A truck driver at an underground mine in Queensland has sustained serious burns to their face, hands and chest from an explosion caused by the vehicle’s air-conditioning system, which was found to have been charged with hydrocarbon refrigerant. The incident happened on January 11 this year, while the worker was driving in the underground mine. Resources … Continue reading QLD mine truck driver injured by hydrocarbon refrigerant blast
The European Commission (EC) has reputedly caused some confusion following the publication of a report that explores the adoption of hydrocarbon refrigerants in split air-conditioning systems as part of the European Union’s (EU) efforts to become climate-neutral by 2050. The EC concludes that, in sub-7kW split air conditioning systems, refrigerant-grade propane (R290) could be employed … Continue reading European report prompts propane puzzlement
A Flammable Refrigerants Review project being undertaken by Weir Legal & Consulting has found 143 different standards, regulations and laws relating to flammable refrigerants during a ‘stocktake’ of legal instruments that control the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industries across every state and territory in Australia. Presenting the research results at a recent CCN Live conference … Continue reading Need for flammables licensing highlighted by ‘stocktake’ of standards, regulations and laws
The New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is developing new regulations that will require technicians to be licensed by WorkSafe if they work with flammable, toxic or very high operating pressure refrigerant gases in commercial and industrial refrigeration, heating or air-conditioning systems. These regulations are expected to be in place by mid-2021, with … Continue reading NZ developing new licensing regulations for flammable, toxic and high-pressure refrigerants
NEWS RELEASE For immediate release: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 Ground-breaking Australian research behind new automotive flammable refrigerants safety guide World-first study results in free guide to help automotive technicians work safely with flammable refrigerants GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA: A new guide on how to work safely on vehicles where it is known or suspected that flammable … Continue reading NEWS RELEASE: Automotive flammable refrigerants safety guide
VASA Vice-President Brett Meads delivered a talk to the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) conference about the causes and prevention of heavy vehicle fires in Sydney on August 15. Brett’s presentation provided an overview of the changes in refrigerants used in automotive AC applications, including the environmental drivers for these changes. Time was spent … Continue reading VASA VP Brett Meads outlines refrigerant risks to ARTSA Heavy Vehicle Fire conference in Sydney
A new guide on how to work safely on vehicles where it is known or suspected that flammable refrigerants may be present is now available for free download by VASA members and is essential reading. This document is the result of a groundbreaking project between Refrigerant Reclaim Australia, VASA and GHD Engineering to study the … Continue reading Groundbreaking Australian research behind new flammable refrigerants safety guide
Greater efficiency from a smaller refrigerant charge Successful trials of a secondary loop car air-conditioning system could open the door to a range of alternative refrigerants with smaller charge sizes. Potential benefits to the consumer include improved fuel efficiency and lower servicing costs. As a global average, energy consumption by car air-conditioning is estimated at … Continue reading Secondary loop auto-AC trial results
More than four years after the Perth truck blast that injured two tradesmen, the Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has published a bulletin outlining safety considerations when “switching to” flammable refrigerants. Contributing to the publication of Dangerous Goods Safety Bulletin No. 0218 and Worksafe was the Motor Trades Association of Western … Continue reading WA issues flammable refrigerant bulletin
Following the coronial inquest into a June 2014 hydrocarbon refrigerant explosion that killed 34 year-old Barry Purtell and 52 year-old Dave Lobb at the Rochester Hotel in Victoria, the state workplace health and safety authority has issued a safety alert regarding flammable refrigerants. Although evidence given at the inquest incorrectly blamed the use of an … Continue reading WorkSafe Victoria issues safety alert following fatal HC fire inquest
