1. ------IND- 2018 0467 F-- EN- ------ 20180926 --- --- PROJET
Order of 10 May 2019 amending the Order of 25 June 1980 approving general fire safety and anti-panic regulations in establishments open to the public

FRENCH REPUBLIC Ministry of the Interior

Order of [ ]

amending the Order of 25 June 1980 approving general fire safety and anti-panic regulations in establishments open to the public

NOR: INTE1823855A

Public concerned: operators and owners of establishments open to the public, business owners, main contractors, architects, members of safety committees, technical inspectors, manufacturers and installers of equipment using refrigerants.

Purpose: amendment of a provision concerning the use of refrigerants in premises receiving the public.

Entry into force: 1 January 2019.

Notice: Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases provides for a progressive reduction in emissions of these gases and especially in the quantities of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Certain HFCs are used in heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water equipment and installations in establishments open to the public. The substitutes for HFCs used in air conditioning/refrigeration in establishments open to the public are typically flammable. The purpose of this Order is to authorise the use of these substitutes in establishments open to the public, subject to certain risk management measures being implemented. The risk management procedures contained in this Order are based on the opinion of the Directorate-General of Risk Prevention (DGPR) of the Ministry for Ecological and Inclusive Transition (MTES) and on the risk analysis performed by INERIS (the National Institute for industrial environment and risks).

Public concerned: operators and owners of establishments open to the public, business owners, main contractors, architects, members of safety committees, technical inspectors, manufacturers and installers of equipment using refrigerants.
Purpose: amendment of a provision concerning the use of refrigerants in premises receiving the public.
Entry into force: the day after publication in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
Notice: Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases provides for a progressive reduction in emissions of these gases and especially in the quantities of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Certain HFCs are used in heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water equipment and installations in establishments open to the public. The substitutes for HFCs used in air conditioning/refrigeration in establishments open to the public are typically flammable. The purpose of this Order is to authorise the use of these substitutes in establishments open to the public, subject to certain risk management measures being implemented. The risk management procedures contained in this Order are based on the opinion of the Directorate-General of Risk Prevention (DGPR) of the Ministry for Ecological and Inclusive Transition (MTES) and on the risk analysis performed by INERIS (the National Institute for industrial environment and risks).
References: the wording of the text, as amended by this Order, may be consulted on the Légifrance website (http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr).

The Minister of State for the Interior,

Having regard to Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services, in particular Notification No [   ];

The Minister for the Interior,
Having regard to Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services, in particular Notification No 2018/467/F;
Having regard to the Construction and Housing Code, and in particular Article R123-12 thereof;

Having regard to the amended Order of 25 June 1980 approving general fire safety and anti-panic regulations in establishments open to the public;

Having regard to the opinion of the High Council on Construction and Energy Efficiency, dated [  ];

Having regard to the opinion of the National Council for the Evaluation of Standards, dated [  ],

Having regard to the opinion of the High Council on Construction and Energy Efficiency, dated 16 October 2018;
Having regard to the opinion of the National Council for the Evaluation of Standards, dated 11 October 2018,
Hereby orders:

Article 1

Article 2

Article CH 35 is replaced by the following provisions:

Article CH 35 is replaced by the following provisions:
‘Equipment or installations using refrigerants

§ 1. For the purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

‘flammable refrigerants’, fluids in which flames spread at a temperature of 60°C and a pressure of 101.3 kPa;
- ‘flammable refrigerants’, fluids in which flames spread at a temperature of 60°C and a pressure of 101.3 kPa;
- ‘toxic refrigerants’, fluids for which there is evidence of toxicity at concentrations of less than 400 ppm.

