Golf Mk1
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Safety precautions
Safety precautions to be taken when working on vehicles with air conditioner or when handling refrigerant
The refrigerant used in the air conditioner system is difluordichlormethane (CF2CL2). The trade name of this refrigerant is Frigen R12 or Freon R12. The following safety precautions must be taken when working with this refrigerant (in some countries there may also be additional local precautions to be noted): 1) If it is necessary to discharge the refrigerant when carrying out repairs to a vehicle, avoid all contact with liquid refrigerant or refrigerant vapour. Wear rubber gloves to protect the hands and goggles to protect the eyes. Reason: If the refrigerant comes into contact with unprotected parts of the body it will cause frostbite. Caution!
It is advisable to have a rinsing bottle for the eyes handy at all times. If liquid refrigerant gets into the eyes, they should be rinsed thoroughly with water for about 15 minutes. Then use eye drops and obtain medical attention immediately even if no pain is felt in the eyes. The doctor should be informed that the cause of the frostbite was R 12 refrigerant. If the refrigerant comes into contact with other parts of the body despite compliance with safety measures, the part of the body concerned must be rinsed immediately with cold water for at least 15 minutes. 2) The refrigerant must not be discharged in closed rooms or rooms which cannot be ventilated properly. Reason: Refrigerant is colourless and odourless. It is also heavier than air and displaces oxygen so that it can cause suffocation without advance warning in badly ventilated rooms or workshop pits. Remedy: The refrigerant should only be discharged in well ventilated rooms and preferably while the vehicle is raised on a vehicle lift. Ensure that there are no pits, trap doors or cellar entrances within a radius of 5 metres. If an extractor system is installed, it should be switched on. 3) No parts of the charged air conditioner system may be welded, brazed or soldered. This also applies to any part of the vehicle if there is a risk that the parts belonging to the air conditioner system could heat up. After paint repairs, the vehicles must not be heated up to more than 50 °C in the drying booth or preliminary heating zone. Reason: Heat causes a pressure increase which can burst the system. Remedy: Discharge air conditioner system. 4) Although there is no risk of fire with refrigerant, smoking is not permitted in rooms containing refrigerant vapours. Reason: The high temperature of the burning cigarette causes a chemical breakdown in the refrigerant vapour. The products of this breakdown are poisonous and cause violent coughing and sickness when inhaled. |
