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It shall be the duty of any person installing refrigeration systems to apply tests to the systems as required by the Building Commissioner:
1. The testing of every refrigeration system shall include a pressure or vacuum test of the complete piping system, preferably with the evaporator installed, but valves may be closed to prevent withdrawal of the refrigerant.
2. Under these tests, a partial vacuum of 20 inches (.508 m) of mercury shall be produced with the system, and shall be held for a period of at least one hour with no detectable change.
3. Every part of every refrigeration system shall be designed, constructed, assembled and tested to withstand safety and without injury, the required minimum test pressures. These test pressures shall be held by every refrigeration system under test for a period of one hour or over with no detectable change.
4. Pressure tests of refrigeration systems shall be made with air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or other inert gas approved by the Building Commissioner. When practicable, water may be used. When testing with air, care should be taken to prevent the temperature at any point from rising above 130°F (54.44°C).
(Amend Coun. J. 11-8-12, p. 38872, § 325)
5. The means used to build up the test pressure shall have either a pressure-limiting device or a pressure-reducing device and a gauge on the outlet side.
6. Tests shall be performed with dry nitrogen or another nonflammable, nonreactive, dried gas. Oxygen, air, or mixtures containing them shall not be used. The means used to build up the test pressure shall have either a pressure-limiting device or a pressure-reducing device and a gauge on the outlet side. The pressure-relief device shall be set above the test pressure, but low enough to prevent permanent deformation of the system's components.
Exceptions:
1. Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, or a combination of them with nonflammable refrigerants in concentrations of a refrigerant weight fraction (mass fraction) not exceeding 5% are allowed for tests.
2. Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, or a combination of them with flammable refrigerants in concentrations not exceeding the lesser of a refrigerant weight fraction (mass fraction) of 5% or 25% of the LFL are allowed for tests.
3. Compressed air without added refrigerant is allowed for tests provided the system is subsequently evacuated to less than 1,000 microns (132 Pa) before charging with refrigerant.
4. Systems erected on the premises using Group Al refrigerant and with copper tubing not exceeding 0.62 inches (16 mm) outside diameter shall be tested by means of the refrigerant charged into the system at the saturated vapor pressure of the refrigerant at 68°F (20°C) minimum.
7. A dated declaration of test shall be provided for all systems containing 55 lb (25 kg) or more of refrigerant. The declaration shall give the name of the refrigerant and the field test pressure applied to the highside and the lowside of the system. The declaration of test shall be signed by the installer and, if an inspector is present at the tests, the inspector shall also sign the declaration. When requested, copies of this declaration shall be furnished to the authority having jurisdiction.