Articles Tagged with ''refrigerant safety''

We all know that some of the new refrigerant options are highly flammable, some are mildly flammable, and some operate at very high pressures. But our industry is filled with smart people who know the hazards, and will train and adapt.

With the advancing worldwide phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP’s) OzonAction Division of Technology has produced a series of factsheets on the safe use of the new alternative refrigerants.

Although it’s commonly acknowledged that there is no one-size-fits-all answer, natural refrigerants, such as carbon dioxide (R-744), ammonia (R-717), and the hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600), have been garnering attention.

The increasing number of refrigerant options makes it more essential than ever for technicians to be aware of the hazards of mixing refrigerants and to cautiously approach systems they’re servicing in case it contains a refrigerant mixture that has been adulterated — perhaps dangerously so.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) announced an agreement completed during the Montreal Protocol Open Ended Working Group meeting in Paris, which includes development of a global qualification program for refrigerant supply chain networks.

A survey of over 100 ammonia refrigeration systems operating in food manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom found that less than 20 percent met legislation covering dangerous and explosive materials.

HFO refrigerants are actually unsaturated HFC refrigerants and are widely recognized as the next generation of refrigerants because of their environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and great energy efficiencies.

A couple of manufacturers in the refrigeration sector — Mainstream Engineering and ICOR — are making announcements of developments in that sector.

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) launched its fourth annual consumer safety awareness campaign to warn Canadians about the risks of using flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants in home and business air conditioning systems.