AIR CONDITIONING 1 11.1 PRECAUTIONS IN HANDLING REFRIGERANT Refrigerant (R134a) (Tetra flouroethane, CF3-CH2F) Specifications: HFC 134a CH2 F CF3 Oil: Mineral oil Equivalent to ND8 Care should be taken when discharging the air conditioning system to ensure the refrigerant is not released into atmosphere but captured for recycling. Environment friendly refrigerant R134a is not an ozone depleting substance but its release would add to the greenhouse warming effect. Refrigerant R134a is transparent and colourless in both the gaseous and liquid states. At all normal temperatures and pressures it will be a vapour. The vapour is heavier than air and is non - flammable, non-explosive, nonpoisonous and noncorrosive (except when in contact with moisture). The following precautions in handling R134a should be observed at all times. NOTE: R134a and R 12 are not compatible and must never be mixed. 1. Always use safety glasses and gloves when handling or servicing air conditioning systems. If R134a does enter the eye, freezing of the eye can occur and could result in blindness. The procedure outlined below is suggested if R134a enters the eye. a. Keep calm. b. Do not rub eyes. c. Splash large quantities of cool water into the eyes to increase the temperature d. Tape a sterile eye patch in place to prevent dirt from entering the eye e. Go immediately to a doctor or hospital for Professional care. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT YOURSELF. 2. Always use proper workshop practices, do not bypass agreed practices Always work in a well-ventilated area. 3. Avoid skin contact, as R134a will cause frost bite on contact with bare skin. 4. Do not abuse the refrigerant cylinder, or any other tools you may need to use. 5. 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. 6. Do not discharge refrigerant into an enclosed area. 7. When purging a system, discharge the refrigerant slowly. 8. If it is necessary to transport or carry a cylinder of refrigerant in a car, keep it in a luggage compartment. 9. . Refrigerant cylinders should always be protected from the radiant heat of the sun and kept in a cool place. 10. When filling a refrigerant cylinder, never completely fill it. Always leave space for expansion. If the cylinder is completely filled and if the temperature increases, hydraulic pressure will build up and with its tremendous force would result, in leak or burst. 11. Never discharge a system or do brazing / welding / operation when the engine is on. 12. Do not drop, dent or abuse refrigerant gas cylinders. 13. Always chain or strap cylinders in place to prevent them from tripping over, or damage, from moving around. 14. Always keep the cylinders capped. 15. .Never heat a cylinder with open flame or place electric heater in direct contact. 16. Always double check that you have proper refrigerant container. The refrigerant cylinders are colour coded to avoid confusion. R 134a is BLUE. 17. Use proper size spanners, wrenches to avoid damages to valve and threads
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