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HVAC
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10.1.3 PRECAUTIONS
The following precautions should be observed when
handling R134a (Tetra flouroethane, CF3-CH2F)
refrigerant.
WARNING
R134a and R12 are not compatible and must never
be mixed.
NOTE
 It must be noted that R134a must always be ex-
tracted from the system and collected using the
recommended servicing units.
 Care should be taken when discharging the air
conditioning system to ensure the refrigerant is
not released into atmosphere but captured for re-
cycling.
Environment friendly refrigerant R134a is not an
ozone depleting substance but its release would add
to the green house warming effect.
Refrigerant R134a is transparent and colorless in
both the gaseous and liquid state. At ambient tem-
perature and pressure it will be in vapour state. The
vapour is heavier than air and is non-flammable,
non-explosive, non-poisonous and non-corrosive
(except when in contact with moisture).
The following precautions in handling R134a
should be observed at all times:
1. R134a is a hazardous gas and when not handled
properly can cause serious injury. Suitable pro-
tective clothing must be worn when carrying out
servicing operations on the air conditioning sys-
tem.
NOTE
When handling refrigerant, always wear protective
goggles and gloves, made of suitable material like
fluoroelastomer. Leather or plastic gloves are un-
suitable.
2. R134a is odorless and colorless. Do not handle
or discharge in an enclosed area, or in any area
where the vapor or liquid can come in contact
with naked flame or hot metal. R134a is non-
flammable, but can form a highly toxic gas so al-
ways work in a well ventilated area.
3. Do not smoke or weld in areas where R134a is in
use. Inhalation of concentrations of the vapor can
cause dizziness, disorientation, narcosis, nausea
or vomiting.
4. Do not allow fluids other than R134a or compres-
sor lubricant to enter the air conditioning system
this may lead to spontaneous combustion.
5. Avoid contact with liquid refrigerant R134a. At
atmospheric pressure R134a evaporates at ap-
proximately -26ºC and causes frost bite. In the
event of skin or eye contact with liquid refrigerant,
wash the affected areas immediately with plenty
of water. Seek medical treatment immediately.
6. The refrigerant used in an air conditioning system
must be reclaimed in accordance with the rec-
ommendations given along with the Refrigerant
Recovery Recycling Recharging Station.
7. Do not weld or steam clean on or near any air
conditioning components when pressurized. This
may cause a dangerous pressure build up in the
system.
8. When purging a system, discharge the refrigerant
slowly.
9. Refrigerant cylinders should always be protected
from the radiant heat of the sun and kept in a cool
place.
10.Never discharge a system or do brazing / weld-
ing/ operation when the main engine is ON.
not drop, dent or abuse refrigerant gas cylin-
ders.
12.Always chain or strap cylinders in place to pre-
vent them from tripping over.
13.Always keep refrigerant cylinders capped.
14.Never heat a cylinder with open flame or place it
in direct contact with an electric heater.
15. Always double check that you have the correct
refrigerant container. The refrigerant cylinders are
color coded to avoid confusion. (R 134a is gener-
ally BLUE)
16.Use proper size spanners, wrenches to avoid
damages to valve & threads.
17.Make sure that tools, measuring equipment and
replacement parts are clean and dry.
18.Never use oxygen for pressure testing a system.
It may explode in presence of oil. Instead use ni-
trogen from a cylinder equipped with proper
pressure regulator.
19.When filling a refrigerant cylinder, never com-
pletely fill it. Always leave space for expansion. If
the cylinder was completely filled and the tem-
peratures increases, the hydraulic pressure with
its tremendous force would result to cylinder
bursting accidents.
One of the most important requirements when filling
the air conditioning system is to use clean refriger-
ant. Any foreign substances – including air, moisture