Safety
when servicing
Air conditioning
159
Air conditioning
Refrigerant
General
Refrigerant R134a is used in the air conditioning units. When
R134a is used, there is also a type plate near the receiver drier.
R134a has no potentially depletion properties that will affect the
ozone layer of the atmosphere, but
R134a adds to the green
house effect and must never intentionally be released into the
open air.
R134a is moderately dangerous to health.
Personal competence and accreditation (licensing)
Service workshops must be accredited or licensed to handle ref rig-
erants.
At a licensed workshop there should be at least one person in a
supervisory position with certified competence.
Accreditation should be applied for through the appropriate nation-
al agency according to the applicable national laws.
For handling refrigerants for example for air conditioning units,
there is, as an alternative to certified competence, a certificate of
competence issued after having passed a written test set by the
Nature Preservation Office.
Equipment for service
Pressure vessels, filling station, vacuum pump and hoses etc.
which are used for servicing a system filled with
one type of re-
frigerant must never come into contact with another type of
refrigerant.
Even very small quantities of for instance R12 has a
greatly decomposing effect on Ri 34a. This in turn may destroy the
components in the refrigeration unit.
Personal protective equipment
When there is a risk of contact:
— Use close-fitting protective goggles, protective gloves and pro-
tect bare skin (risk of frost-bite).
— Do not wear contact lenses.
Health risks
When touching the refrigerant in liquid form it can cause
frost-bite.
The gas can at low concentration
have some effect especially
on the nervous system.
In large amounts the gas may
have a narcotic effect.
Because of the risk of explosion, the gas cylinders containing re-
frigerant must not be exposed to a temperature higher than +40 °C
(+104 °F).
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