R 32

[snow_man]

Hi All ...is anyone using R32 yet and if so can you tell me what cylinder pressure and valves are used ,is the fitting right hand or left hand ? In Australia R32 is being introduced and I am interested in what other countries use ,do you have reclaim cylinders available for R32 ? thanks

[hookster]

Cylinder must be capable of holding 48 Bar and thread is LH.
The high flammability sticker will cause a problem with the discerning customer

[NiHaoMike]

I remember that it's one of the two compounds in R410a and behaves very similarly. And while it's (slightly) flammable, the risk is way overstated for small systems.

[hookster]

You are correct that R32 (Difluoromethane) is classified as low flammability in the same class 2L as Ammonia, 1234YF, 1234ZE.

My little tongue in cheek joke earlier post, was on the flammability sticker required for these products and the safety data sheets which list the product as extremely flammable. Now if you work in industry where flammability is a concern you will get the fun police police showing extreme interest in your bottle, then the discerning will start looking for an Ex rating on your equipment.

http://www.boconline.co.uk/internet....1410_39651.pdf

Micro bore condensers are of interest with the new refrigerants, as the refrigerants react in fire with magnesium, aluminium,zinc and alloys.

Personally after working with ammonia for years the fears are unsubstantiated and flame propagation is very low. The problem is though that most technicians are loathe to work with ammonia unless trained for the task and the unpleasant nature of the refrigerant promotes better safety practices.
(work with out a harness at height you take damn sure you don't fall, add a harness I see muppets on strings)

The real issue is that these refrigerants will flood the markets and unlike ammonia there will be the same users as current refrigerants on a much higher scale than ammonia. These users will not be trained on use of the refrigerants and to be able to identify if the system is suitable for them.

The IcePak explosion in New Zealand should have got the warning bells sounding and the suitable training and legislation in place. Of course the refrigerant used was a higher flammability than the current blends.
If you think this was the only incident read this!
http://meatiesohs.org/content/hazard...ment-labour-nz

Now second incident was from bad practices and unfortunately the industry has a legacy of technicians riding in with spurs and six guns flying!

Then we look at the incidents of the exploding fridges.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...y-coolant.html
http://www.acr-news.com/blog/view_entry.asp?id=152

The use of new refrigerants is happening and there is nothing that will stop the changes even companies like Mercedes had to bow to the enforced changes but there needs to be some formal training and regulation on refrigerants besides f-gas.
You can buy refrigerants from the internet, wholesaler, hardware store etc. you don't need any certification to do this even though F-gas states you do. Air conditioning units are supplied fully charged to whoever wants to install them.

(EN 60335-2-40 applies for whoever is interested)

[chemi-cool]

I think you should read this before you start playing with it.
http://pioneerair.com.au/the-dangers...2-refrigerant/

[Jadeair]

Fujitsu have a range of a/c's up to 7kw coming to Australia with R32 this season. Spoke to Panasonic and there sticking with R410a at the moment. Although none of us like gas leaks, the problem with R32 is that our wholesalers aren't stocking it so not sure what happens when the apprentice forgets to do up the flare nut?