42 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I June 2026
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Handling of cylinders: Hydrocarbon refrigerant is available in various sizes of cylinders. Pressure relief valves are fitted to the cylinders to prevent excess pressure buildup. The cylinders are fitted with off-take valves incorporating a non-return valve. Safe cylinder handling differs little from other refrigerant cylinders, which are as follows:
• Do not remove or obscure official labelling on a cylinder.
• Always refit the valve cap when the cylinder is not in use.
• Do not expose cylinders to direct sources of heat such as steam or electric radiators.
• Do not repair or modify cylinders or cylinder valves.
• Always use a proper trolley for moving cylinders even for a short distance – never roll cylinders along the ground.
• Take precautions to avoid oil, water and foreign matter entering the cylinder.
• If it is necessary to warm the cylinder, use only warm water or air, not naked flames or radiant heaters, and the temperature of the water or air must not exceed 50 ° C.
Transport of cylinders: Ensure compliance with The Road Traffic Regulations as applicable to the transportation of cylinders containing hydrocarbons.
Storage of cylinders: Cylinders containing hydrocarbon refrigerants should be stored at ground level, never in cellars or basements. Cylinders should be readily accessible and stored upright. Cylinders should be preferably stored outside and never stored in residential premises. Cylinders may be stored in commercial and industrial premises according to the following guidelines for storage.
• Quantities stored are to be restricted to no more than 70kg and stored in specific dedicated areas or cages.
• Access to storage areas restricted to‘ authorised persons only’, and such places shall be marked with notices prohibiting smoking and the use of naked flames.
• Store and use cylinders in dry, well-ventilated areas remote from fire risk.
• Static electricity build-up should be avoided.
Clement, please see previous issues of the RACA Journal for some more specific details of some of the aspects mentioned in this issue. I hope that this assists you with the usage of flammable
refrigerants. RACA
Grant Laidlaw
grant @ acra. co. za
REFERENCES: |
1. |
ACRA |
2. |
SANS 10147 |
3. |
GIZ |
4. |
SAFETY STANDARD EN378-1:2017-03 |
SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE: USING SIMPLE FINANCE SYSTEMS TO STAY IN CONTROL
By Rob Burger, small business finance and strategy consultant, 2XR Business Solutions
Most HVAC & R contractors don’ t lose money because they’ re bad at their craft. They lose money because they don’ t track it properly.
You can be flat-out busy, working long hours, with jobs booked weeks ahead, and still run into cash flow problems. The difference between a contracting business that survives and one that struggles usually comes down to one thing: simple financial systems.
You don’ t need fancy accounting software. You don’ t need to be a finance expert. You just need a few practical tools and the discipline to use them. All you need is a basic computer with a spreadsheet. If you don’ t have a computer, an A4 notebook will also work.
SIMPLE JOB TRACKING SPREADSHEET A basic spreadsheet is still one of the best tools available. It gives you control and visibility without complexity.
Create a table and track each job with the following columns:
• Customer name
• Job description
• Quoted amount
• Labour cost( your time or staff time)
• Materials cost
• Total cost
• Profit
• Invoice number
• Paid( Yes / No)
• Payment date
42 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I June 2026