The ‘Guidance for the Service of Hydrocarbon Refrigerant Equipment in a Retail Environment’, is the second guidance document concerning the use of hydrocarbons that the BRA publishes in the first months of 2012, with the earlier publication dedicated to the design and manufacture of hydrocarbon refrigerated cabinets with a charge size greater than 150g.

About the guidance document

The publication summarises best practices for the service and maintenance of hydrocarbon retail equipment and aims to ensure work safety for engineers who are already experienced at working with a range of refrigerants.
It sketches out the critical points of difference to handling HFC refrigerants, rather than provide the full procedures, on:

• Safe working environment
• Equipment, including standard vacuum pumps, recovery machines, electronic detectors suitable for flammable gases
• Leak testing, using safe and sensitive methods
• Refrigerant recovery
• Evacuation
• Un-brazing and brazing
• Charging
• Component replacement

Preferably engineers should hold an F-Gas qualification and have attended a course on the safe handling of hydrocarbons refrigerant within the last three years.

About the British Refrigeration Association

The British Refrigeration Association (BRA) is a trade association representing manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors, contractors, specifiers and end-users of refrigeration plant, equipment and components. It also includes producers of refrigerants and lubricants, colleges and training establishments. It works closely with government, public bodies and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas, to further the interests of the refrigeration industry.