Superb
| Safety measures when working on vehicles with air conditioning and when using refrigerant R 134a |
| The assemblies and the line system of the air conditioning system are filled with refrigerant R 134a (Tetrafluorethane CH2F-CF3). This refrigerant is also known under the trade name H-FCR 134a or SUVA 134a of the firm Dupont (in other countries other trade names may also be usual). |
| The following safety measures must be observed for refrigerant R 134a (additional directives may apply in individual countries): |
| If during repairs on the vehicle it is necessary to drain the refrigerant circuit, the vehicle must be entrusted to a service centre! |
| Reasons: |
| Only the service centres have suitable service positions where the refrigerant can be drained off professionally. |
| If the refrigerant circuit is opened in a service centre, avoid any contact with the liquid refrigerant or refrigerant vapours at all cost! If in spite of these safety measures refrigerant is spilt, do not inhale the resulting gas/air mixture. Switch on the available exhaust systems, wear rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect your hands and eyes. |
| Reasons: |
| The intensive effect of refrigerant on unprotected body parts will cause frostbite. Refrigerant gas is heavier than air, and as it is colourless and odourless it unnoticeably replaces the available oxygen. |
Note| t | It is recommended to hold an eye bath flask within reach. If liquid refrigerant gets into the eyes thoroughly rinse the eyes out with water for approximately 15 minutes. |
| t | Subsequently apply eye drops and immediately contact a physician, even if the eyes are not painful. The physician must be informed that the frostbites was caused by refrigerant R 134a. |
| t | If in spite of these safety measures refrigerant comes into contact with other body parts, rinse immediately with water for at least 15 minutes. |
| Work on the air conditioning refrigerant circuit must only be carried out in well-ventilated areas. Refrigerant must not be stored in lower areas (e.g. cellars) or related exits or window openings. |
| Reasons: |
| Refrigerant is colourless and odourless. It is also heavier than air and thus replaces oxygen. This results in an unnoticeable risk of asphyxia in poorly ventilated areas or in workshop pits. |
| Remedial measures: |
| When working on the refrigerant circuit make sure there are no workshop pits, shafts or cellar entrances within a 5 meter radius. Switch on all available exhaust systems. |
| It is prohibited to weld, or hard or soft solder on parts of the filled air conditioning system. This also applies for welding and soldering operations on the vehicle if there is any risk that parts of the air conditioning heat up. Within the scope of repair paintwork the object temperatures in the drying oven or in its preheating zone must not exceed 80 °C. |
| Reasons: |
| Heating generates considerable overpressure in the system, which could result in one of the pressure relief valves opening. During electrical welding invisible ultraviolet rays are produced that penetrate the refrigerant hoses and decompose the refrigerant. |
| Remedial measures: |
| Damaged or untight parts of the air conditioning system must not be repaired by welding or soldering, they must systematically be replaced after having drained off the refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit at the service position (entrust the vehicle to a service centre). |
| Although refrigerant is not flammable it is nevertheless prohibited to smoke, weld or hard or soft solder in a room filled with refrigerant vapour. |
| Reasons: |
| The high temperature of a naked flame or hot bodies causes the refrigerant gas to chemically decompose. Inhaling the released toxic products will cause an irritating cough and nausea. |
| Refrigerant containers (e.g. filling cylinders at the service position) must never be heated considerably or be exposed to direct sunlight. |
| Never fill the containers completely with liquid refrigerant. With sufficient expansion space (gas blanket) the container will burst as the temperature rises with catastrophic consequences. |
| Under no circumstances must you pour refrigerant in systems or containers that still contain air. |
| Remedial measures: |
| Exhaust systems and containers before filling with refrigerant. |
| Refrigerant must not be released into the environment, it must be drained off from the refrigerant circuit using an exhaust system or service position. The drained off refrigerant is processed on site or is returned to the manufacturer for ecological disposal (different or additional directives may apply in certain countries). This is why the vehicle must be entrusted to a service centre (these workshops have the relevant systems and tools on site). |
