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FAXA-SVX01B-EN
Maintenance
maintenance
procedures
environment, our customers, and the air
conditioning industry. All technicians who
handle refrigerants must be certified. The
Federal Clean Air Act (Section 608) sets
forth the requirements for handling,
reclaiming, recovering and recycling of
certain refrigerants and the equipment
that is used in these service procedures.
In addition, some states or municipalities
may have additional requirements that
must also be adhered to for responsible
management of refrigerants. Know the
applicable laws and follow them.
Also, pay specific attention to the follow-
ing recommendations.
• Whenever removing refrigerant from
air conditioning equipment, recover it
and reuse, recycle, reprocess (reclaim),
or properly destroy.
•
Always determine possible refrigerant
recycling or reclaiming requirements
before beginning recovery. Questions
about recovered refrigerants and
acceptable refrigerant quality
standards are addressed in ARI
Standard 700.
• Use approved containment vessels and
safety standards. Comply with all
applicable transportation standards
when shipping refrigerant containers.
• Use recycling equipment to minimize
emissions while recovering refrigerant.
• Always attempt to use methods that pull
the lowest possible system vacuum
while recovering and condensing
refrigerant into containment.
• When leak checking, be aware of any
new leak test methods that eliminate
refrigerant as a trace gas.
• Do not use refrigerant or solvents that
have ozone depletion factors to clean
system components and parts. Trane
recommends clean up methods using
filters and dryers. Properly dispose of
used materials.
• Take extra care to properly maintain all
service equipment directly supporting
refrigerant service work such as
gauges, hoses, vacuum pumps, and
recycling equipment.
• Stay aware of unit enhancements,
conversion refrigerants, compatible
parts, and manufacturer’s
recommendations that will reduce
refrigerant emissions and increase
equipment operating efficiencies.
Follow specific manufacturer’s
Refrigerant System
Follow these Trane recommended
procedures to ensure refrigerant
conservation and emission reduction.
WARNING
Explosion hazard and deadly
gases!
Never solder, braze, or weld
refrigerant lines or any unit
components that are above
atmospheric pressure or where
refrigerant may be present. Always
remove refrigerant by following the
guidelines established by the EPA
Federal Clean Air Act or other state
or local codes as appropriate. After
removing refrigerant, use dry
nitrogen to bring the system back to
atmospheric pressure before opening
for repairs. Refrigerant mixtures and
air under pressure may become
combustible in the presence of an
ignition source leading to an
explosion. Excessive heat from
soldering, brazing, or welding with
refrigerant vapors present can form
highly toxic gases and extremely
corrosive acids. Failure to follow all
proper safe refrigerant handling
practices can cause death or serious
injury.
Important Environmental Concerns
Scientific research has shown that
certain man-made chemicals can affect
the earth’s naturally occurring
stratospheric ozone layer when released
to the atmosphere. In particular, several
of the identified chmeicals that may
affect the ozone layer are refrigerants
that contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon
(HCFCs). Not all refrigerants containing
these compounds have the same
potential impact to the environment.
Trane advocates the responsible
handling of all refrigerants, including
industry replacements for CFCs, such as
HCFCs and HFCs.
Responsible Refrigerant Practices
Trane believes that responsible
refrigerant practices are important to the
guidelines to convert existing systems.
• To help reduce power generation
emissions, always attempt to improve
equipment performance with improved
maintenance and operations that
conserve energy resources.
Refrigerant Leak Testing
WARNING
Confined space hazard!
Do not work in confined spaces where
sufficient quantities of refrigerant or
other hazardous, toxic, or
flammmable gas may be leaking.
Refrigerant or other gases can
displace available oxygen, causing
possible asphyxiation or other serious
health risks. Some gases may be
flammable and or explosive. Evacuate
the area immediately and contact the
proper rescue or response authority.
Failure to take appropriate
precautions or to react properly to a
potential hazard can cause death or
serious injury.
WARNING
Explosion hazard!
Use only dry nitrogen with a pressure
regulator to pressurize units for leak
testing. Do not use acetylene, oxygen,
compressed air, or any mixture of a
hydrogen-containing refrigerant and
air above atmostpheric pressure
because they may become flammable
and cause an explosion. Failure to
properly regulate pressure can cause
a violet explosion that can cause
death, serious injury, or equipment/
property-only damage.
In the event of required system repair,
leak test the liquid line, evaporator coil,
and suction line at pressures dictated by
local codes, and using the following
guidelines.
Summary of Contents for FADA
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