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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 mani-
fold 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 overfill 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 filled 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.
LABELLING
- Equipment shall be labelled stating that it has
been de-commissioned and emptied of refriger-
ant. The label shall be dated and signed.
- Ensure that there are labels on the equipment
stating the equipment contains flammable
refrigerant.
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 refriger-
ant 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 refrig-
erant (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. Empty recovery
cylinders are evacuated and, if possible, cooled
before recovery occurs.
- The recovery equipment shall be in good work-
ing order with a set of instructions concerning
the equipment that is at hand and shall be
suitable for the recovery of flammable refriger-
ants. 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. Be-
fore 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 man-
ufacturer 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 compres-
sors 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 pri-
or 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 refrigerat-
ing 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 accred-
ited to teach the relevant national competency
standards that may be set in legislation.
- The achieved competence should be docu-
mented 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:
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