RACA Journal I June 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 39
SUPPORT
GRANT LAIDLAW voices
Grant Laidlaw is currently the owner of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Academy( ACRA) in Edenvale. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an associate degree in educational administration. He has a National Technical Diploma and completed an apprenticeship with Transnet. He has dual-trades status: refrigeration and electrical. He has been involved with SAIRAC for over two decades and served on the Johannesburg committee as chairman and was also president between 2015 and 2018. Currently he is the SAIRAC national treasurer.
WELCOME TO THE SOLUTIONS PAGE
By Grant Laidlaw
Many people ask for assistance in understanding theoretical and practical aspects of the industry. I will endeavour to enlighten. We are going back to basics as I have questions coming in that indicate that the basic understanding necessary to work in industry is not in place.
Clement asks: Hi Grant, we find that some technicians do not know how to deal with the safety aspects of flammable refrigerants. Can you please discuss the use of flammable refrigerants. Thanks.
Hi Clement, I have looked into R290 in previous issues and will now summarise this topic. Working with flammable refrigerant and cylinders requires strict safety procedures due to their high flammability. Proper training and adherence to safety protocols are critical for anyone handling these refrigerants.
It is recommended that companies and personnel who use hydrocarbon refrigerants either in equipment they manufacture or equipment for which they are responsible, put into place a general strategy to ensure that correct work practices are employed. Note that the requirements detailed here are generic and not exhaustive, but are intended as a guide only. Additional precautions may be appropriate dependent upon the particular equipment and conditions.
• Practical competence: Any person who is involved with working on or breaking into a refrigerant circuit must be registered as an authorised refrigeration practitioner in the relevant category. Servicing shall only be performed as recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Maintenance and repair requiring the assistance of other skilled personnel shall be carried out under the supervision of the person competent in the use of flammable refrigerants.
• General approach to hydrocarbon refrigerant handling: All flammable refrigerant gases when mixed with air form a flammable mixture. The effect of ignition of such a mixture can be severe. It is therefore important that the appropriate safety requirements are observed at all times when working with flammable refrigerants. Any equipment used in the process of repair must be suitable for use with flammable refrigerants. All tools and equipment, including measuring equipment, are to be checked for suitability for working on the equipment. If the installation permits, it is recommended
that the equipment be removed from its existing position to a controlled workshop environment suitable for the type of repair where work can be conducted safely.
AREA SAFETY CHECKS Prior to beginning work on systems containing hydrocarbon refrigerants, safety checks are necessary to ensure that the risk of ignition is minimised as well as the refrigerant collecting in low-lying areas. For repair to the refrigerating system prior to conducting work on the system, the following precautions shall be complied with:
Work procedure: Work should be undertaken under controlled procedures so as to minimise the risk of flammable vapour being present while the work is being performed.
General work area: All maintenance staff and others working in the local area should be instructed as to the nature of work being carried out. Work in confined spaces must be avoided. Low-lying areas must be ventilated. The area around the workspace is to be sectioned off. Ensure that the conditions within the area have been made safe by control of flammable material and ignition sources.
Presence of fire extinguisher: Appropriate fire extinguishing equipment shall be available to hand. Have a dry powder or CO2 fire extinguisher adjacent to the charging area.
Checking for presence of refrigerant: The area shall be checked with an appropriate refrigerant detector prior to and during work to ensure the technician is aware of potentially flammable atmospheres. Ensure that the leak detection equipment being used is suitable for use with flammable refrigerants, i. e. nonsparking, adequately sealed or intrinsically safe.
Leak detection: The following leak detection methods can be used on systems containing hydrocarbons:
• Electronic leak detectors may be used to detect hydrocarbons that are designed to do so. Detection equipment should be calibrated in a refrigerant-free area. Ensure that the detector is not a potential source of ignition and is suitable for hydrocarbon refrigerants.
RACA Journal I June 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 39