What is typical room layout for B28 installations?

• A. Mechanical rooms embedded in occupied spaces
• B. Mechanical rooms with no ventilation
• C. Mechanical rooms segregated from occupied spaces with dedicated ventilation and detection, and barriers to prevent spread
• D. Outdoor enclosures with no access control

Answer: (C)

For flammable-refrigerant systems, the room that houses the equipment must be treated as a separate, contained space. The mechanical room should be segregated from occupied areas and equipped with its own dedicated ventilation and gas detection. This setup helps dilute and remove any leaked refrigerant before it can accumulate to dangerous levels or find an ignition source.

Barriers are essential to prevent the spread of both vapors and fire. Fire-rated walls and doors, controlled penetrations, and overall compartmentalization keep any potential release contained within the mechanical area and reduce the risk to occupants elsewhere in the building. Access to the room is typically controlled and the ventilation and detection systems are tied to safety controls so leakage triggers alarms or automatic responses.

If the room were embedded directly in occupied space or had no dedicated ventilation, leaks could expose people, and lack of containment increases the chance of flame or gas spreading. Outdoor enclosures with no access control could likewise allow unmonitored releases, increasing ignition and exposure risk.