§ 7011-01 A2L Refrigerating Systems.
RCNY § 7015-01
(a)Scope. Pursuant to footnote c of Table 1103.1 of the New York City Mechanical Code (MC), all refrigerating systems utilizing refrigerants classified into safety group “A2L” by the 2022 edition of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (“ASHRAE”) 34 installed after the effective date of this rule must comply with the requirements of this section.
(b)References. See MC Sections 102.4, 1101.6, 1101.8, 1101.11, 1102.2, 1104.2, 1105.3, 1105.7, 1105.8, 1105.9, 1105.11 and 1108.1 (c) General.
(1)Applicability. Group A2L refrigerating systems must conform to the specific provisions of the 2022 edition of ASHRAE 15 as adopted and modified by 1 RCNY § 7015-02. ASHRAE 15 provisions apply pursuant to Section MC 102.8. Except otherwise stated, ASHRAE 15 does not apply to residential refrigeration systems complying with ASHRAE 15.2 as modified by 1 RCNY § 7015-03.
(2)Changing refrigerant. Refer to ASHRAE 15 Section 5.3.
(3)Signs, nameplates, and operation and emergency shut-down instructions. Signs and identification for Group A2L refrigerant must comply with ASHRAE 15 Section 10.1. Emergency shutdown procedures, including instructions, must comply with ASHRAE 15 Section 10.6. Nameplates must comply with ASHRAE 15 Section 9.17.
(d)System requirements.
(4)Release Mitigation Controls. Release mitigation controls may be used to reduce the releasable charge in accordance with 7.3.4 and 7.6 of ASHRAE 15 such that the Mitigation Releasable Refrigerant Charge (Mrel) as calculated in 7.3.4.3 is less than or equal to the Effective Dispersal Volume Charge (EDVC) calculated in 7.6.
(e)Refrigeration system classification. Refrigerants in safety group “A2L” must be classified in ASHRAE 34, Table 4-1 and 4-2.
(f)System application requirements.
(g)Machinery room.
(ii)A trouble Alarm “FDNY Fault” must generate an output signal when the detection of refrigerant concentration reaches a concentration equal to the occupational exposure limit (OEL) value for such refrigerant as published in ASHRAE 34 and start level 1 ventilation in accordance with ASHRAE 15.
(iii)A supervisory alarm “FDNY Supervisory” must generate an output signal when the detector identifies a malfunctioning component within the system that needs immediate attention.
(iv)The set points for “trouble alarm” and “emergency alarm” must be in accordance with Table 8-1 of ASHRAE 15.
(v)All alarms must annunciate at both a refrigerant detection panel inside the machinery room and at an annunciator panel located outside the machinery room. The annunciator panel located outside the machinery room must display the same information in the panel located inside the machinery room and be installed within 10 feet of the machinery room entrance door, on the premises.
(vi)When refrigerant detectors are installed in buildings without fire alarm systems, such refrigerant detection system must be monitored at a continuously attended location, on the premises, by a person holding a Certificate of Fitness issued by the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) or by an FDNY approved central supervising station with refrigerant detection alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals being transmitted as separate and distinct signals to such FDNY approved central station.
(vii)When refrigerant detectors are installed in buildings with fire alarm systems, such refrigerant detector system may be used in multi-hazard applications.
(viii)When refrigerant detectors are installed in buildings with a building-wide fire alarm system, the refrigerant detector control panel must be monitored by such building-wide fire alarm system and the following signals must be transmitted to the building-wide fire alarm control panel (fire command center or station): (A) Emergency Alarm “FDNY Alarm” (B) Supervisory signal “FDNY Supervisory” (C) Trouble Alarm “FDNY Fault” Each alarm input to the control unit, whether emergency, supervisory or trouble alarm, must be transmitted to the building-wide fire alarm control panel (fire command center or station) at a discrete point, if the building-wide fire alarm system is capable, and the location of an operated initiating device must be visibly indicated by floor, fire zone, or other approved subdivision.
(ix)Where a building is provided with emergency power, refrigerant detection systems must be connected to such emergency power. Where a building is not otherwise provided with emergency power, the power source for emergency power to a refrigerant detection system must be served by an uninterruptable power source (UPS).
(h)Refrigerant piping safety for all group A2L refrigerating systems. Where refrigerant piping penetrates floors, ceilings, or roofs pursuant to Section 1107.2.3 of the NYC Mechanical Code, it must comply with the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subdivision.
(i)Where spaces are connected via natural ventilation, the size of the opening and EDVC must be calculated in accordance with ASHRAE 15 section 7.2.3.2 (ii) Where spaces are connected via ducted air distribution system, the EDVC must be calculated in accordance with ASHRAE 15 section 7.2.3.3 (iii) Where spaces are connected via mechanical ventilation, the EDVC must be calculated in accordance with ASHRAE 15 section 7.2.3.4 (5) Location. Refrigerant piping for Group A2L refrigerants must comply with the location requirements of Section 9.12 of ASHRAE 15. Exception: Refrigerant piping for Group A2L refrigerant may be installed in public corridors if such refrigerant piping and fittings are enclosed in an outer sleeve consisting of piping of the same material. The outer sleeve must be able to hold the design working pressure of the system. Press-fit couplings may be used. In addition to the outer containment piping, refrigerant piping must be further enclosed in construction having a 2-hour fire-resistance rating.
