Climate Systems Inc ASHRAE - Standards

ASHRAE Refrigerant Safety Standards 15 & 34 for
Multi V Applications
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WP-ASHRAE15-05-20
Due to our policy of continuous product innovation, some specifications may change without notification
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Contents
Proprietary Data Notice .....................................................................................................................2
Step by Step Instructions ....................................................................................................................6
Determining Allowable Refrigerant Concentration Limit (RCL) .............................................................7
Determining Occupied Space Volumes................................................................................................8
Identifying the Smallest Occupied Space Volume .............................................................................. 11
Determining Refrigerant Quantity Limit ............................................................................................ 12
Solutions for Occupied Spaces that do not meet RCL ......................................................................... 13
Location of Refrigerant Piping .......................................................................................................... 17
Refrigerant Detectors ....................................................................................................................... 18
ASHRAE 15 Requirements for Refrigerating Machinery Rooms .......................................................... 19
Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 21
WP-ASHRAE15-05-20
As Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems are applied to more buildings in the United
States, many designers have asked for recommendations to apply VRF systems in compliance
with ASHRAE Standards 15 &34.
ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34 are refrigerant safety standards recognized by many state and
local building codes. Local codes may vary from ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34 and it is
recommended that the designer review these local codes for differences from ASHRAE
Standards 15 & 34.
ASHRAE Standard 15 was introduced in 1930 as Standard B9 and later issued as Standard 15
in 1978. The latest version of ASHRAE Standard 15 (ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2013) was released in
2013. ASHRAE Standard 15 list its purpose as follows:
"This standard specifies safe design, construction, installation, and operation of refrigeration
systems."1
ASHRAE Standard 15 does not refer to specific types of refrigerant. The companion standard,
ASHRAE Standard 34 was created to list common refrigerant names in lieu of chemical names or
formulas and list acceptable concentration limits for each refrigerant.
ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34 are not design guides and may require some engineering judgment
when applying the standards, particularly for VRF systems. Because some engineering judgment
is required, it is always good practice to consult with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)
regarding interpretations of Standard 15 and local codes.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013 Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems page 3
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Q: I thought ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34 only apply to chiller systems. Do VRF systems need
to comply with ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34?
A: Chiller systems were popular when ASHRAE Standard 15 was originally introduced in 1930.
However, ASHRAE Standard 15 applies to all air conditioning systems that use refrigerant including
VRF systems, packaged rooftop units, split systems, and chiller systems
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Step by Step Instructions

After obtaining a floor plan for the proposed project, and laying out your preliminary VRF design,
follow the steps below to verify conformance with ASHRAE Standards 15 & 34.
Instructions:
Figure 1: Example Office Building with Preliminary VRF Layout
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Determining Allowable Refrigerant

Concentration Limit (RCL)
VRF systems use R410A refrigerant and ASHRAE Standard 34 allows up to 26 pounds per
1000 cubic feet (0.026 pounds per cubic foot) RCL for occupied spaces. A few examples of
buildings that can be designed with up to 26 pounds per 1000 cubic feet:
Offices
Hotels
Dormitories
Condos
Apartments
Schools
Institutional occupancies reduce the RCL by 50%, or up to 13 pounds per 1000 cubic feet
(0.013 pounds per cubic foot) RCL.
"Institutional occupancy is a premise or that portion of a premise from which, because they are
disabled, debilitated, or confined, occupants cannot readily leave without the assistance of others."2
A few examples of buildings that may be limited to designing with up to 13 pounds per 1000 cubic
feet:
Hospitals
Mental institutions
Nursing homes
Prisons
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013 page5, paragraph 4.1.1
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Determining Occupied Space Volumes

Occupied space volume is calculated by multiplying the width x depth x height of a room to
determine the volume in cubic feet.
Q: Can the ceiling space (plenum) be calculated as part of the occupied volume?
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A: According to ASHRAE 15: "The space above a suspended ceiling shall not be included in
calculating the refrigerant quantity limit in the system unless such space is part of the air
supply or return system" 3
Q: When using a ducted indoor unit serving multiple offices, what volume is used for
occupied volume?
A: Multiple offices connected by ductwork can combine the volume of the offices in the
occupied volume calculation.
Although the ducted indoor unit shown below is not located within the office areas, a
refrigerant leak in the coil would allow refrigerant to flow into the ductwork and into the
occupied offices.
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 8, paragraph 7.3.2.2
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Q: Does ASHRAE 15 require occupied space volumes be limited to breathing levels of

occupants, like 3.5 feet above floor for sleeping areas, even though the ceiling height is 10
feet?
A: ASHRAE 15 states that the volume of occupied spaces "shall be based on the volume of
space to which refrigerant disperses in the event of a refrigerant leak"4. Further clarification
supporting that the full volume of the room should be used in the occupied space calculation
was published in "Interpretation IC 15-2007-1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2007 Safety Standard for
Refrigeration Systems"
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 7, paragraph 7.3
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10
Identifying the Smallest Occupied Space

