Ammonia Refrigeration Systems Checklist - Aviva Loss Prevention Standard - Property V1.0

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To view our Loss Prevention Standard that supports this checklist, please view the following link : https://broker.aviva.co.uk/documents/view/aviva_ammonia_refrigerations_systems_lps.pdf

Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

1. Is the following known: • Stored volume of ammonia? • Operating temperatures? • Operating pressures?
2. Have formal risk assessments been completed arising from the use of ammonia: • Hazardous assessments? • Operability assessments? • Regulatory assessments, e.g. DSEAR, ATEX or COMAH? • Are any recommendations or improvements raised by these assessments tracked? • Are these improvements all completed? • Are the assessments up to date? • Are the assessment return periods known?
3. If there was a release of ammonia does this expose any other assets? Has this formed part of a formal risk assessment? Examples: • Air intakes • Compressed or instrument air supplies • Products susceptible to contamination • Incompatible materials or chemicals
4. Is the room housing the ammonia equipment/network dedicated to this activity? • Is it located on an outside wall or detached? • Is it cut-off from surrounding buildings by at least 1-hour rated construction? • Are there any floor or ceiling voids?
5. Is access to the room from an external door only? Are there any doorways from within a principle building?
6. Does the ammonia plant room have appropriate signage and labelling - information and safety should be displayed externally and internally?
7. Are there any penetrations from the room into other buildings? • Is appropriate fire stopping provided? • Are there any larger openings? o Are these appropriately protected against an ammonia leak?
8. Does the room have explosion relief? If yes, is the: • Relieving area away from buildings, equipment and personnel exposures? • Design standard known? • Design area known? • Relief inspected, tested and maintained?
9. Are all electrical systems and devices appropriately rated for safe use in the expected atmosphere? Are electrical systems/devices risk assessed?
10. Does the room have low-level air intakes and high-level air extraction? • Is the ‘normal’ extraction rate known? o Is this a minimum of 0.305m3/m2/min? • Is emergency ventilation at a higher rate also provided? • Is the emergency extraction rate known? o Is this a minimum of 3.05m3/m2/min?
11. Is the ventilation system monitored? • Are there failure alarms? • Is low flow or low volume monitored?
12. Does the room have automatic ammonia leak detection? • Is more than one detection device provided? • Are the locations of these devices appropriate for ammonia? • Is this calibrated and tested regularly?
13. Is the 1st stage of the ammonia alarm set at 25% of the LEL? • Is the ventilation rate interlocked to increase upon this alarm? • Is this tested regularly?
14. Is the 2nd stage of the ammonia alarm set at 50% of the LEL? • Is the ammonia equipment interlocked to shut down upon this alarm? • Is this tested regularly?
15. Are the following connected to a constantly attended location: • Ammonia system operability/interlocks/process alarms? • Ammonia leak detection system? • Ventilation/extraction?
16. Is automatic fire detection provided within the room connected to a constantly attended location? Is the ammonia equipment interlocked to shut down upon this alarm?
17. Is automatic sprinkler protection provided to the room?
18. Is a water-based vapour/gas knock down system provided in the room or at the perimeter of the room? • Is this manually activated? • Is this automatically activated?
19. Is all the ammonia leak detection, ammonia release, fire detection and fire suppression systems inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and local regulatory requirements? Are all interlocks tested at least annually?
20. Is the room clear of all ordinary combustible materials and maintained as sterile? Does the room only house the operational ammonia hardware?
21. Are regular recorded housekeeping checks completed to ensure the area is maintained and kept to appropriate standards? Is the room visited on every shift to make visual checks?
22. Is a regular recorded visual inspection of accessible pipes and vessels undertaken for evidence of leaks/damage, etc?
23. Is access to the room restricted to named personnel?
24. Are personnel with access appropriately trained on the hazards associated with ammonia? Is all training and refresher training recorded?
25. Is a formal permit to work system in place as part of the management of any works to be completed on the ammonia systems? Are appropriate risk assessments and method statements in place prior to completion for any work associated with the ammonia system?
26. Are the ammonia system components inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines?
27. Are all engineers’ workshops and stores in separate areas to the ammonia equipment?
28. Are any spare cylinders or volumes of ammonia stored in a separate storage area away from incompatible materials? • Are full and empty cylinders stored in segregated areas? • Are all cylinders secured?
29. Is there a formal Emergency Response Plan for an incident involving the ammonia system? • Fire? • Loss of containment? • Is there a windsock or alternate means of knowing the wind direction? • Are there appropriate evacuation routes and assembly points based on wind direction? • Are key individuals identified and trained? • Is appropriate PPE provided? • Are any individuals trained with self-contained breathing apparatus? • Has liaison occurred with the public fire authorities, environmental, water company and any other public bodies? • Has the public response been supported by on-site visits? • Is there safe access for Emergency Services for fire-fighting? • Is the plan practiced at least annually?