© American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (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.

Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, blends: refrigerants consisting of mixtures of two or more
National Electrical Refrigerator Manufacturers Association, different chemical compounds, often used individually as
National Fire Protection Association, and ASRE met to refrigerants for other applications.
expand the code to address all of the issues raised on the use
of refrigeration equipment. The first Safety Code for Mechani- brazed joint: a gas-tight joint obtained by the joining of metal
cal Refrigeration, recognized as American Standard B9 in parts with metallic mixtures or alloys that melt at temperatures
October 1930, appeared in the first edition, 1932–1933, of the above 1000°F (537°C) but less than the melting temperatures
ASRE Refrigerating Handbook and Catalog. ASRE revisions of the joined parts.
designated ASA B9 appeared in 1933 and 1939. ASRE revi- cascade refrigerating system: a refrigerating system having
sions designated ASA B9.1 appeared in 1950, 1953, and 1958. two or more refrigerant circuits, each with a pressure-imposing
After the formation of ASHRAE, editions appeared as ASA element, a condenser, and an evaporator, where the evaporator
B9.1-1964, ANSI B9.1-1971, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-1978, ANSI/ of one circuit absorbs the heat rejected by another (lower-
ASHRAE 15-1989, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-1992, ANSI/ASHRAE temperature) circuit.
15-1994, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2004,
and ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2007. companion or block valves: pairs of mating stop valves that
allow sections of a system to be joined before opening these
1. PURPOSE valves or separated after closing them.

This standard specifies safe design, construction, instal- compound refrigerating system: a multi-stage refrigerating
lation, and operation of refrigeration systems. system in which a single charge of refrigerant circulates
through all stages of compression. See multi-stage refrigerat-
2. SCOPE ing system.

2.1 This standard establishes safeguards for life, limb, compressor: a machine used to compress refrigerant vapor.
health, and property and prescribes safety requirements. compressor unit: a compressor with its prime mover and
2.2 This standard applies accessories.

a. to the design, construction, test, installation, operation, condenser: that part of the refrigerating system where refrig-
and inspection of mechanical and absorption refrigeration erant is liquefied by the removal of heat.
systems, including heat pump systems used in stationary condenser coil: a condenser constructed of pipe or tubing, not
applications; enclosed in a pressure vessel.
b. to modifications including replacement of parts or com-
ponents if they are not identical in function and capacity; condensing unit: a combination of one or more power-driven
and compressors, condensers, liquid receivers (when required),
c. to substitutions of refrigerant having a different des- and regularly furnished accessories.
ignation. containers, refrigerant: a cylinder for the transportation of
refrigerant.
3. DEFINITIONS
corridor: an enclosed passageway that limits travel to a single
administrative control: the use of human action aimed at path.
achieving a safe level of performance from a system or subsys-
tem. Compare to engineering control. critical pressure, critical temperature, and critical volume:
a point on the saturation curve where the refrigerant liquid and
approved: acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction vapor have identical volume, density, and enthalpy and there
(AHJ). is no latent heat.
approved, nationally recognized laboratory: a laboratory that
design pressure: the maximum pressure for which a specific
is acceptable to the AHJ and provides uniform testing and
part of a refrigerating system is designed.
examination procedures and standards for meeting design,
manufacturing, and factory testing requirements of this code; dual pressure-relief device: two pressure-relief devices
is organized, equipped, and qualified for testing; and has a mounted on a three-way valve that allows one device to remain
follow-up inspection service of the current production of the active while the other is isolated.
listed products.
duct: a tube or conduit used to convey or encase
back pressure: the static pressure existing at the outlet of an
An air duct is a tube or conduit used to convey air (air
operating pressure-relief device due to pressure in the
passages in self-contained systems are not air ducts).
discharge line.
A pipe duct is a tube or conduit used to encase pipe or
balanced relief valve: a pressure-relief valve that incorporates
tubing.
means of minimizing the effect of back pressure on the oper-
ational characteristics of the valve (opening pressure, closing engineering control: the use of sensors, actuators, and other
pressure, and relieving capacity). equipment to achieve a safe level of performance from a

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010 3

 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (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.

