No person shall install, maintain, repair, operate or use any
refrigerating system in the City except in compliance with the provisions
of this article.
[Amended 2-26-1969, approved 2-27-1969]
A. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall approve only those refrigerating
systems or their adjuncts which bear the seal of approval of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters Laboratory or any other nationally recognized
laboratory.
B. No refrigerating equipment except those approved shall be installed
and no refrigerating apparatus shall be used until inspected and approved
by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Replacements shall be deemed as
new installations.
C. Applications for such inspection shall be made in writing on a form
furnished by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. A fee of $50 shall accompany
the application. Such fee shall cover inspection of five units or
any portion thereof contained in single premises. Inspections shall
not be required of self-contained unit installations of Class D systems.
[Amended 11-26-1980, approved 11-28-1980; 6-26-1991, approved 6-27-1991]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BRINE
Any liquid which, having been cooled by the refrigerating
system, is used for the absorption of heat.
CONTAINER
A cylinder for the transportation of refrigerant, constructed
to conform to the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
DIRECT REFRIGERATION
A system in which the refrigerant is circulated to the substance
or space refrigerated.
FLAMMABLE REFRIGERANT
One which will burn or explode when mixed with certain proportions
of air, such as methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, isobutane, propane
and ethane.
FUSIBLE PLUG
A device having a member fusible at a predetermined temperature,
for the relief of pressure.
HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANT
One showing only hydrogen and carbon in chemical formula,
such as isobutane, propane, butane and ethane.
IRRITANT REFRIGERANT
One which, when breathed, attacks the throat or lungs, such
as ammonia and sulfur dioxide.
LIQUID RECEIVER
A vessel permanently connected to a refrigerating system
for storage of liquid refrigerant.
MIXER
A vessel or device for mixing the refrigerant or other soluble
vapor with water.
MULTIPLE-UNIT SYSTEM
A refrigerating system in which the refrigerant is delivered
from a common source to two or more separate refrigerators or refrigerated
spaces, each containing one or more evaporators.
PRESSURE-IMPOSING ELEMENT
That apparatus which draws the refrigerant from the low-pressure
or low-temperature side of the system and discharges it into the high-pressure
or high-temperature side of the system.
PRESSURE-LIMITING DEVICE
A pressure- or temperature-responsive mechanism for automatically
stopping the operation of the pressure-imposing element.
PRESSURE-RELIEF DEVICE
A pressure-relief valve, a rupture member, fusible plug or
other approved device for relieving the pressure.
PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE
A valve shut by a spring or other means automatically to
relieve pressure in excess of its setting.
REFRIGERANT
The chemical agent used to produce refrigeration.
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY ROOM
One in which is located any pressure-imposing elements, condenser,
receiver or shell-type apparatus, except evaporators.
REFRIGERATING SYSTEM
A combination of apparatus in which a refrigerant is circulated
for the purpose of extracting heat, except all air-conditioning machines
inserted in the walls and windows of all buildings.
[Amended 6-14-1961, approved 6-15-1961]
REMOTE SYSTEM
One which cannot be removed from its location without disconnecting
the refrigerant retention lines or parts.
RUPTURE MEMBER
A device that will automatically rupture at a predetermined
pressure.
SEALLESS UNIT
One which operates without stuffing boxes or which does not
depend on contacts between moving and stationary surfaces for refrigerant
retention.
SEAL-TYPE UNIT
One in which the operation depends on a contact between moving
and stationary surfaces for refrigerant retention.
SERVICE VALVE
A special key-operated shutoff valve installed in Class C
and D systems, used only for retention of refrigerant in component
parts during transportation, installation and repairs, during abnormal
operation or in case of emergency.
STOP VALVE
A valve in a refrigerating system for controlling the flow
of refrigerant during normal starting and stopping operation or in
case of emergency.
SUBSTITUTED HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANT
A hydrocarbon in which one or more atoms of hydrogen are
replaced by chlorine or some other element. (Examples: methyl chloride,
ethyl chloride, methylene chloride, acetylene dichloride, ethylene
trichloride.)
UNIT SYSTEM
One which can be removed either with or separately from the
space refrigerated without disconnecting any pipes or refrigerant-containing
parts.
Whenever under this article any installer's license or
refrigeration operator's license shall be required, no such license
shall be issued to any person if it appears to the Board of Examiners
that such person lacks natural capacity, mechanical skill, knowledge
or experience or is unfitted by habits of insobriety to perform his
duties with safety to life and property; and for like reasons a renewal
of such license granted shall be refused when the Board shall so determine,
and upon satisfactory information to said Board of Examiners of any
such deficiency, the Board may revoke any such license granted.
Any person feeling himself aggrieved by any decision, order
or ruling of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, the Fire Commissioner
or the Board of Examiners may appeal therefrom to the Mayor by filing
with the City Clerk a notice of such appeal in writing within 30 days
after the making of the decision, order or ruling so appealed from.
Such notice shall specify the decision, order or ruling appealed from
and the reason why the same is claimed to be erroneous. The City Clerk
shall forthwith notify the Mayor of such appeal, and he shall notify
the appellant and the Bureau of Fire Prevention, the Fire Commissioner
or said Board of Examiners to attend the Mayor's hearing, depending
upon from whose decision, order or ruling appeal is taken. The Mayor
shall fix the hearing date, hear the appellant and the Bureau of Fire
Prevention, the Fire Commissioner or said Board of Examiners, as the
case may be, and shall obtain such other advice as to the matter as
he may deem proper. He may affirm, reverse or modify the decision,
order or ruling by his order in writing, to be filed as soon as practicable
with the City Clerk, and the said Bureau, Commissioner or Board shall
forthwith proceed to carry out and enforce such order of the Mayor.