USA: They may have been out of the headlines of late but DuPont has reminded the air conditioning and refrigeration industry worldwide of the dangers of knowingly buying or using couterfeit refrigerants.
DuPont has been working closely with other companies, governments, organisations, and industry groups to combat what it sees as a growing problem, partcularly in respect of R134a.

The US refrigerant manufacturer explains that illegal blended mixtures being marketed online and elsewhere as R134a for automotive air conditioning and refrigeration uses can actually contain R40 (methyl chloride), R12, R22 and/or R30 (methylene chloride) and a variety of other hydrocarbons.

'These counterfeit refrigerants have the potential to cause not only financial harm to a company or an end user, but there are also serious physical dangers associated with these fraudulent products,' it says in a blog on the company's website. 

DuPont sets out four reasons why it is important to avoid and protect against knowingly buying or using counterfeit refrigerants.

Referring to the three deaths in the reefer industry in 2011, it warns of personal injury or even death when counterfeit refrigerants are exposed to other materials. 

'With the potential for death or serious injuries to workers or end-users, it is also quite possible that these safety issues could lead to litigation by those who are injured or harmed,' says DuPont.

The company also warns of other financial impacts from the use of counterfeit refrigerants, including lost sales, higher equipment maintenance costs, and even possible penalties and fines imposed by local governing bodies or agencies  for purchasing or possessing illegal goods.

Potential damage to equipment and components is another area of concern. DuPont points to automotive air conditioning systems, an industry where the problem is particularly prevalent, and the pit corrosion that can be caused in auto evaporators. 'This can create holes in the coil, leakages, system performance issues, and flammability concerns,' says the company.

Finally, DuPont warns of the potential environmental impact of some of the constituents of the these counterfeit blends.