Refrigerator Standard

Purpose:

Laboratory explosions have resulted when ordinary domestic refrigerators have been used for storage of flammable liquids, and leaking vapours have reached one of the many ignition sources within such refrigerators.

To adequately protect a refrigerator or freezer, all electrical contacts, switches, thermostats, lights and other ignition sites, must be removed from inside the compartment. The entire refrigerator compartment must be made vapour tight.

Approved Equipment:

Refrigerators and any other equipment used to store flammable materials must be certified for use in flammable atmospheres by the C.S.A. testing laboratories. No attempt should be made to modify existing refrigerators or other equipment for such use.

Flammable material storage refrigerators cannot be the frost free type.

Condensers should be mounted externally on the back of the refrigerator for economical conversion.

Condensers mounted on the outer cabinet but, inside the wall of the refrigerator requires that the thermostat be replaced.

All seams on the interior of the compartment must be caulked.

Laboratory centrifuges, deep freeze cabinets, environmental chambers, and walk-in refrigerator chests shall be similarly protected.

Precautions:

Never store food and beverages in a refrigerator containing laboratory chemicals.

Seal all containers inside the refrigerator tightly and clearly label them (WHMIS label).

Service and Repair

Refrigeration equipment is to be serviced by a person certified under the regulation (Environmental Protection Act).

Refrigeration equipment can be disposed of only after the refrigerant has been removed and the equipment tagged by a person certified under the regulation.