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a) Become familiar with theequipment and its operation.
b) Isolate system electrically.
c) Before attempting theprocedure ensure that:
- mechanical handling equipment is available, if required, for handling refrigerant cylinders;
- all personal protective equipment is available and being used correctly;
- therecovery process is supervised at all times by acompetent person;
- recovery equipment and cylinders conform to theappropriate standards.
d) Pump down refrigerant system, if possible.
e) If avacuum is not possible, make amanifold so that refrigerant can be removed from
various parts of thesystem.
f) Make sure that cylinder is situated on thescales before recovery takes place.
g) Start therecovery 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 themaximum working pressure of thecylinder, even temporarily.
j) When thecylinders have been filled correctly and theprocess completed, make sure that
thecylinders and theequipment are removed from site promptly and all isolation valves on
theequipment are closed off.
k) Recovered refrigerant shall not be charged into another refrigeration system unless it has
been cleaned and checked.
18. Labelling
Equipment shall be labelled stating that it has been de-commissioned and emptied of
refrigerant. Thelabel shall be dated and signed. Ensure that there are labels on theequipment
stating theequipment contains flammable refrigerant.
19. Recovery
When removing refrigerant from asystem, 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 thecorrect number of cylinders for
holding thetotal system charge are available. All cylinders to be used are designated
for therecovered refrigerant and labelled for that refrigerant (i.e. special cylinders for
therecovery 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.
• Therecovery equipment shall be in good working order with aset of instructions
concerning theequipment that is at hand and shall be suitable for therecovery of
flammable refrigerants. In addition, aset 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 therecovery 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 theevent of arefrigerant release. Consult manufacturer if in doubt.
• Therecovered refrigerant shall be returned to therefrigerant supplier in thecorrect
recovery cylinder, and therelevant Waste Transfer Note arranged. Do not mix refrigerants
in recovery units and especially not in cylinders.