‘toxic refrigerants’, fluids for which there is evidence of toxicity at concentrations of less than 400 ppm.
Thermodynamic equipment and installations intended to deliver heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water production shall comply with the following conditions.
§ 2. Provisions applicable regardless of the refrigerant used.
Where equipment incorporating a compressor is placed in premises accessible to the public, the compressors shall be of hermetic or accessible hermetic type.
Where the equipment is placed in a machine or engine room, this room shall have at least two ventilation orifices, situated at different heights. It shall be distinct from the boiler room and shall not communicate directly with the premises accessible to the public.
The pipework transporting the refrigerants shall be made of metal.
The lagging used to insulate the pipework shall be made of M1 or CL-s3, d0 rated material in the premises accessible to the public and the access routes thereof, and in M3 or DL-s3, d0 rated material in the other parts of the establishment.
The pipes and receptacles containing the fluids used for the transport of cold (known as refrigeration mediums) must comply with the provisions of Article CH 25(3).
The lagging used for the receptacles containing the fluids used for the transport of cold shall be made of M1 or B-s3, d0 rated material in the premises accessible to the public and their access routes, and of M3 or D-s3, d0 rated material in the other parts of the establishment.
§ 3. Provisions applicable where flammable refrigerants are used.
The provisions of paragraph 3 do not apply to hermetically sealed equipment bearing the CE mark.
The installation of removable connections is prohibited on pipes carrying flammable refrigerants, except to connect units.
Pipework carrying flammable refrigerant shall be protected from any risk of clean breakage. Installing pipework at a minimum height of two metres above the ground or installing mechanical protection meets this requirement.
The internal diameter of pipework carrying flammable refrigerants in their liquefied form shall be less than 50 mm.
In addition to the conditions provided for in paragraph 2, the lagging used to insulate interior units containing flammable refrigerants shall be made of M1 or B-s3, d0 rated materials.
Machine and engine rooms are medium risk zones within the meaning of Article CO 28(2).
a) Exclusion zone.
A zone shall be created around the removable connections of units containing flammable refrigerants, in which all ignition sources are prohibited and especially any flame or

Thermodynamic equipment and installations intended to deliver heating, air conditioning and domestic hot water production shall comply with the following conditions.

§ 2. Provisions applicable regardless of the refrigerant used.

Where equipment incorporating a compressor is placed in premises accessible to the public, the compressors shall be of hermetic or accessible hermetic type.

Where the equipment is placed in a machine or engine room, this room shall have at least two ventilation orifices, situated at different heights. It shall be distinct from the boiler room and shall not communicate directly with the premises accessible to the public.

The pipework transporting the refrigerants shall be made of metal.

The lagging used to insulate the pipework shall be made of M1 or CL-s3, d0 rated material in the premises accessible to the public and the access routes thereof, and in M3 or DL-s3, d0 rated material in the other parts of the establishment.

The pipes and receptacles containing the fluids used for the transport of cold (known as refrigeration mediums) must comply with the provisions of Article CH 25(3).

The lagging used for the receptacles containing the fluids used for the transport of cold shall be made of M1 or B-s3, d0 rated material in the premises accessible to the public and their access routes, and of M3 or D-s3, d0 rated material in the other parts of the establishment.

§ 3. Provisions applicable where flammable refrigerants are used.

The provisions of paragraph 3 do not apply to hermetically sealed equipment bearing the CE mark.

The installation of removable connections is prohibited on pipes carrying flammable refrigerants, except to connect units.

Pipework carrying flammable refrigerant shall be protected from any risk of clean breakage. Installing pipework at a minimum height of two metres above the ground or installing mechanical protection meets this requirement.

The internal diameter of pipework carrying flammable refrigerants in their liquefied form shall be less than 50 mm.

In addition to the conditions provided for in paragraph 2, the lagging used to insulate interior units containing flammable refrigerants shall be made of M1 or B-s3, d0 rated materials.

Machine and engine rooms are medium risk zones within the meaning of Article CO 28(2).

a) Exclusion zone.

A zone shall be created around the removable connections of units containing flammable refrigerants, in which all ignition sources are prohibited and especially any flame or appliance liable to produce a spark, to avoid any risk of ignition in the event of a leak.

appliance liable to produce a spark, to avoid any risk of ignition in the event of a leak.
Depending on whether the installations are situated on the interior or exterior of the establishment and the combustion characteristics of the fluid, the radius of this zone is defined in the table below:

Internal diameter D of the pipework circulating the liquid phase (mm) Radius (m) Exterior installations(1) Interior installations(2) LII ≥ 0.10 kg/m3 Interior installations(3) LII < 0.10 kg/m3 D ≤ 10 2 1 2 10 < D ≤ 20 4 2 4 20 < D ≤ 50 10 4 10
Internal diameter D of the pipework circulating the liquid phase (mm) Radius (m) Exterior installations (1) Interior installations (2)
LII ≥ 0.10 kg/m3 Interior installations (3)
LII < 0.10 kg/m3 D ≤ 10 2 1 2 10 < D ≤ 20 4 2 4 20 < D ≤ 50 10 4 10

1Exclusion zone required only for exterior installations whose flammable refrigerants have a flame propagation speed greater than 10 cm/s.

