IEC TR 62271-303:2008

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Storage and transportation of SF[6]
   4.1 Storage of containers filled with SF[6]
   4.2 Transportation of containers filled with SF[6]
   4.3 Storage and transportation of electric power equipment
        containing SF[6]
   4.4 Responsibilities
5 Safety and first aid
   5.1 General safety rules
        5.1.1 Protection of personnel
        5.1.2 Handling of contaminated safety equipment and
               tools
        5.1.3 Pressurised equipment and tools or measuring
               devices
        5.1.4 Personal safety and protective equipment
        5.1.5 Facilities and services
   5.2 Additional safety measures in case of abnormal release
        of SF[6] due to external fire or internal arc fault
   5.3 First aid equipment and treatment
        5.3.1 Irritation of the skin
        5.3.2 Irritation of the eyes
        5.3.3 Breathing difficulty
6 Training and certification
   6.1 General
   6.2 Training modules
        6.2.1 Module A - Awareness
        6.2.2 Module B1 - Maintenance not implying gas
               recovery
        6.2.3 Module B2 - Installation and commissioning
        6.2.4 Module C1 - Maintenance implying gas recovery
        6.2.5 Module C2 - Decommissioning of electric power
               equipment at the end-of-life
   6.3 Certification
7 SF[6] handling during installation and commissioning
   7.1 Evacuation, filling and checking the SF[6] quality after
        filling
   7.2 Topping-up of SF[6] pre-filled compartments to the rated
        pressure/density
   7.3 Filling sealed pressure systems
8 SF[6] handling during normal service life
   8.1 Re-filling of SF[6] to the nominal pressure/density
   8.2 Checking the SF[6] quality
        8.2.1 Measurement of the SF[6] quality with portable
               equipment
        8.2.2 Sampling and shipment of SF[6] for off-site
               analysis
9 SF[6] recovering and reclaiming during maintenance
   9.1 Recovery and reclaiming of SF[6] from any compartment
        of controlled and/or closed pressure systems containing
        non-arced and/or normally arced SF[6]
   9.2 Recovery and reclaiming from any compartment of
        controlled and/or closed pressure systems containing
        heavily arced SF[6]
10 Dismantling of SF[6] electric power equipment at the
   end-of-life
   10.1 End-of-life of controlled and/or closed pressure systems
   10.2 End-of-life of sealed pressure systems
   10.3 Recovery and reclaiming of SF[6] at the end-of-life of
        sealed pressure systems
   10.4 Dismantling of electric power equipment at the
        end-of-life
   10.5 By-products at the end-of-life
11 Description of SF[6] handling equipment
   11.1 Reclaimer
        11.1.1 External and internal pre-filters
        11.1.2 Filters
        11.1.3 Vacuum pump
        11.1.4 Main and auxiliary compressors
        11.1.5 External and internal gas storage containers
        11.1.6 Evaporator and gas storage container heater
        11.1.7 Gas piping and pipe junctions
        11.1.8 Control instruments
        11.1.9 Safety valves
   11.2 Flexible hose connections
   11.3 Portable devices for gas measurement
        11.3.1 Dew point meter
        11.3.2 SF[6] percentage measuring device
        11.3.3 Reaction tubes sensitive to SO[2]
        11.3.4 Portable SF[6] detectors
        11.3.5 Alarm system SF[6] detectors
   11.4 Cylinder for gas samples
Annex A (informative) Sulphur hexafluoride
Annex B (informative) Environmental effects of SF[6]
Annex C (informative) SF[6] by-products
Annex D (informative) Potential effects on health of SF[6]
        by-products
Bibliography

IEC/TR 62271-303:2008 addresses the procedures for safe and environmental compatible handling of SF₆ during installation, commissioning, normal and abnormal operations, disposal at the end of life of high voltage switchgear and controlgear. Storage and transportation of SF₆ are also covered. These procedures should be regarded as minimum requirements to ensure the safety of personnel working with SF₆ and to minimize the SF₆ emission to the environment. This first edition of IEC/TR 62271-303 cancels and replaces the first edition of IEC 61634 published in 1995. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: IEC/TR 62271-303 is a major revision of the old IEC 61634. The former sections of IEC 61634 are removed and replaced by the chapters of the CIGRE brochure n. 276. IEC 61634 was issued in 1995 when the focus was on safety. In 2008, safety is a very well known and established concept and the focus is nowadays on the environmental compatibility. SF₆ must be kept in a closed cycle and any intentional release must be forbidden. The implementation of the SF₆ reuse concept suggested in the CIGRE brochure was updated with the most recent information. Today SF₆ can be recovered and reclaimed for either being reused on-site or given back to the gas supplier and reused as raw material for the production of "technical grade SF₆". Detailed procedures for appropriate SF₆ handling are given together with the description of the state-of-the-art equipments and measuring devices.