1 HVACR316 - Piping Safety Solder and Braze Joints Safety Solder and Braze Joints

2 Safety The term SAFETY, as applied to any refrigeration activity, may have three different applications: operator safety, equipment safety, and system contents safety.

3 Operator Safety When refrigeration equipment is properly handled, there is a relatively little danger to the operator. –Always pull on a wrench (instead of pushing), to prevent possible slippage of the wrench. Slippage could cause rounded corners on nuts and bolts and possible injury to hands. –Always use leg muscles when lifting objects, never back muscles. Make certain there is no oil or water on the floor. Always wear safety glasses when working with refrigerants. When refrigeration equipment is properly handled, there is a relatively little danger to the operator. –Always pull on a wrench (instead of pushing), to prevent possible slippage of the wrench. Slippage could cause rounded corners on nuts and bolts and possible injury to hands. –Always use leg muscles when lifting objects, never back muscles. Make certain there is no oil or water on the floor. Always wear safety glasses when working with refrigerants.

4 Operator Safety Operator safety, cont’d. –Most refrigerating mechanisms are electrically driven and controlled. When working on electrical circuits, make sure the circuit is disconnected from the power source. This can be done by opening the switch at the power panel. Never work on hot electrical circuits Operator safety, cont’d. –Most refrigerating mechanisms are electrically driven and controlled. When working on electrical circuits, make sure the circuit is disconnected from the power source. This can be done by opening the switch at the power panel. Never work on hot electrical circuits

5 Equipment Safety Many parts of the refrigeration equipment are quite fragile. Parts may be ruined by over tightening nuts and bolts, not tightening them in the correct order, or using the wrong size wrench.

6 Equipment Safety Equipment safety, cont’d. Make certain that all connections are tightened before operating a compressor. Before operating open compressor, be sure that the flywheel and pulley are aligned and that the guards are in place. Equipment safety, cont’d. Make certain that all connections are tightened before operating a compressor. Before operating open compressor, be sure that the flywheel and pulley are aligned and that the guards are in place.

7 System Contents Safety Safety of the contents of the refrigerated space depends entirely on the accuracy and care given during the installation and adjustment of the various parts of the system.

8 Solder & Braze Joints To ensure a high quality installation, high quality materials should be used. This includes high quality solder and brazing materials.

9 Solder & Braze Joints This is one of the areas for the installation crew to cut costs, as it is next to impossible to tell the difference between brazing material that contains 0% silver and one that contains 15% silver.

10 Solder & Braze Joints Refrigerant lines vibrate to some degree, and a silver bearing solder will stand up much better to these vibrations than a non-silver bearing product.