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CONTAINMENT OF AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERANTS
The following procedure is a guide to servicing mobile air conditioning systems in a way that minimizes the potential
for losing refrigerant to the atmosphere. Following the procedures in this section will help ensure compliance with
SAE J2211 for R134
systems.
A
DANGER
Avoid injury!
Observe ALL precautions listed below when servicing the air-conditioning system and handling re-
frigerant.
Failure to comply will result in death or serious injury.
Fire or explosion hazard exists with R-134a under certain conditions. R-134a has been shown to be nonflammable at
ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. However, tests under controlled conditions have indicated that, at
pressures above atmospheric and with air concentrations greater than 60% by volume, R-134a can form combustible
mixtures. While it is recognized that an ignition source is also required for combustion to occur, the presence of
combustible mixtures is a potentially dangerous situation and should be avoided.
R-134a service equipment or vehicle air conditioning systems should not be pressure tested or leak tested with com-
pressed air. Mixtures of air and R-134a have been known to be combustible at elevated pressures. These mixtures
are potentially dangerous and could result in fire or explosion causing injury or property damage. Additional health
and safety information may be obtained from refrigerant and lubricant manufacturers. Failure to comply could result
in death or serious injury.
Recovery
1.
Be sure that all service equipment hose lines have shutoff valves or check valves within 30 cm (12 in) of their
ends. This will ensure that only minimal quantities of refrigerant escape to the atmosphere when the equipment
is disconnected from the air conditioning system, and only small amounts of moisture and other contaminants
can enter the system.
2.
Be sure that all equipment, including the connecting hose lines and manifold, are compatible with the refrigerant
in the system with which you are going to work, and that your equipment has previously been used only with the
refrigerant you are about to service.
3.
Be sure that all shutoff valves are tight before connecting them to the air conditioning system.
NOTE: Keep shutoff valves closed at all times unless they are connected to a vehicle's air conditioning system,
a refrigerant storage container or another piece of service equipment containing the same refrigerant. This pre-
vents refrigerant from escaping into the atmosphere, damaging the environment, contaminating the equipment,
and costing you money.
4.
Connect the extraction or recovery equipment to the air conditioning system in accordance with the instructions
supplied by the equipment manufacturer.
5.
Start the recovery process by turning on the extraction equipment and extracting the refrigerant from the air
conditioning system in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
6.
Continue to extract refrigerant until the air conditioning system is under a vacuum and there is no refrigerant
remaining in the vehicle system.
7.
Verify that there is no refrigerant remaining in the system by:
a) Shutting off the extraction unit and observing the system pressure level.
b) Waiting five minutes and observing the system pressure again. If the system pressure has not risen above
atmospheric pressure (0 gauge pressure), all refrigerant has been removed and you may proceed to step 8.
If after five minutes, the system pressure reading has risen above atmospheric pressure (0 gauge pressure), the
extraction / recovery process must be repeated until the pressure reading remains at or below atmospheric for
at least two minutes with the extraction equipment shut off before proceeding to step 8.
8.
Close the shutoff valve in the service lines.
9.
Remove the service lines from the vehicle system. If the recovery equipment has automatic closing shutoff valves,
verify that they are operating properly and do not leak.
INTRODUCTION
48144022 16/06/2017
11
D0043A
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