The greenhouse effect is rapidly increasing all over the world. The Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 and the new revision settle the terms of the reduction of the quantity of CO2 equivalent tons introduced in the HVAC market.
In approaching this market trend that means new designed products and new technologies applied, Swegon offers a good experience and the right expertise.
Learn in pills about refrigerants classification, refrigerant limit charge, design against risks, transport rules, maintenance and service.
To reduce the CO2 equivalent tons, it means to use refrigerants with low GWP.
Many of the low GWP refrigerants can be classified as flammable (A2; A3, B2, B3) or slightly flammable (A2L or B2L).
Swegon already started moving towards new ranges of units with suitable technical design for A2L refrigerants (non-Toxic slightly flammable) and A3 natural refrigerant (non-Toxic and flammable).
According with the installation site, respectively Class I, II, Class III or IV, and the access type, there is a limited refrigerant charge allowed inside the unit (EN378-1). For Swegon Hydronic units, as Chillers, Heat Pumps, Multifunction units, the installation Class is III, indoor in Machinery Rooms or outdoor.
Swegon developed units suitable for flammable refrigerants with unique design and techniques so to reduce at minimum any flammability risk.
Depending on the unit model and configuration, the refrigerant detector alarm signals refrigerant loss and allows necessary intervention according to the emergency procedure requested by regulation EN378.
The refrigerant detector has to be submitted to a periodic check and calibration (additional information are described in Swegon unit manual).
Transport of units with flammable refrigerant is allowed both by road and by boat.
IMPORTANT:
Follow the prescriptions of ADR for the total exemption (amount of refrigerant less than 12 kg) or for partial exemption (amount of refrigerant from 12 kg to 333 kg). When transport by boat, the document MDGF (Multimodal dangerous form) is required.
NOT ALLOWED transport by Air (IATA) at all
Service personnel is required to get suitable competence according to Rule EN 13313 and ability in practice according to EN788.
F-Gas Certified (European regulation 517/2014) is required too.
It’s required good knowledge about legislation, regulations and standards in handling flammable refrigerants (through appropriate trainings, from Swegon on demand), needs to know how to handle refrigerant leakage, has to be skilled about prevention, handling of cylinders, unit charging, leak detection, recovery and disposal, etc.
Adequate Brazin certification is required too.
Suitable service devices are mandatory when handling flammable refrigerants in flammable atmosphera. Any device like vacuum pump, recovery systems, leakage detector, appropriate refrigerant detectos, calibration kit, external fan, has to be correctly selected and used by competent service personnel.
IMPORTANT: NO ignition Source in service devices.
A1 refrigerant service devices are not recommended with flammable refrigerant.
