Handling Refrigerant
There is a danger of ice-up.
The refrigerant can then escape as a fluid or vapor.
Do not open containers, which store refrigerant.
Follow the instructions for the workplace. Refer to Volkswagen Service Net, Handbooks, Service Handbook; Protecting the Environment. They should be displayed in the workplace.
If refrigerant vessels are opened, the contents may escape in liquid or vapor form. This process is intensified the higher the pressure in the vessel.
The pressure level is governed by two factors:
- The type of refrigerant in the vessel. The lower the boiling point, the higher the pressure.
- The temperature level. The higher the temperature, the higher the pressure.
Protective Eyewear
Put on protective goggles. They prevent refrigerant getting into the eyes, as this could cause severe injury from exposure to cold.
Protective Gloves and Clothing
Greases and oils dissolve readily in refrigerants. They would therefore destroy the protective layer of grease if allowed to come into contact with the skin. Degreased skin is however sensitive to the cold and germs.
Fluid Refrigerant and Skin Precaution
The refrigerant draws heat for evaporation from the surrounding area. Even if this is the skin. This may cause extremely low temperatures. Local frost bite may result (boiling point of R134a: -26.5 °C (-15.7 °F) at ambient pressure).
Do Not Breath In Refrigerant Vapor
If highly concentrated refrigerant vapor escapes, it mixes with the surrounding air and displaces the oxygen necessary for breathing.
Smoking Hazard
A burning cigarette can cause refrigerant to decompose. The resultant substances are toxic and must not be inhaled.
Welding and Soldering on Refrigeration Systems
Before performing welding or soldering work on vehicles near the air conditioning system components, extract the refrigerant and remove the residue by flushing with compressed air and nitrogen.
The products of refrigerant decomposition due to the effect of heat are not only toxic, but may also have a highly corrosive effect on pipes and system components. They mainly take the form of hydrogen fluoride.
Pungent Odor
A pungent odor indicates that the products of decomposition mentioned above have already formed. Avoid inhaling these substances under all circumstances, as otherwise the respiratory system, lungs and other organs could be damaged.
First Aid
- Following contact with eyes or mucous membranes, immediately rinse with copious amounts of running water and consult an eye specialist.
- Following contact with the skin, immediately remove affected clothing and rinse skin with copious amounts of water.
- Following inhalation of highly concentrated refrigerant vapors, immediately take the affected person into the open air. Call a doctor. Administer oxygen in the event of breathing difficulties. If the affected person has difficulty breathing or cannot breathe, tip head back and perform mouth to mouth respiration.