© ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only.

Additional reproduction, distribution,

or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission.

ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 15

Cognizant TCs: TC 10.1, Custom Engineered Refrigeration Systems,
and TC 9.1, Large Building Air-Conditioning Systems
SPLS Liaison: Mark P. Modera
Staff Liaison: Douglas K. Tucker
Dennis R. Dorman, Chair Paul L. Doppel Douglas T. Reindl
Martin L. Timm, Vice Chair Stephen W. Duda Brian J. Rodgers
Gregory A. Scrivener, Secretary Danny M. Halel Jeffrey M. Shapiro
A. Bruce Badger Phillip A. Johnson Eric M. Smith
Els Baert Jay A. Kohler Ganesan Sundaresan
Wayne K. Borrowman C. Dominic Kolandayan Russell C. Tharp
James M. Calm Scott M. MacBain, Sr. Ronald P. Vallort
Jim Caylor Chun-cheng Piao John I. Vucci
Kyle D. Wessells

ASHRAE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 2013–2014

William F. Walter, Chair David R. Conover Malcolm D. Knight
Richard L. Hall, Vice-Chair John F. Dunlap Rick A. Larson
Karim Amrane James W. Earley, Jr. Mark P. Modera
Joseph R. Anderson Steven J. Emmerich Cyrus H. Nasseri
James Dale Aswegan Julie M. Ferguson Janice C. Peterson
Charles S. Barnaby Krishnan Gowri Heather L. Platt
Steven F. Bruning Cecily M. Grzywacz Douglas T. Reindl
John A. Clark Rita M. Harrold Julia A. Keen, BOD ExO
Waller S. Clements Adam W. Hinge Thomas E. Werkema, Jr., CO
Debra H. Kennoy

Stephanie C. Reiniche, Manager of Standards

SPECIAL NOTE
This American National Standard (ANS) is a national voluntary consensus standard developed under the auspices of ASHRAE.
Consensus is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), of which ASHRAE is a member and which has approved this
standard as an ANS, as “substantial agreement reached by directly and materially affected interest categories. This signifies the concurrence
of more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an
effort be made toward their resolution.” Compliance with this standard is voluntary until and unless a legal jurisdiction makes compliance
mandatory through legislation.
ASHRAE obtains consensus through participation of its national and international members, associated societies, and public review.
ASHRAE Standards are prepared by a Project Committee appointed specifically for the purpose of writing the Standard. The Project
Committee Chair and Vice-Chair must be members of ASHRAE; while other committee members may or may not be ASHRAE members, all
must be technically qualified in the subject area of the Standard. Every effort is made to balance the concerned interests on all Project
Committees.
The Manager of Standards of ASHRAE should be contacted for:
a. interpretation of the contents of this Standard,
b. participation in the next review of the Standard,
c. offering constructive criticism for improving the Standard, or
d. permission to reprint portions of the Standard.

DISCLAIMER
ASHRAE uses its best efforts to promulgate Standards and Guidelines for the benefit of the public in light of available information and
accepted industry practices. However, ASHRAE does not guarantee, certify, or assure the safety or performance of any products, components,
or systems tested, installed, or operated in accordance with ASHRAE’s Standards or Guidelines or that any tests conducted under its
Standards or Guidelines will be nonhazardous or free from risk.

ASHRAE INDUSTRIAL ADVERTISING POLICY ON STANDARDS

ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines are established to assist industry and the public by offering a uniform method of testing for rating
purposes, by suggesting safe practices in designing and installing equipment, by providing proper definitions of this equipment, and by providing
other information that may serve to guide the industry. The creation of ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines is determined by the need for them,
and conformance to them is completely voluntary.
In referring to this Standard or Guideline and in marking of equipment and in advertising, no claim shall be made, either stated or implied,
that the product has been approved by ASHRAE.
 © ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only. Additional reproduction, distribution,
or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission.

CONTENTS
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013,
Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems
SECTION PAGE
Foreword .....................................................................................................................................................................2
1 Purpose.............................................................................................................................................................3
2 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................3
3 Definitions .........................................................................................................................................................3
4 Occupancy Classification ..................................................................................................................................5
5 Refrigerating System Classification ..................................................................................................................6
6 Refrigerant Safety Classification .......................................................................................................................7
7 Restrictions on Refrigerant Use ........................................................................................................................7
8 Installation Restrictions .....................................................................................................................................9
9 Design and Construction of Equipment and Systems.....................................................................................11
10 Operation and Testing .....................................................................................................................................22
11 General Requirements ....................................................................................................................................22
12 Precedence with Conflicting Requirements.....................................................................................................23
13 Listed Equipment.............................................................................................................................................23
Informative Appendix A—Informative References ................................................................................................24
Normative Appendix B—Normative References ...................................................................................................24
Informative Appendix C—Method for Calculating Discharge Capacity of
Positive Displacement Compressor Pressure-Relief Device .............................................................25
Normative Appendix D—Allowable Equivalent Length of Discharge Piping .........................................................27
Informative Appendix E—Emergencies in Refrigerating Machinery Rooms .........................................................28
Informative Appendix F—Addenda Description Information .................................................................................30

NOTE

Approved addenda, errata, or interpretations for this standard can be downloaded free of charge from the ASHRAE
Web site at www.ashrae.org/technology.