Volume
A room schedule can be created listing room numbers, room areas, and room volumes to
show compliance to ASHRAE 15. In the example below, Room 113 was identified as the
smallest occupied volume.
Room
Room
Number
Name
Area(sq. ft)
102 Showroom
820
103 Office
1102
Women
104
Restroom
146
Men
105
Restroom
165
106 Breakroom
270
107
108
109
110
113
115A
115B
Ceiling
Height
(ft)
10
9
Room
Volume
(cubic
feet)
8200
9918
Comments
see 107 Ducted with 105 and 107
9
9
see 107 Ducted with 104 and 107

2430
Corridor
Practice
Storage
Elec
728
1400
160
100
9
9
9
9
9351
12600
1440
900
Conference
Lecture
Lecture
247
432
432
9
10
10
2223
4320
4320
Ducted with 104 and 105

Unoccuppied
Unoccuppied
In this example, room 113 was identified as having the smallest occupied space volume of
2223 cubic feet.
Note that rooms 104, 105, and 107 are ducted together and their volumes were combined.
Rooms 109 and 110 are unoccupied.
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11
Determining Refrigerant Quantity Limit

The refrigerant quantity limit for the smallest occupied space can be obtained by using the
following formula:
Refrigerant Quantity Limit (pounds) = RCL * Volume of smallest occupied space
In our example:
Refrigerant Quantity Limit (pounds) = 0.026 pounds/cubic feet * 2223 (volume of room 113)
= 57.8 lbs.
Room 113 is connected to a VRF system with a refrigerant volume of 63.3 lbs which is greater
than the allowable refrigerant limit of 57.8 lbs.
Since this is the preliminary VRF layout, the flexibility of our VRF system allows for several
solutions to comply with ASHRAE 15.
Q: Where can I find the total system charge for the VRF system?
A: The LATS selection software generates an output report shows the product charge and
Additional Ref. Amount. These (2) values can be added to obtain the total system refrigerant
charge.
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12
Solutions for Occupied Spaces that do not

meet RCL
1. Add a permanent opening or HVAC duct to increase room volume.
ASHRAE 15 allows permanent openings or an HVAC duct to connect adjacent spaces and
increase the volume of the smallest occupied space. A doorway is not considered a
permanent opening because the door can be closed. However, if the door is undercut or a
door transfer grille is added, this can be considered as a permanent opening.
In our example below, a transfer grille is added to connect room 113 to room 108. The new
combined room volume is 12,600 + 2223 = 14,823 cubic feet
The revised refrigerant quantity limit = 0.026 * 14823 = 385.4 lbs. This value is greater than
the system charge of 63.3lbs, which complies with ASHRAE 15.
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13
Q: What size should the permanent opening be to connect occupied spaces?

A: The size of a permanent opening is not listed in ASHRAE 15 and is subject to engineering
judgment. Locating the permanent opening low on the wall is recommended since R410A
refrigerant is heavier than air. It is also recommended that you consult with your local code
authority.
2. Install separate duct-free split system for the smallest occupied space
By removing the smallest occupied space from the main VRF system, and adding a smaller
duct-free split system, you will comply with ASHRAE 15.
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3. Separate a large VRF system into (2) smaller VRF systems

In our example the preliminary VRF system with 63.3 lbs of refrigerant was an 18 ton system.
The VRF system can be split into (1) 6 ton and (1) 12 ton system. Changing room 113 to the
smaller 6 ton VRF system which has a total refrigerant charge of 21 pounds will result in an
allowable refrigerant quantity limit of 57.6 lbs, which is acceptable to ASHRAE 15.
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15
Q: In a hotel room where a bathroom exhaust fan is installed and a permanent opening exists
between the bathroom and guest room, or a dedicated outdoor air system provides outdoor
air directly to the guest room, can the ASHRAE 15 refrigerant concentration limits be raised?
A: Per an ASHRAE 15 Interpretation "increasing the allowable refrigerant limits for R410A in
a variable refrigerant flow system due to dilution by supply and/or exhaust air ventilation
should not be considered due to risk of asphyxiation of the occupants."5 ASHRAE 15 only
mentions exhaust systems for machine rooms, not occupied spaces.
Interpretation IC 15-2007-3 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2007 Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems
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16
Location of Refrigerant Piping

