Application Note

BREEAM 2011 Credits for Leak Detection using Murco/Bacharach Equipment

BREEAM (Building Research Establishments Environmental Assessment Method) is the worlds leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. One of the goals of BREEAM is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from the leakage of refrigerants. Section Pol 01 of the BREEAM Technical Manual outlines the assessment criteria for issuing credits for non-domestic buildings in relation to refrigerants. This section specifically defines criteria for using a permanent refrigerant leak detection system. One credit can be issued if the following criteria are met: Where the systems using refrigerants have Direct Effect Life Cycle CO2 equivalent emissions of (DELC CO2e) of 1000 kgCO2e/kW cooling capacity. Where systems using refrigerants are contained in a moderately air tight enclosure (or a mechanically ventilated plant room), and an automated permanent refrigerant leak detection system is installed covering high-risk parts of the plant OR where a refrigerant leakage/charge loss detection system is specified, which is not based on the principle of detecting or measuring the concentration of refrigerant in air. The automatic shutdown and pump down of refrigerant occurs on the detection of refrigerant leakage/charge loss. Automatic pump-down to either a separate storage tank or into the heat exchanger is acceptable, but only where automatic isolation valves are fitted to contain the refrigerant once fully pumped down. The alarm threshold that triggers automatic pump down upon detection of refrigerant in the plant room/enclosure is set to a maximum of 2000ppm (0.2%), but lower levels can be set. Use a robust and tested automated permanent refrigerant leak detection system, nor-mally defined as that included on the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Energy Technology Product List1 (or an equivalent list).

For a BREEAM credit to be issued, the last criteria must be met by the leak detection equipment. The following Murco and Bacharach refrigerant leak detection products are included on the ECA Energy Technology Product List and have alarm thresholds below 2000 ppm. The products that meet these requirements are: MGS, MGD, IAM (must be ordered with 1000 ppm alarm threshold), ST-IAM, and the HGMMZ. These product families also meet the product criteria defined in the relevant definitions section of Pol 01:
Refrigerant leak detection: An automated permanently installed multi-point sensing system, designed to continuously monitor the atmosphere in the vicinity of refrigeration equipment and, in the event of detection, raise an alarm. The system may be aspirated or have multiple sensor heads linked to a central alarm unit or BMS. Various sensor types are available including infra-red, semi-conductor or electro-chemical.

For additional information regarding Murco products and BREEAM, please contact Customer Service at +353 284 6388, or email at Info@murco.ie
Source: BREEAM Technical Manual: Version: SD5073 Issue: 3.2 Issue Date: 07/02/2013; www.breeam.org

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