No installation of refrigeration equipment,
air conditioning or refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment requiring
the use of water, supplied by the Borough or derived from any well,
shall be made on any premises until a permit authorizing such installation
has been issued by the Borough Engineer.
[Amended 7-13-1999 by Ord. No. 1073-99]
Applications, in duplicate, on forms furnished by the Borough Engineer, for permits for refrigeration, air-conditioning equipment or refrigeration equipment to be installed shall specify the information requested on the application and shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Chapter
A270, Fees.
One approved copy of the application for a permit
required by this article shall be returned to the applicant to serve
as a permit.
All new installations of any individual or collective
system of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment or refrigeration
and air-conditioning equipment in any premises for a single consumer
shall be equipped with water conservation equipment under the following
specifications:
A. All new installations of any individual or collective system of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment or refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment of three tons and over shall be equipped with a water-conserving device, such as an economizer, evaporative condenser, water-cooling tower or similar apparatus. Such device shall not consume for makeup purposes in excess of 5% of the consumption of water that would normally be used without such device, except as provided in §
242-33.
B. All new installations of refrigeration equipment,
air-conditioning equipment or refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment
under three tons, not using recirculated water, shall be provided
with an automatic water supply regulating device so as to limit the
flow of water in relation to the condenser temperature reduction requirements
of the apparatus. In no case shall the equipment use in excess of
11/2 gallons per minute per ton capacity.
C. If two or more units, which in the aggregate total
to three tons or over, are installed to serve the same building premises,
such units shall be subject to the same requirements applicable to
a unit or equipment of three tons or over, as provided in this article.
All individual or collective systems of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning equipment or refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment of three tons and over shall be equipped with a water-conserving device as provided §
242-32A. With the advice of the Borough Engineer, however, the Borough Council, by resolution, may grant permission for a diffusion device which will return the water in a pure and uncontaminated condition, without loss or waste, back into the ground, instead of the device required under §
242-32. If permission is granted for such a diffusion device, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner, tenant or other legal occupant of the premises serviced by such system of refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment to ensure that no water is wasted or contaminated thereby. It is the intent of the Borough Council that no diffusion well or recharge basin shall be permitted under this section unless it is assured that all water used in such refrigeration or air-conditioning system shall be effectively returned in a pure and uncontaminated condition after use to the subterranean sources from which the water is obtained. No connection to storm or sanitary sewer shall be permitted under this section.
Each direct water connection to a refrigeration
unit, air-conditioning unit or refrigeration and air-conditioning
unit using water for cooling purposes and which is connected with
the potable public water system shall be equipped with a vacuum breaker
or two check valves installed at a place designated by the Borough
Engineer, except in installations where the water supply piping has
no contact with the refrigerant. This shall be the case where two
substantial and independent wall thicknesses of metal separate the
refrigerant from the public water system.
Refrigerating units, air-conditioning units
or refrigerating and air-conditioning units with a capacity of more
than 20 pounds of refrigerant shall be provided with a relief valve
installed on the outlet side of the vacuum breaker of the water supply
connection. Such relief valve shall be set at five pounds above the
maximum water pressure at the point of installation.
All installations of any individual or collective
system of refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment in any premises
for a single consumer shall be installed under the following specifications:
A. The term "air-conditioning equipment," as used in
this section, applies to that equipment used primarily for human comfort
cooling, and shall be considered on the basis that one compressor
motor horsepower is equal to one ton of refrigeration.
B. Equipment used for a purpose other than air conditioning
shall be considered on the basis that one compressor motor horsepower
is equal to 6/10 of one ton of refrigeration.
C. Refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment using
gas for energy shall be rated on the basis that one ton is equal to
the removal of 12,000 British Thermal Units per hour, with a 5°
F. evaporating temperature and 86° F. condensing temperature.
All existing installations of any individual
or collective system of refrigeration equipment, air-conditioning
equipment or refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment of five
tons or less requiring the use of water, installed prior to April
2, 1956, need not be equipped with a water conserving device. If such
existing installations are either rebuilt, remodeled or replaced,
such action shall constitute a new installation and shall therefore
be subject to all the rules, regulations and conditions prescribed
in this article.
No air-conditioning or refrigerating unit employing
water in its use shall discharge such water into the sanitary sewerage
system.
[Added 7-13-1999 by Ord.
No. 1073-99; amended 10-14-2008 by Ord. No. 1187-08]
A violation of any provision of this article
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment
for not more than 90 days, a period of community service not to exceed
90 days, or a combination thereof.