system or subsystem without the aid of human interaction. lowside: the portion of a refrigerating system that is subjected
Compare to administrative control. to approximate evaporator pressure.
evaporator: that part of the refrigerating system designed to machinery: the refrigerating equipment forming a part of the
vaporize liquid refrigerant to produce refrigeration. refrigerating system including, but not limited to, any or all of
the following: compressor, condenser, liquid receiver, evapo-
evaporator coil: an evaporator constructed of pipe or tubing, rator, and connecting piping.
not enclosed in a pressure vessel.
machinery room: a space, meeting the requirements of
fusible plug: a plug containing an alloy that will melt at a spec- Sections 8.11 and 8.12, that is designed to house compressors
ified temperature and relieve pressure. and pressure vessels.
header: a pipe or tube (extruded, cast, or fabricated) to which manufacturer: the company or organization that evidences its
other pipes or tubes are connected. responsibility by affixing its name, trademark, or trade name
to refrigerating equipment.
heat pump: a refrigerating system used to transfer heat into a
space or substance. means of egress: a continuous and unobstructed path of travel
from any point in a building or structure to a public way.
highside: those portions of the refrigerating system that are
subject to approximate condensing pressure. mechanical joint: a gas-tight joint obtained by joining metal
parts with a positive-holding mechanical construction such as
horsepower: the power delivered from the prime mover to the flanged, screwed, or flared joints or compression fittings.
compressor of a refrigerating system.
multi-stage refrigerating system: a refrigerating system in
IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health): the maxi- which compression of refrigerant is carried out in two or more
mum concentration from which unprotected persons are able steps.
to escape within 30 minutes without escape-impairing symp-
toms or irreversible health effects.1 nonpositive displacement compressor: a compressor in
which the increase in vapor pressure is attained without chang-
informative appendix: an appendix that is not part of the stan- ing the internal volume of the compression chamber.
dard but is included for information only.
normative appendix: an appendix including integral parts of
inside dimension: inside diameter, width, height, or cross- the mandatory requirements of the standard, which, for
sectional diagonal. reasons of convenience, are placed after all other normative
elements.
internal gross volume: the volume as determined from inter-
nal dimensions of the container with no allowance for the occupancy: for class of occupancy, see Section 4.
volume of internal parts.
occupied space: that portion of the premises accessible to or
limited charge system: a system in which, with the compres- occupied by people, excluding machinery rooms.
sor idle, the design pressure will not be exceeded when the
pilot-operated relief valve: a pressure-relief valve in which the
refrigerant charge has completely evaporated.
major relieving device is combined with and is controlled by
liquid receiver: a vessel, permanently connected to a refrig- a self-actuated auxiliary pressure-relief valve.
erating system by inlet and outlet pipes, for storage of liquid piping: the pipe or tube used to convey fluid from one part of
refrigerant. a refrigeration system to another. Piping includes pipe,
listed: equipment or materials included in a list published by flanges, bolting, gaskets, valves, fittings, pipe-supporting
an approved, nationally recognized testing laboratory, inspec- fixtures, structural attachments, and the pressure-containing
tion agency, or other organization concerned with product parts of other components, such as expansion joints, strainers,
evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of production of filters, and devices that serve such purposes as mixing, sepa-
listed equipment or materials and whose listing states either rating, muffling, snubbing, distributing, metering, or control-
that the equipment or material meets nationally recognized ling flow.
standards or has been tested and found suitable for use in a positive displacement compressor: a compressor in which the
specified manner. increase in pressure is attained by changing the internal
lithium bromide/water absorption system: an absorption volume of the compression chamber.
system where water (R-718) is the refrigerant and lithium premises: a tract of land and the buildings thereon.
bromide (LiBr) is the absorbent.
pressure-imposing element: any device or portion of the
lobby: a waiting room or large hallway serving as a waiting equipment used to increase refrigerant pressure.
room.
pressure-limiting device: a pressure-responsive electronic or
lower flammability limit (LFL): the minimum concentration mechanical control designed to automatically stop the oper-
of the refrigerant that propagates a flame through a homoge- ation of the pressure-imposing element at a predetermined
neous mixture of refrigerant and air. pressure.

4 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010

 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (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.

