Disruptive change is underway in the HVACR industry as end users transition to new refrigerants with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP).
This means working with flammable refrigerants and being aware of the risks associated with this new low GWP landscape including application limits and safety requirements.
For example, do you know if the refrigerant mix in your recovery cylinders is flammable or not? According to Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) general manager, Kylie Farrelley, the organisation is already seeing higher concentrations of flammable refrigerants returned for destruction.
Farrelley said careful consideration needs to be given to the increased risk posed by flammable refrigerants throughout the entire supply chain, including recovery at end of life.
“We, as an industry, need to re-think the way used and unwanted refrigerant is handled, stored, and transported to ensure a safe transition to low GWP refrigerants,” she said.
“You may be surprised to learn how easily traditional non-flammable refrigerants can become potentially flammable mixtures when mixing refrigerants at end of life.”
This is just one of the issues to be covered by Farrelley at CCN Live 2020 where she will be joined by Refrigerant Australia executive director, Greg Picker, and the managing director of Weir Legal and Consulting Pty Ltd, Bronwyn Weir.
Drawing on her regulatory expertise, Weir will present the current legislative landscape for flammable refrigerants in Australia covering every state and territory in the country.
It will be followed by a panel discussion about the need to harmonize national legislation and safety rules on the use of flammable refrigerants.
Panellists will also debate the need for mandatory training at the free virtual event.
For end users this transition to low GWP refrigerants may involve undertaking a risk assessment and checking all types of leakage from current HVACR systems.
Users need to check the location of their equipment, rate of gas leakage, the position of an ignition source, and the list goes on.
Industry groups such as the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) have undertaken leak and ignition testing of low-GWP refrigerants in air conditioning equipment under whole room scale conditions, as well as tests to determine refrigerant leak characteristics in real-life applications.
To register for this free, virtual event - CCN Live: Game Changers - visit: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ccn-lve-hvacr-leadership-awards-tickets-124492126301