One of my pet-peeves is CONTROLLING ACCESS to process battery limits. Even OSHA and EPA felt this was so critical that they actually mention it TWICE in their process safety standard/rule. They cover it in Operating Procedures for all company personnel and again in Contractors for those visiting the facility. But there is one group of “visitors” who MUST have access to your covered process battery limits at ALL TIMES. Most chemical processes are “open-air” design; however, most mechanical refrigeration processes in the food industry have an engine room/mechanical room that are REQUIRED to be secured by the industry RAGAGEP such as IIAR 2. So with the requirement in the RAGAGEP be that these rooms are secured, what happens when the local FD responds to an odor complaint and no one is on site? Are we required to provide access to the FD at all times? How many know what this contraption is?
In most states, this contraption is a “code requirement”. Specifically, those states that have adopted a revised version of the International Fire Code (IFC) and they have a Mechanical Refrigeration process where Ammonia is the refrigerant, this device is required by 605.5 Access…