English
9
Safety precautions
• 
Electrostatic charge may accumulate and 
create a hazardous condition when charging 
and discharging the refrigerant.
To avoid fi re or explosion, dissipate static 
electricity during transfer by grounding and 
bonding containers and equipment before 
charging/discharging.
10. Decommissioning
• 
Before carrying out this procedure, it is 
essential that the technician is completely 
familiar with the equipment and all its details.
• 
It is recommended good practice that all 
refrigerants are recovered safely.
• 
Prior to the task being carried out, an oil and 
refrigerant sample shall be taken in case 
analysis is required prior to re-use of reclaimed 
refrigerant.
• 
It is essential that electrical power is available 
before the task is commenced.
a)  Become familiar with the equipment and its 
operation.
b) Isolate system electrically.
c) Before attempting the procedure ensure that:
• 
mechanical handling equipment is available, if 
required, for handling refrigerant cylinders; 
• 
all personal protective equipment is available 
and being used correctly;
• 
the recovery process is supervised at all 
times by a competent person;
• 
recovery equipment and cylinders conform to 
the appropriate standards.
d)  Pump down refrigerant system, if possible.
e)  If a vacuum is not possible, make a manifold 
so that refrigerant can be removed from 
various parts of the system.
f)    Make sure that cylinder is situated on the 
scales before recovery takes place.
g)  Start the recovery machine and operate in 
accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
h)  Do not over fi ll cylinders. (No more than 
80 % volume liquid charge).
i)    Do not exceed the maximum working 
pressure of the cylinder, even temporarily.
j)    When the cylinders have been fi lled 
correctly and the process completed, make 
sure that the cylinders and the equipment 
are removed from site promptly and all 
isolation valves on the equipment are closed 
off.
k)  Recovered refrigerant shall not be charged 
into another refrigeration system unless it 
has been cleaned and checked.
• 
Electrostatic charge may accumulate and 
create a hazardous condition when charging or 
discharging the refrigerant.
To avoid fi re or explosion, dissipate static 
electricity during transfer by grounding and 
bonding containers and equipment before 
charging/discharging.
11. Labelling
• 
Equipment shall be labelled stating that it 
has been de-commissioned and emptied of 
refrigerant.
• 
The label shall be dated and signed.
• 
Ensure that there are labels on the equipment 
stating the equipment contains fl ammable 
refrigerant.
12. Recovery
• 
When removing refrigerant from a system, 
either for servicing or decommissioning, 
it is recommended good practice that all 
refrigerants are removed safely.
• 
When transferring refrigerant into cylinders, 
ensure that only appropriate refrigerant 
recovery cylinders are employed.
• 
Ensure that the correct number of cylinders for 
holding the total system charge are available.
• 
All cylinders to be used are designated for 
the recovered refrigerant and labelled for 
that refrigerant (i.e. special cylinders for the 
recovery of refrigerant).
• 
Cylinders shall be complete with pressure relief 
valve and associated shut-off valves in good 
working order.
• 
Recovery cylinders are evacuated and, if 
possible, cooled before recovery occurs.
• 
The recovery equipment shall be in good 
working order with a set of instructions 
concerning the equipment that is at hand and 
shall be suitable for the recovery of fl ammable 
refrigerants.
• 
In addition, a set of calibrated weighing scales 
shall be available and in good working order.
• 
Hoses shall be complete with leak-free 
disconnect couplings and in good condition.
• 
Before using the recovery machine, check that 
it is in satisfactory working order, has been 
properly maintained and that any associated 
electrical components are sealed to prevent 
ignition in the event of a refrigerant release.
Consult manufacturer if in doubt.
• 
The recovered refrigerant shall be returned to 
the refrigerant supplier in the correct recovery 
cylinder, and the relevant Waste Transfer Note 
arranged.
• 
Do not mix refrigerants in recovery units and 
especially not in cylinders.
• 
If compressors or compressor oils are to 
be removed, ensure that they have been 
evacuated to an acceptable level to make 
certain that fl ammable refrigerant does not 
remain within the lubricant.
• 
The evacuation process shall be carried 
out prior to returning the compressor to the 
suppliers.
• 
Only electric heating to the compressor body 
shall be employed to accelerate this process.
• 
When oil is drained from a system, it shall be 
carried out safely.