of the current best practices related to flammable refrigerants (A2, A2L and A3) and to prepare guidelines that will provide critical inputs to relevant safety standards such as ASHRAE Standard 15 and 15.2P as well as UL/IEC 60335-2-40 and CANENA/UL 60335-2-24.Justification and Value to ASHRAE:
Currently, the working groups of ASHRAE Standards 15 and 15.2 as well as UL/IEC 60335-2-40 are finalizing the development of appropriate requirements for the safe handling of A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants. It is important for the HVAC&R industry to have consistent general handling requirements for these flammable refrigerants in all sectors.This proposed project will investigate current information related to installation practices as well as servicing and handling aspects for all equipment that use A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants. There are varied skill levels that exist within the HVAC&R industry in the US, and introduction of flammable refrigerants could increase the need for specialized processes, training, and/or certifications as part of risk mitigation.
The intent of this investigation is to provide recommendations for the use of A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants which can be used to define consistent handling practices across all sectors of mechanical vapor compression equipment, whether supplied new or retrofitted. This project will also provide information which will be useful in benchmarking as industry standards are being developed, including ASHRAE Standards 15 and 15.2 as well as UL/IEC 60335-2-40.
The results of this research will be useful for the following:
1)Complementing the next ASHRAE Standard 15 code cycle and follow-on revisions to building codes since they will address the use of A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants.
2)Benchmarking/validating risk when compared to existing equipment/refrigerants.
3)Determining the type of, or need for, special procedures, training, tooling, and/or hazard mitigation equipment required for A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants.
4)Increasing confidence when using class A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants in equipment, with or possibly without additional hazard mitigation strategies.
This project will provide key information required to safely implement A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants in HVAC&R equipment. This project will also recommend benchmark practices that assure safety of property and personnel involved with handling A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants.
Objectives:
The objectives of this project include the following:a)Identify flammable refrigerant safety guidelines and/or requirements that exist in countries other than the US that already permit the use of flammable refrigerants in residential air conditioning, commercial air conditioning and large refrigeration systems,
b)Identify existing pertinent literature or requirements in addition to ASHRAE Standard 15, UL/IEC 60335-2-40, and ISO 5149-4, and
c)Propose requirements/guidelines for the safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance, decommissioning and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants. These requirements/guidelines will in turn support the revision of relevant ASHRAE and UL/IEC safety standards.
Scope/Technical Approach:
The scope of this study is focused on installing, servicing, maintaining, decommissioning and dismantling all types of HVAC&R equipment using A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants. Products include but are not limited to chillers, commercial refrigeration systems, commercial and residential air conditioner/heat pump (AC/HP) products, dehumidification products, etc. All tasks are specifically limited to HVAC&R equipment using A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants.The specific tasks include the following:
Task 1. Review Requirements/Best Practices for A2/A2L/A3 Refrigerants from Countries Outside US
The contractor will review and collect information on requirements and/or best practices guidelines for safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for installing, servicing, decommissioning and dismantling HVAC&R equipment for both stationary and mobile applications, from countries where A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants are used in the field. Any technician licensing or certification requirements for handling A2, A2L or A3 refrigerants in these countries will be collected. Any mechanical differences related to system handling such as different piping connections (thread size, turns, etc.) should be included. Countries/regions such as Japan, India, China, Australia and Europe are of particular interest since these countries allow the use of flammable refrigerants. For example, some chiller applications in Europe use the A2L refrigerant R-1234ze, so best practice guidelines for using this refrigerant may be available. In addition, the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association will soon be publishing standards and guidelines, including JRA 4048, JRA GL-14, JRA GL-15, and JRA GL-20, which may be applicable to flammable refrigerants.
The contractor will provide a list of the codes and standards, along with a summary of the relevant requirements from those countries that have set requirements for handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants, as well as installation, servicing and dismantling of equipment containing flammable refrigerants. The review will also include guidelines or manuals from major product manufacturers, as well as refrigerant labeling requirements.
Task 2. Review Relevant US Requirements/Standards
The contractor will review the current refrigerant handling, transporting, storing and equipment installation, servicing, decommissioning and dismantling requirements as defined in relevant US regulations and standards, such as ASHRAE Standard 15, UL/IEC 60335-2-40, 29 CFR 1910.119 (OSHA), 49 CFR 173 (DOT), NFPA 55, NFPA 70 and NFPA 497. Information related to safe handling, storing and transporting of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants will also be collected. The current general practice of technicians, and guidelines/manuals from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the US will be reviewed and summarized. It is anticipated that this task will require field study and surveying of relevant servicing companies, OEMs, and relevant trade associations such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association (ACCA), The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA). The information related to the current practice for installation, servicing, handling, storage and transportation of refrigerants will serve as the basis for developing new guidelines relevant to flammable refrigerants.
Task 3. Develop Requirements/Guidelines for A2/A2L/A3 Refrigerants
Based on the results of Tasks 1 and 2, the contractor will propose requirements/guidelines related to the safe handling, storing and transporting of flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance, decommissioning and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants.
Building on the requirements and practices developed by other countries, the contractor will recommend two sets of requirements/guidelines for the safe handling of flammable refrigerants and equipment containing flammable refrigerants. One set of guidelines will be specifically relevant to US applications and the other set will be aimed at general guidelines which could be used/considered by other countries or regions in the future. Both sets of guidelines will consider a wide range of HVAC&R applications, equipment with different charge levels (as charge size may require different tools, detection methods, etc.) and locations where the equipment is installed. Any difference in handling requirements between A2, A2L and A3 refrigerants should be clearly delineated in the guidelines.
Task 4. Identify Testing to Confirm Proposed Requirements
The contractor will identify the testing that is required to confirm the proposed requirements/guidelines for safely handling, storing and transporting flammable refrigerants and HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants, as well as for the installation, servicing, maintenance, decommissioning and dismantling of HVAC&R equipment containing flammable refrigerants. A separate project may be initiated to conduct this testing, if required.
Deliverables/Where Results Will Be Published: