Q & A of the Day - How to stop HVAC being turned off by unauthorised people?

BookmarkThis 13.10.2011
SELECT
 

This Question concerns the operation of air-conditioning plant in a university. It is answered by SELECT (Theme - HVAC):

How to stop HVAC being turned off?
How to stop HVAC being turned off?
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This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.

Question: I work as maintenance electrician at a university. In a ground floor cafeteria area where students and staff take rest periods, there are two air-conditioning plants fitted in the false ceiling to supply air to the open area. There is a fused double-pole switch adjacent to each air-conditioning unit.

Unfortunately, we have had occasions where the units have been switched off by people other than staff.

My question is, can I change the double-pole switches with single-phase non-switched fused spur outlets so that the units cannot be switched off?

Answer: Regulation 537.3 requires that a means of switching off for mechanical maintenance shall be provided where mechanical maintenance may involve a risk of burns or a risk of injury from mechanical movement. If the switch was located remotely from the air-conditioning unit, then you would require the switch to be lockable.

Devices suitable for switching off for mechanical maintenance include isolators, switches and circuit breakers.

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www.voltimum.co.uk/consult.php?universe=consult.index.questions

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SELECT
The Walled Garden, Bush Estate,
Midlothian, Scotland EH26 0SB
Tel: 0131 445 5577
Fax: 0131 445 5548
Email: admin@select.org.uk
Web: www.select.org.uk
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