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• All personal protective equipment is available and being used correctly;
• The recovery process is supervised at all times by a competent person;
• Recovery equipment and cylinders conform to the appropriate standards.
d) Pump down refrigerant system, if possible.
e) If a vacuum is not possible, make a manifold so that refrigerant can be removed from various parts of the
system.
f) Make sure that cylinder is situated on the scales before recovery takes place.
g) Start the recovery machine and operate in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
h) Do not overfill cylinders. (No more than 80 % volume liquid charge).
i) Do not exceed the maximum working pressure of the cylinder, even temporarily.
j) When the cylinders have been filled correctly and the process completed, make sure that the cylinders and
the equipment are removed from site promptly and all isolation valves on the equipment are closed off.
k) Recovered refrigerant shall not be charged into another refrigeration system unless it has been cleaned and
checked.
10. Labelling
Equipment shall be labelled stating that it has been de-commissioned and emptied of refrigerant. The label
shall be dated and signed. Ensure that there are labels on the equipment stating the equipment contains
flammable refrigerant.
11. Recovery
When removing refrigerant from a system, either for servicing or decommissioning, it is recommended good
practice that all refrigerants are removed safely. When transferring refrigerant into cylinders, ensure that only
appropriate refrigerant recovery cylinders are employed. Ensure that the correct number of cylinders for
holding the total system charge is available. All cylinders to be used are designated for the recovered
refrigerant and labelled for that refrigerant (i.e. special cylinders for the recovery of refrigerant). Cylinders shall
be complete with pressure relief valve and associated shut-off valves in good working order. Empty recovery
cylinders are evacuated and, if possible, cooled before recovery occurs. The recovery equipment shall be in
good working order with a set of instructions concerning the equipment that is at hand and shall be suitable
for the recovery of flammable refrigerants. In addition, a set of calibrated weighing scales shall be available and
in good working order. Hoses shall be complete with leak-free disconnect couplings and in good condition.
Before using the recovery machine, check that it is in satisfactory working order, has been properly maintained
and that any associated electrical components are sealed to prevent ignition in the event of a refrigerant
release. Consult manufacturer if in doubt. The recovered refrigerant shall be returned to the refrigerant
supplier in the correct recovery cylinder, and the relevant Waste Transfer Note arranged. Do not mix
refrigerants in recovery units and especially not in cylinders. If compressors or compressor oils are to be
removed, ensure that they have been evacuated to an acceptable level to make certain that flammable
refrigerant does not remain within the lubricant. The evacuation process shall be carried out prior to returning
the compressor to the suppliers. Only electric heating to the compressor body shall be employed to accelerate
this process. When oil is drained from a system, it shall be carried out safely.
Competence of service personnel
General
Special training additional to usual refrigerating equipment repair procedures is required when equipment with
flammable refrigerants is affected.
In many countries, this training is carried out by national training organisations that are accredited to teach the
relevant national competency standards that may be set in legislation.
The achieved competence should be documented by a certificate.