2flammable refrigerants with a lower flammability limit greater than or equal to 0.10 kg/m³.

3flammable refrigerants with a lower flammability limit of less than 0.10 kg/m³.

b) Maximum permitted charge volume.

The maximum total quantity of flammable refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit shall be limited to avoid any risk of the lower flammability limit being reached in the event of a leak in the premises.

This quantity shall be determined using the following formula:

b) Maximum permitted charge volume.
The maximum total quantity of flammable refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit shall be limited to avoid any risk of the lower flammability limit being reached in the event of a leak in the premises.
This quantity shall be determined using the following formula:
mmax = 2.5 x LII5/4 x h0 x A1/2

Where:

mmax (kg): maximum total quantity of flammable refrigerant.

LII (kg/m3): lower flammability limit.

h0: coefficient associated with the height of the equipment situated lowest in the premises, whose value is equal to:

Where:
mmax (kg): maximum total quantity of flammable refrigerant.
LII (kg/m3): lower flammability limit.
h0: coefficient associated with the height of the equipment situated lowest in the premises, whose value is equal to:
0.6 for a location on the floor,

1.1 for a window mounting,

1.8 for a location on the wall,

2.2 for a ceiling mounting,

height of the lowest connection in the premises if this is greater than 2.2 m.

A (m²): surface area of the premises.

No restriction is imposed on the charge volume of flammable refrigerant if the design of the equipment includes a cut-off valve on the refrigeration circuit and a ventilation system controlled by a detector to avoid the lower flammability limit being reached in the premises in the event of a leak.

A (m²): surface area of the premises.
No restriction is imposed on the charge volume of flammable refrigerant if the design of the equipment includes a cut-off valve on the refrigeration circuit and a ventilation system controlled by a detector to avoid the lower flammability limit being reached in the premises in the event of a leak.
No restriction is imposed on the charge volume of flammable refrigerant if the equipment using these fluids is placed in a machine or engine room and if this room is equipped:

with a detection device that, in the event of a leak, triggers the extractor fan and cuts off the circulation of fluid in the circuit to limit the duration of the leak, either by completely halting the thermodynamic system or by activating a solenoid valve. This detection device shall comprise a detection module and two sensors installed according to the nature of the fluid used. An automatic warning device shall indicate any failure of the detection and air extraction system;
-with a detection device that, in the event of a leak, triggers the extractor fan and cuts off the circulation of fluid in the circuit to limit the duration of the leak, either by completely halting the thermodynamic system or by activating a solenoid valve. This detection device shall comprise a detection module and two sensors installed according to the

an extractor fan guaranteeing an hourly air renewal rate sufficient to exceed the lower flammability limit at the extraction output. This fan shall be a category 3 device within the meaning of Directive 2014/34/EU on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
nature of the fluid used. An automatic warning device shall indicate any failure of the detection and air extraction system;
-an extractor fan guaranteeing an hourly air renewal rate sufficient to exceed the lower flammability limit at the extraction output. This fan shall be a category 3 device within the meaning of Directive 2014/34/EU on equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

c) The thermodynamic equipment and systems shall be installed in accordance with the rules specified by the manufacturer.

c) The thermodynamic equipment and systems shall be installed in accordance with the rules specified by the manufacturer.
A document covering all elements describing the installation shall be drawn up and held available to the administrative authorities and undertakings involved, which must consult it before any intervention. This document shall notably include the following elements:

a plan of the pipe network;
- a plan of the pipe network;
- a synoptic diagram of the installation;
- a detailed and justified calculation of the maximum quantity or quantities of refrigerants;
- an installation plan of the safety devices (detectors, solenoid valves, ventilation, etc.);
- the theoretical flow rates of any ventilation if the calculated maximum quantity is exceeded;
- evidence of the calibration and reliability of the detection device, as well as the air renewal rate of the extractor fan;
- a correlation table of the various safety devices if the calculated maximum quantity is exceeded.

a synoptic diagram of the installation;

a detailed and justified calculation of the maximum quantity or quantities of refrigerants;

an installation plan of the safety devices (detectors, solenoid valves, ventilation, etc.);

the theoretical flow rates of any ventilation if the calculated maximum quantity is exceeded;

evidence of the calibration and reliability of the detection device, as well as the air renewal rate of the extractor fan;

a correlation table of the various safety devices if the calculated maximum quantity is exceeded.

This document shall be updated following any modification of the installations or premises.