Mechanical Integrity 101 | Emergency Refrigerant Control Boxes

Although Emergency Control Boxes (ECB) are no longer required by the current Fire Codes, most systems across the country are still equipped with an ECB that must be maintained and inspected during a mechanical integrity inspection. So what should an inspector look for when inspecting an ECB? Here are a few points to consider…

1. The ECB should be clearly identified with a label stating “Emergency Refrigerant Control Box”.
2. The ECB should be located so that it is unlikely to be tampered with or vandalized.
3. The valves inside the ECB should be clearly labeled. The labels should include the function of each valve.
4. The ECB should have written instructions available that indicate when the box is to be used.
5. The valves inside the ECB must be completely closed. An open valve likely means an ammonia leak is occurring.

While #5 in the list above may seem obvious, as the frost-line in the picture on the right indicates, we’ve run across several sites that have ECB valves cracked open allowing ammonia to seep by. If you ever run across an open ECB valve, make sure to address the issue by tightening or replacing the valve.