Cylinders shall be complete with pressure relief valve and associated shut-off valves in good working
order. Empty 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 flammable 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 recover
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 flammable 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.
COMPETENCE OF SERVICE PERSONNEL
General
Special training additional to usual refrigerating equipment repair procedures is required when equipment
with flammable refrigerants is affected.
In many countries, this training is carried out by national training organisations that are accredited to
teach the relevant national competency standards that may be set in legislation. The achieved
competence should be documented by a certificate.
Training
The training should include the substance of the following:
Information about the explosion potential of flammable refrigerants to show that flammables may be
dangerous when handled without care.
Information about potential ignition sources, especially those that are not obvious, such as lighters, light
switches, vacuum cleaners, electric heaters.
Information about the different safety concepts:
Unventilated – (see Clause GG.2) Safety of the appliance does not depend on ventilation of the housing.
Switching off the appliance or opening of the housing has no significant effect on the safety. Nevertheless,
it is possible that leaking refrigerant may accumulate inside the enclosure and flammable atmosphere will
be released when the enclosure is opened. Ventilated enclosure – (see Clause GG.4) Safety of the
appliance depends on ventilation of the housing. Switching off the appliance or opening of the enclosure
has a significant effect on the safety. Care should be taken to ensure a sufficient ventilation before.
Ventilated room – (see Clause GG.5) Safety of the appliance depends on the ventilation of the room.
Switching off the appliance or opening of the housing has no significant effect on the safety. The
ventilation of the room shall not be switched off during repair procedures. Information about the concept
of sealed components and sealed enclosures according to IEC 60079-15:2010.
Information about the correct working procedures:
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