INDUSTRY NEWS
RISE OF PROPANE SPARKS SAFETY FEARS
T
he Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has alerted the industry to the growing safety risks posed by increased use
of fl ammable refrigerant gases in air conditioning and heat pump systems. Published in time for this year’s World
Refrigeration Day, the Association’s latest technical bulletin (TB57) points out that there are currently no UK regulations governing the purchase and installation of systems using R290 (propane) because, as a hydrocarbon, it falls outside the scope of the F-Gas Regulations. However, propane use is already growing fast and
will continue to accelerate in step with the phase down of refrigerant gases with higher global warming potential (GWP). Under new European Union rules, stationary split air conditioning and heat pump equipment with capacities below 12kW will be required to use F-gases with a GWP below 150 from the start of 2027. For larger systems, the GWP will have to be below 750.
This means the most commonly used refrigerants in these systems will be phased out to be replaced by R290 in many smaller systems. While the UK is
not bound to EU legislation, it is expected to adopt the same rules because of its commitments, under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment, to minimise the global warming impact of refrigerant gases. BESA acknowledges that R290 is a highly eff ective
refrigerant that provides low GWP, high heat transfer performance, and low-pressure ratios which in turn cause fewer leaks. However, its high fl ammability poses a signifi cant safety risk during installation, maintenance, and retrofi tting.
Flammable
It is, therefore, calling for all technicians and engineers working on R290 systems to receive appropriate specialised training for handling fl ammable refrigerants. “Working with R290 raises major concerns due to its highly fl ammable nature,” said BESA technical engineer Keegan Farrelly. “It is classed as an A3 gas, which is the highest level of fl ammability and means it could even be ignited by static electricity. “With a fl ammability limit of just 1.7%, even a very
small amount of R290 in a room is enough to pose an ignition risk. Most properly qualifi ed engineers
could work perfectly safely with this gas, if they have undergone training that covers the specifi c technical challenges and risks of working with fl ammable gases.” BESA’s technical bulletin highlights the specifi c
risks from the growing number of heat pump installations that now use R290 and the need to carry out extensive risk assessments – both for new and retrofi t applications. It also stresses the importance of making sure the area around the unit is well ventilated.
It highlights the particular risks associated with
brazing and advises engineers to fully purge the system fi rst. BESA also outlines the importance of installing some form of leak detection to minimise the risk of accidental leakage and ignition if the system is installed in an enclosed area. Retrofi tting R290 systems into pre-existing
installations is a particular area of concern for BESA. The bulletin advises that any R290 unit should be positioned at least 1.5 meters from other electrical equipment to reduce the risk of ignition in the event of a leak. “This hasn’t been a consideration so far for existing
systems that use A1 or A2L class refrigerants, but the ongoing phase-down of higher GWP refrigerants and the potential for more stringent future regulations, means that more system replacements may have to employ hydrocarbons like R290,” said Farrelly. “This poses a real challenge when replacing
systems where multiple outdoor units are mounted closely together.”
INSTALLER TRAINING FACILITY OPENS B
axi has opened its new 10,000 sqft Solutions Academy at its Warwick HQ, increasing its annual installer training capacity on the site
from 600 delegates in 2023 to 2000 in 2025. For the fi rst time, a Baxi training facility will
have a dedicated solutions training room, allowing installers to get hands on with complete residential and commercial product portfolio under one roof.
The extensive new facility also includes a fully equipped digital studio to support Baxi’s new e-learning platform, to be launched later this year. Installers will benefi t by being able to access live virtual training and pre-learning, as well as being able to extend their in-person training with follow up out-of-class sessions delivered to enrich their overall learning experience. Baxi says the digital
platform will give greater accessibility to its content, and will allow people to move forward in their careers at their pace and convenience. The company is expanding its nationwide team
of 10 expert trainers, operating out of our four wholly owned facilities and 13 satellite centres based in third-party education facilities. It expects to have the capacity to physically train 10,000 installers a year by 2025, with an additional 5,000 installers benefi ting annually through Baxi’s e-learning platform.
6 July 2024
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