DGUV Information 213-013e - SF6-Switchgear and Equipment

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Abschnitt 3.6 - 3.6 Work in equipment rooms following malfunctions with gas leak

3.6.1
In the event of a discharge of decomposition products or if a hazardous quantity of SF6 is detected or reported, equipment rooms and rooms located immediately beneath and adjacent to equipment rooms, may not be entered or must be evacuated immediately.

These facilities may only be entered or re-entered after they have been thoroughly ventilated or with the aid of self-contained breathing apparatus functioning independently of the ambient atmosphere.

Emission of hazardous quantities of SF6can be indicated by:

  • a gas alarm, e.g. activation of luminous or acoustic signals in the equipment room or at its access points,

  • fault or leakage messages in a control centre,

  • gas leakage noise,

  • or activation of a pressure limiting device, e.g. bursting of a rupture disk.

A discharge of SF6together with gaseous decomposition products can be indicated by an unpleasant, pungent odour (like rotten eggs).

The time required for ventilation will depend on, among other considerations, the type and intensity of the gas leak (gas volume, decomposition product content), the room volume, the method of ventilation (natural or technical means) and the ventilator airflow volume as well as the position and size of ventilation openings. Due to the potential risk of suffocation, if in doubt the oxygen content of the air should be measured.

Refer also to DIN VDE 0101 for information regarding the ventilation of equipment rooms and rooms located immediately beneath them.

Refer also to Art. 13 of the German Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) for information regarding operational malfunctions.

3.6.2
Following a gas leak with decomposition product contamination due to a malfunction, the equipment room must be thoroughly cleaned.

Measures must be taken as stipulated in Section 3.5.3 "Maintenance and upgrade work with gas recovery including decommissioning and disassembly". An industrial vacuum cleaner designated for dust class H (high) must be used when removing loose decomposition dust particles.