Golf Mk3
Safety measures for working on air conditioned vehicles and handling refrigerant - R12
Safety precautions for working on air conditioned vehicles and handling refrigerant R12
The following safety precautions must be observed for this refrigerant (in some countries additional regulations may apply): If it is required to evacuate refrigerant from system to complete repairs, the vehicle must be taken to a specialist workshop. Reasons: Only specialist workshops are equipped with suitable evacuating equipment to handle the refrigerant competently. Notes:
Only work on the refrigerant circuit in well ventilated rooms. The refrigerant is not to be stored in shafts or openings leading to cellars. Reasons: Refrigerant is odourless and colourless and heavier than air and therefore displaces oxygen. If, even after taking precautions, refrigerant escapes there is a danger of asphyxiation without advance warning in poorly ventilated rooms/pits. Precautions: Before working on a refrigerant circuit ensure that there are no cellar openings, pits or shafts within 5 m. Any available extraction systems to be in operation. Do not weld, braze or soft-solder parts of the charged air conditioner. This also applies to welding and soldering work on the vehicle when the danger exists that parts of the air conditioner will heat up. During paintwork, object temperatures in the drying oven or in its pre-heating zone must not exceed 80° C. Reason: Heat leads to high pressure in the system which may cause the pressure relief valve to open. During electrical welding invisible ultra-violet rays are produced, these penetrate hoses and breakdown the refrigerant. Repair procedures: Damaged or leaking air conditioner components are not to be repaired by soldering/welding, they must always be renewed, first evacuate refrigerant from refrigerant circuit using refrigerant evacuation station (take vehicle to specialist workshop). |