LEADING refrigerant producer DuPont has added its voice to concerns over the availability of dangerous counterfeit refrigerants.
Late last year, fellow producer Honeywell warned customers to beware of cheap refrigerant 'cocktails' masquerading as HFCs.
Now DuPont has highlighted the prevalence of potentially dangerous counterfeit R134a refrigerants within the Middle East and is urging environment agencies there to follow the example of countries such as Bahrain and Kuwait, and to work with local customs officials in identifying and banning the imports of the dangerous products.
DuPont is setting up a taskforce to aid in dealing with the issue, including facilitating communication and co-operation between local authorities and improving access to equipment for analysis and identification of these products.
According to DuPont, the gases are often branded or packaged to resemble leading brands, and analysis has shown them to contain flammable blends of R12, R22, R134a and hydrocarbons. 'Such a mixture is harmful in every sense of the word,' said Phil Bardsley, business manager DuPont Fluorochemicals, Europe, Middle East and Africa, who spent some time in the region assessing the problem.
Phil Bardsley also revealed that they have also noticed the appearance of the Chinese imports of 134a in areas such as Turkey, Greece and the Balkans. 'Whilst we are yet to work with the EPAs in those countries in analysing these imports, there is the concern that they may be the same flammable blends penetrating the outer reaches of Europe from the Middle East, though this remains unproven.'