CHAPTER 5 DESIGN GUIDELINES

SECTION 5.4 MECHANICAL

SUBSECTION 5.4.3 HVAC

8) Follow the VRF equipment manufacturer’s recommendations for refrigerant

piping sizes and maximum to minimum vertical and horizontal lengths, based
on refrigerant volumes and velocities required for efficient and stable system
operation. System refrigerant charge is a calculated value, whereas additional
charge is determined by liquid-line volume.
9) Given the complexities of integrating the operation of the indoor and outdoor
units, the entire control package for the VRF system should be furnished by the
VRF system manufacturer.
10) Safety Considerations for Refrigerants
(a) As with any HVAC equipment, VRF systems must include design and
application safeguards that protect occupants. ASHRAE Standard 15
applies to the design, construction, testing, installation, operation, and
inspection of mechanical refrigeration systems. This standard specifies
safe design, construction, installation, and operation of refrigeration
systems.
(b) Also refer to ASHRAE Standard 34, which lists the most current information
related to refrigerant designations, safety classifications, and refrigerant
concentration limits (RCL). ASHRAE Standard 34 refers to common
names of refrigerants used in HVAC systems, instead of using the chemical
name, formula, or trade name. The standard establishes a uniform system
for assigning reference numbers and safety classifications to refrigerants
(including blends).
(c) The smallest space in which any of the indoor units or piping could be
located must be capable of safely dispersing the refrigerant charge of the
entire VRF system in the unlikely event of a catastrophic leak or failure.
Examples of spaces that may require additional consideration include
(1) Bathrooms
(2) Electrical rooms
(3) Closets
(4) Small offices
(5) Egress
(d) Several options are available to manage smaller spaces; however, care is
needed not to violate other standards such as IEC. Options available to
manage smaller spaces where the RCL would otherwise be exceeded
include the following:
(1) Do not install an indoor unit, but allow the code-required ventilation to
maintain conditions in the space.
(2) If cooling is required in the occupied space, one option is to increase
the actual space volume by providing a permanent opening or
connecting to an adjacent room, as described in ASHRAE Standard
15. A permanent opening can be included along the common wall
between an electrical room and janitor closet to increase the size of
the space; alternatively, install the ceiling high enough to provide the
necessary volume, or omit the ceiling entirely.
(3) A ducted indoor unit could serve several smaller offices, thus
increasing the overall occupied space served by the system.
RCJ Guiding Engineering Manual
Rev. 1 5.4 - 101