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Scope and General Application
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Scope and General Application
ANSI Z21.19-2014 / CSA 1.4-2014, Refrigerators Using Gas Fuel, is the harmonized binational standard governing the safety, design, and performance of newly produced gas-fired absorption-type refrigerators. Developed jointly under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), this standard supersedes previous unilateral editions to provide a unified set of requirements for appliances marketed in North America.
Harmonization Milestone: The 2014 edition is notable for achieving full binational harmonization, eliminating previous differences between the US ANSI Z21.19 and Canadian CSA 1.4 standards, particularly regarding automatic valves and system marking requirements.
The standard applies to refrigerators using the absorption cooling cycle with gas inputs not exceeding 200,000 Btu/hr (58.6 kW). Approved fuels include natural gas, manufactured gas, mixed gas, liquefied petroleum gases (propane, butane), and LP gas-air mixtures. It encompasses both free-standing units and those designed for built-in or recessed installation. Excluded are refrigerators specifically for recreational vehicles and marine use (covered by ANSI Z21.57), as well as electrically-driven compressor-type units.
Key Technical Requirements
Construction and Materials
Section 2 of the standard mandates rigorous construction criteria. Gas manifolds and burners must withstand a factory-applied pressure of 1 PSIG (7 kPa) for 5 minutes without evidence of leakage. Burner compartments must be sealed against the accumulation of unburned gas, and all materials in contact with flue products must be corrosion-resistant to the temperatures expected under normal continuous operation.
Safety Shutoff Systems
Section 4 defines the fundamental safety architecture for gas refrigerators. Every unit must be equipped with a safety shutoff system that provides 100% closure of gas flow to the main burner and pilot upon flame failure or ignition failure. This system must be self-contained (thermoelectric), requiring no external power to maintain the safety function.
- Main Burner Flame Failure: Gas flow to the main burner must be automatically interrupted within 30 seconds of flame loss.
- Pilot Flame Failure: The pilot safety shutoff valve must close fully within 4 minutes of pilot extinction under normal ambient temperature conditions.