© 2013 ASHRAE
1791 Tullie Circle NE · Atlanta, GA 30329 · www.ashrae.org · All rights reserved.
ASHRAE is a registered trademark of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
ANSI is a registered trademark of the American National Standards Institute.
 © ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only. Additional reproduction, distribution,
or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission.

(This foreword is not part of this standard. It is merely ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 147, Reducing the Release of Halo-
informative and does not contain requirements necessary genated Refrigerants from Refrigerating and Air-Condition-
for conformance to the standard. It has not been pro- ing Equipment and Systems.2
cessed according to the ANSI requirements for a standard The hazards of refrigerants are related to their physical
and may contain material that has not been subject to and chemical characteristics as well as to the pressures and
public review or a consensus process. Unresolved objec- temperatures that occur in refrigerating and air-conditioning
tors on informative material are not offered the right to systems. Personal injury and property damage from inadequate
appeal at ASHRAE or ANSI.) precautions may occur from a number of origins, such as
FOREWORD • rupture of a part with risk from flying debris;
ASHRAE Standard 15-2013 is the most recent edition of • release of refrigerant from a fracture, due to a leaking
one of ASHRAE’s oldest standards. Standard 15 is under con- seal or incorrect operation; or
tinuous maintenance, which means it is modified and updated • fire resulting from or intensified by burning or deflagra-
based on feedback from users, changes in the science originat- tion of escaping refrigerant or lubricant.
ing from ASHRAE and industry research, and industry changes
that respond to the global interest in improved environmental Personal injury resulting from the accidental release of
responsibility. Interested parties can recommend changes to the refrigerants may also occur from
standard by submitting a change proposal using the continuous
• suffocation from heavier-than-air refrigerants in inade-
maintenance form included in the back of the standard. Stan-
quately ventilated spaces;
dard 15-2013 includes all of the published addenda to the 2010
version as shown in Informative Appendix F. • narcotic and cardiac sensitization effects;
ASHRAE Standard 15 must be used with its sister stan- • toxic effects of vapor or the decomposition products due
dard, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34, Designation and Safety to vapor contact with flames or hot surfaces;
Classification of Refrigerants.1 Standard 34 prescribes the • corrosive attack on the eyes, skin, or other tissue; or
Refrigerant Classification System, as well as refrigerant con-
• freezing of tissue by contact with liquid.
centration limits (RCL), that are vitally important in applying
this standard. Although changes to Standard 15 are closely Care should be taken to avoid stagnant pockets of refrig-
coordinated with those to Standard 34, users of Standard 15 erant vapors by properly locating ventilation supply air inlets
should also review the most recent version of Standard 34 and and exhaust outlets. All commonly used refrigerants, except
its associated addenda for the latest information related to ammonia (R-717) and water (R-718), are heavier than air.
refrigerant designations and safety classifications. Leaked refrigerant vapor will concentrate near the floor if
ASHRAE Standard 15 gives a method for determining the undisturbed. Floor-level exhaust-air outlets are appropriate
amount of refrigerant in a given space that, when exceeded, for heavier-than-air refrigerants. The user’s manual may pro-
requires a machinery room. When a refrigerant is not classi- vide useful guidance for the design of ventilation systems and
fied in ASHRAE Standard 34 or its addenda, it is the respon- the location of supply air inlets and exhaust outlets.
sibility of the owner of a refrigerating system to make this The following short publishing history of this code traces
judgment. the origins of these safety provisions. In 1919, the American
Users of ASHRAE Standard 15 may also find it useful to Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) proposed a Tenta-
refer to the Standard 15-2001 User’s Manual. The user’s man- tive Code for the Regulation of Refrigerating Machines and
ual was developed as a companion document to ASHRAE Refrigerants. Over the next 11 years, representatives from the
Standard 15. Though it does not reflect the addenda and American Gas Association, American Institute of Electrical
changes incorporated into Standard 15 since its original pub- Engineers, American Institute of Refrigeration, American
lication, it still serves to clarify the intent of the standard and Chemical Society, American Society of Heating and Ventila-
provides an explanation of the rationale behind its creation. tion Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
Its purpose is to assist in use of the standard by including National Electrical Refrigerator Manufacturers Association,
illustrations and examples of accepted industry practice, as National Fire Protection Association, and ASRE met to expand
well as explanations of and supporting references for formu- the code to address all of the issues raised on the use of refrig-
las in the standard. The user’s manual also covers building, eration equipment. The first Safety Code for Mechanical
system, and refrigerant classifications, restrictions on refrig- Refrigeration, recognized as American Standard B9 in Octo-
erant use, installation restrictions, and equipment and system ber 1930, appeared in the first edition, 1932–1933, of the
design and construction for commercial, residential, and ASRE Refrigerating Handbook and Catalog. ASRE revisions
industrial applications. designated ASA B9 appeared in 1933 and 1939. ASRE revi-
ASHRAE Standard 15 is directed toward the safety of sions designated ASA B9.1 appeared in 1950, 1953, and 1958.
persons and property on or near the premises where refriger- After the formation of ASHRAE, editions appeared as ASA
ation facilities are located. It includes specifications for fabri- B9.1-1964, ANSI B9.1-1971, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-1978, ANSI/
cation of refrigerating systems but does not address the effects ASHRAE 15-1989, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-1992, ANSI/ASHRAE
of refrigerant emissions on the environment. For information 15-1994, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2004,
on the environmental effects of refrigerant emissions, see ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2007, and ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2010.

2 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013