AUSTRALIA: Faced with the rising popularity of flammable refrigerants, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has issued a draft code of practice for handling these gases.
AIRAH ceo Phil Wilkinson says the rising popularity of flammable refrigerants demands a national, over-arching set of guidelines.
'Whether you're talking about hydrocarbons or synthetic refrigerants, the rise in the use of flammable refrigerants is inevitable,' Phil Wilkinson says. 'And because of the flammable nature of these substances, regulations concerning them have existed at state level. The Code of Practice for Flammable Refrigerants brings these all together in the one useful document. It's all about safety.'
'The Code of Practice for Flammable Refrigerants concerns managing the health and safety risks associated with the safe design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and disposal of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and systems that use a flammable refrigerant,' Phil Wilkinson says. 'If the Code of Practice is approved, it will be a practical guide to achieving the standards of health, safety and welfare required under both the act and the regulations.'
The Code specifically applies to all stationary refrigerating systems of all sizes - including air conditioners and heat pumps - which are to be charged with flammable refrigerants that have a refrigerant classification of A2, A2L or A3, or any other refrigerant that meets the criteria to be classified as A2, A2L or A3 refrigerant.
The draft is available at
www.airah.org.au under 'useful documents' until April 14, and feedback from industry stakeholders is strongly encouraged.