FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
illegal trade may spiral again as soon
as the phasedown of HCFCs tightens,
and demand for HCFCs exceeds the
maximum quantities allowed to be
supplied under a particular country’s
Montreal Protocol obligations,’ the
A-Gas report cautions.
As HCFCs and HFCs are being phased
out, some of the replacement products
are flammable, which raises safety
concerns for disposable cylinders in
particular. Incorrect labelling (such as
declaring R600a or butane to be ‘non-
flammable’), incorrect packaging, and
even counterfeit product (such as a
dangerous R22/R134a/R40 mixture), are
also prevalent.
‘In so doing, government will be
adopting an alternative distribution
method that is a sustainable practice, The banning of disposable cylinders
will have a positive impact on product
integrity, as most returnable cylinders environment-friendly returnable
cylinders,” Labacher cites. For example,
the company introduced returnable 12ℓ
compliant with existing regulations
and codes of practice. At the same
time, will substantially reduce the risk
of illegal trade in ODS and counterfeit
product. The usage ban will also make
it substantially easier for government to
police,’ the A-Gas report emphasises. are fitted with Refill Protection Devices
(RPD) to prevent end users filling
cylinders illegally with product that
may be contaminated or out of
specification.
“A-Gas has always promoted
sustainable packaging such as cylinders to the South African market a
decade ago. “We have always been
able to offer our customers a ‘green’
alternative over disposable cylinders.
This is part of our policy to promote
sustainable, safe and environmentally-
sound practices,” he concludes. CLA
As HCFCs and HFCs
are being phased out,
some of the replacement
products are flammable,
which raises safety
concerns for disposable
cylinders in particular.
Another issue, according to A-Gas
South Africa national sales manager
Michael Labacher, is that “basically
some importers in industry have been
importing flammable gases in disposable
cylinders, which is actually illegal.”
Here the standard disposable cylinder
with a 13ℓ capacity is used, when SANS
10229-1: 2010 states explicitly that ‘non-
refillable receptacles shall … be of water
capacity less than, or equal to, 1.25ℓ
when filled with flammable or toxic gas.’
This clause is derived directly from ADR
P200, the European Union standard, and
is referenced in other SANS codes, as well
as the Road Traffic Act. “In my opinion,
you therefore cannot use the standard
disposable cylinder of about 13ℓ for
flammable gases,” Labacher stresses.
Call to ban
disposable cylinders
The A-Gas report recommends to the
DEA that the ban on disposable cylinders
be introduced in two tranches: firstly,
on imports, allowing for a 12-month
period for existing stock to be depleted,
followed by a ban on usage. This will
ensure that no importer is left with stock
that can’t be sold to the end user.
One consolidated voice
for the refrigeration
industry.
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
46
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COLD LINK AFRICA • May | June 2017