pressure-relief device: a pressure-, not temperature-, actuated saturation pressure: the pressure at which vapor and liquid
valve or rupture member designed to automatically relieve exist in equilibrium at a given temperature.
pressure in excess of its setting.
sealed ammonia/water absorption system: an absorption
pressure-relief valve: a pressure-actuated valve held closed system where ammonia (R-717) is the refrigerant and water
by a spring or other means and designed to automatically (R-718) is the absorbent and all refrigerant-containing parts
relieve pressure in excess of its setting. are made permanently tight by welding or brazing.
pressure vessel: any refrigerant-containing receptacle in a secondary coolant: any liquid used for the transmission of
refrigerating system. This does not include evaporators where heat, without vaporization.
each separate evaporator section does not exceed 0.5 ft3
self-contained system: a complete, factory-assembled and
(0.014 m3) of refrigerant-containing volume regardless of the
factory-tested system that is shipped in one or more sections
maximum inside dimension. This also does not include evap-
and has no refrigerant-containing parts that are joined in the
orator coils, compressors, condenser coils, controls, headers,
field by other than companion or block valves.
pumps, and piping.
set pressure: the pressure at which a pressure-relief device or
pumpdown charge: the quantity of refrigerant stored at some
pressure control is set to operate.
point in the refrigeration system for operational, service, or
standby purposes. shall (shall not): used in this standard when a provision is (or
is not) mandatory.
reclaimed refrigerants: refrigerants reprocessed to the same
specifications as new refrigerants by any means, including soldered joint: a gas-tight joint formed by joining metal parts
distillation. Such refrigerants have been chemically analyzed with alloys that melt at temperatures not exceeding 800°F
to verify that those specifications have been met. (426.5°C) and above 400°F (204.5°C).
recovered refrigerants: refrigerants removed from a system in specified: explicitly stated in detail. Specified limits or
any condition without necessarily testing or processing them. prescriptions are mandatory.
recycled refrigerants: refrigerants for which contaminants stop valve: a device used to shut off the flow of refrigerant.
have been reduced by oil separation, removal of nonconden-
tenant: a person or organization having the legal right to
sible gases, and single or multiple passes through filter driers
occupy a premises.
or other devices that reduce moisture, acidity, and particulate
matter. three-way valve: a service valve for dual pressure-relief
devices that allows using one device while isolating the other
refrigerant: the fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating
from the system, maintaining one valve in operation at all
system; the refrigerant absorbs heat and transfers it at a
times.
higher temperature and a higher pressure, usually with a
change of state. TLV-TWAi (threshold limit value time weighted average):
the refrigerant concentration in air for a normal 8-hour work-
refrigerant concentration limit (RCL): the refrigerant
day and a 40-hour workweek to which repeated exposure, day
concentration limit, in air, determined in accordance with
after day, will not cause an adverse effect in most persons.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 341and intended to reduce the risks
of acute toxicity, asphyxiation, and flammability hazards in ultimate strength: the stress at which rupture occurs.
normally occupied, enclosed spaces.
unit system: see self-contained system.
refrigerant detector: a device that is capable of sensing the
presence of refrigerant vapor. unprotected tubing: tubing that is unenclosed and therefore
exposed to crushing, abrasion, puncture, or similar damage
refrigerating system: a combination of interconnected parts after installation.
forming a closed circuit in which refrigerant is circulated for
the purpose of extracting, then rejecting, heat. (See Section 5 zeotropic: refers to blends comprising multiple components of
for classification of refrigerating systems by type.) different volatility that, when used in refrigeration cycles,
change volumetric composition and saturation temperatures
refrigerating system classification: refrigerating systems are as they evaporate (boil) or condense at constant pressure. The
classified according to the degree of probability, low or high, word is derived from the Greek words zein (to boil) and tropos
that leaked refrigerant from a failed connection, seal, or (to change).
component could enter an occupied area. The distinction is
based on the basic design or location of the components. (See 4. OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION
Section 5 for classification of refrigerating systems by type.)
4.1 Locations of refrigerating systems are described by
refrigerating system, direct: see Section 5.1.1. occupancy classifications that consider the ability of people to
refrigerating system, indirect: see Section 5.1.2. respond to potential exposure to refrigerant as follows.

i
rupture member: a device that will rupture and release refrig- TLV® is a registered trademark of the American Conference of
erant to relieve pressure. Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®).

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010 5

 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (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.

4.1.1 Institutional occupancy is a premise or that portion levels above or below street level to purchase personal mer-
of a premise from which, because they are disabled, debili- chandise.
tated, or confined, occupants cannot readily leave without the
assistance of others. Institutional occupancies include, among 4.1.6 Industrial occupancy is a premise or that portion of
others, hospitals, nursing homes, asylums, and spaces con- a premise that is not open to the public, where access by
taining locked cells. authorized persons is controlled, and that is used to manufac-
ture, process, or store goods such as chemicals, food, ice,
4.1.2 Public assembly occupancy is a premise or that por- meat, or petroleum.
tion of a premise where large numbers of people congregate
and from which occupants cannot quickly vacate the space. 4.1.7 Mixed occupancy occurs when two or more occu-
Public assembly occupancies include, among others, audito- pancies are located within the same building. When each
riums, ballrooms, classrooms, passenger depots, restaurants, occupancy is isolated from the rest of the building by tight
and theaters. walls, floors, and ceilings and by self-closing doors, the
requirements for each occupancy shall apply to its portion of
4.1.3 Residential occupancy is a premise or that portion of the building. When the various occupancies are not so iso-
a premise that provides the occupants with complete indepen- lated, the occupancy having the most stringent requirements
dent living facilities including permanent provisions for liv- shall be the governing occupancy.
ing, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation. Residential
occupancies include, among others, dormitories, hotels, 4.2 Equipment, other than piping, located outside a building
multi-unit apartments, and private residences. and within 20 ft (6.1 m) of any building opening shall be gov-
erned by the occupancy classification of the building.
4.1.4 Commercial occupancy is a premise or that portion
of a premise where people transact business, receive personal Exception: Equipment located within 20 ft (6.1 m) of the
service, or purchase food and other goods. Commercial occu- building opening for the machinery room.
pancies include, among others, office and professional build-
ings, markets (but not large mercantile occupancies), and
work or storage areas that do not qualify as industrial occu- 5. REFRIGERATING SYSTEM CLASSIFICATION
pancies.
5.1 Refrigerating Systems. Refrigerating systems are
4.1.5 Large mercantile occupancy is a premise or that por- defined by the method employed for extracting or delivering
tion of a premise where more than 100 persons congregate on heat as follows (see Figure 1).

Cooling or Air or Substance

Paragraph Designation Heating Source to be Cooled or Heated

5.1.1 Direct system

5.1.2.1 Indirect open spray system

5.1.2.2 Double indirect open spray system

5.1.2.3 Indirect closed system

5.1.2.4 Indirect vented closed system

Figure 1 Refrigerating system designation.

6 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010