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 a pressure-limiting device or a pressure-reducing
device and a gage on the outlet side. The pressure-relief device shall beset above the test pressure but
low enough to prevent permanent deformation of the
system's components.
Exceptions:
Exceptions:
- Mixtures of dry nitrogen, inert gases, nonflammable refrigerants permitted for factory tests.
- 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 percent or 25 percent of the LFL shall be permitted for factory tests.
- Compressed air without added refrigerant shall be permitted for factory tests provided the system is subsequently evacuated to less than 0.039 inch of mercury (0.132 kPa) before charging with refrigerant. The required evacuation level is atmospheric pressure for systems using R-718 (water) or R-744 (carbon dioxide) as the refrigerant. [ASHRAE 15:9.14.1.1]