VRF system refrigerant piping routing should take into consideration the following ASHRAE
15 requirements:
"Refrigerant piping crossing an open space that affords passageway in any building shall
not be less than 7.25 ft. above the floor unless the piping is located against the ceiling of
such space and is permitted by the AHJ"6
"Refrigerant piping shall not be installed in an enclosed public stairway, stair landing,
or means of egress"7
"Refrigerant piping installed in concrete floors shall be encased in pipe duct."8
If you cannot avoid routing refrigerant piping through an occupied space that is not
served by the VRF system, the RCL for the occupied space must still be checked.
For additional information on refrigerant piping installation, see the the applicable LG
Engineering Manual and Installation
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 9, paragraph 8.10.1

8
7
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17
Refrigerant Detectors
Some VRF projects have been installed using refrigerant detectors in occupied spaces, like
hotel rooms. ASHRAE 15 refers to refrigerant detectors for machinery rooms only. For
occupied spaces, ASHRAE 15 does not allow refrigerant monitors as a solution to occupied
spaces which exceed the RCL. Designers should consult the AHJ (Authority Having
Jurisdiction) to see if the use of refrigerant detectors is acceptable.
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18
ASHRAE 15 Requirements for Refrigerating

Machinery Rooms
Water source VRF systems and air source VRF systems with outdoor units installed indoors
may be required to meet ASHRAE 15 refrigerating machinery room requirements.
1. Venting of fusible plugs
VRF systems are equipped with fusible plugs near the refrigerant receiver. These fusible plugs
have plugs that are designed to melt at a temperature of 176Fin the event of a fire, and slowly
release refrigerant to prevent rupturing of the refrigerant receiver.
When any system contains more than 110 lbs of refrigerant, ASHRAE 15 requires these fusible plugs to
be discharged "to the atmosphere at a location not less than 15 feet above adjoining ground level and
not less than 20 feet from any window, ventilation opening, or exit" 9
Therefore, if your VRF system exceeds 110 lbs of refrigerant, the fusible plugs will need to have
vent pipes installed to discharge to an outdoor location.
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19
2. Tight Fitting Doors

Machinery rooms need to be equipped with tight fitting doors and "there shall be no openings
that will permit passage of escaping refrigerant to other parts of the building"10
3. Machinery Room Ventilation
Machinery rooms require mechanical ventilation to the outdoors. The formula to calculate
the required ventilation rate is:
Q = 100 * (square root of G)
Where
Q = Airflow rate (CFM)
G= Refrigerant charge of system (lbs)
10
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20
Summary
Multi V flexible design systems can easily be installed to comply with ASHRAE Standards 15
and 34. The primary goal of ASHRAE Standards 15 and 34 is to protect building occupants
from refrigerant leaks. ASHRAE 15 and 34 are very specific in the allowable refrigerant
concentration limits, but if the designer follows the step by step instructions, the VRF system
will comply with the standards.
There are some areas of ASHRAE 15 and 34 that are open to designer interpretations. Always
consult with your local code official (AHJ) when using an interpretation to design your VRF
system.
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21

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ASHRAE Refrigerant Safety Standards 15 & 34 for

Proprietary Data Notice

Note: Legal Disclaimer: All material provided herein is for

For continual product development, LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.,

LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013 Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems page 3

Step by Step Instructions

Figure 1: Example Office Building with Preliminary VRF Layout

Determining Allowable Refrigerant

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013 page5, paragraph 4.1.1

Determining Occupied Space Volumes

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 8, paragraph 7.3.2.2

Q: Does ASHRAE 15 require occupied space volumes be limited to breathing levels of

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 7, paragraph 7.3

Identifying the Smallest Occupied Space

see 107 Ducted with 105 and 107

see 107 Ducted with 104 and 107

Ducted with 104 and 105

Determining Refrigerant Quantity Limit

Solutions for Occupied Spaces that do not

Q: What size should the permanent opening be to connect occupied spaces?

3. Separate a large VRF system into (2) smaller VRF systems

Location of Refrigerant Piping

"Refrigerant piping installed in concrete floors shall be encased in pipe duct."8

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 9, paragraph 8.10.1

ASHRAE 15 Requirements for Refrigerating

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 15, paragraph 9.7.8

2. Tight Fitting Doors

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, page 10, paragraph 8.11.2

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