This question was asked to ASHRAE and this is the official
ASHRAE answer:
QUESTION:Are self contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA’s)
required outside of refrigeration machinery rooms?
ANSWER:
ASHRAE Standard 15-2007, Safety Standard for Refrigeration
Systems, does not require that SCBA’s be placed outside of
the refrigeration machinery room.
The 1994 version of the Standard did have a requirement for
SCBA’s outside the machinery room (Section 11.6) but this
requirement was eliminated from the Standard with the
approval and publication of Addendum 15d to ASHRAE Standard
15-1994 in 2000. This addendum is available for free
download on the Standards and Technology page at the ASHRAE
website (www.ashrae.org).
The local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) will
establish and enforce the governing building code and
should be consulted to determine the requirements for a
specific design, building, or application. If the code
references ASHRAE Standard 15, the SCBA requirement may
depend on which version of the ASHRAE Standard is
referenced or specifically how the code is worded.
Copies of the standards and latest addenda may be purchased
and downloaded online at our website, www.ashrae.org or by
calling 1-404-636-8400 worldwide.
