In a bid to promote safe use of flammable refrigerants, AIRAH is running a free national seminar series based on its Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide, which was released in July last year.
AIRAH CEO Phil Wilkinson, said the Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide addresses the uncertainty surrounding the use of flammable refrigerants.
The 75-page book outlines how to best manage the health and safety risks associated with the design, manufacture, installation, commission, service, use, decommission, dismantling and disposal of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment utilising flammable refrigerants.
The guide covers equipment used in a workplace, public building, or residential setting.
"The seminars’ main aim is to ensure that HVAC&R businesses, technical staff, and end-users are aware of the range of issues that come with the use of flammable refrigerants in residential, commercial and industrial systems," Wilkinson said.
"Flammable refrigerants entering the Australian market include hydrocarbon-based products, new synthetic refrigerant products, and new and existing blends of refrigerants.
“We need to improve the awareness of industry and end-users about the issues around the application of flammable refrigerants.
“This seminar series provides a chance for us to engage directly with industry, and discuss the issues covered in the Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide.”
The Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide seminars will be held in six capital cities: Brisbane on May 27, Adelaide on May 28, Perth on May 29, Sydney on June 3, Melbourne on June 4, and Hobart on June 5, 2014.
Presented by industry expert Kevin Lee, the seminars will be free, two-hour morning events, primarily targeted at ARC licence holders, technicians and businesses.
Lee said flammable refrigerants that have low-GWPs are increasingly replacing high-GWP HFCs, which are being phased down because of their carbon-intensive nature.
“Yet because these newer refrigerants are flammable, extra precautions must be taken to ensure safety and risk minimisation,” Lee said.
"These seminars will highlight those risks, and what steps to take to ensure safety through the use of the Safety Guide.
“The seminars will provide an understanding of technicians’ responsibilities, how they can ensure their own safety – and the safety of occupants – when designing, installing or maintaining various refrigeration or air conditioning systems that are charged with flammable refrigerants.”
Attendees can register for the seminars by visiting www.airah.org.au/seminars
The Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide is available for FREE download from www.airah.org.au
