This qualification will increase the level of competence required under the EC Standard 378/2016, the aims of the qualification are to:- meet the legal requirements for candidates who work or want to work with hydrocarbon and A2L Refrigerants, as engineers in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector (RAC)
- allow candidates to learn, develop and practice the skills required for employment to work with hydrocarbon and other flammable refrigerant gases, such as HFOs & R32
- Understand the specific health and safety requirements which apply to the installation, servicing and maintaining and de-commissioning of hydrocarbon RAC systems
- Understand the environmental benefits of using hydrocarbon refrigerants
- Allow successful candidates to purchase HC refrigerants from refrigerant suppliers
The training course concludes with a theory multiple choice question paper and a practical assessment
Candidates who attend this course must already have a F-Gas qualification (C&G 2079-11, C&G 2079-12, Cskills J11 or Cskills J12)
Underpinning Knowledge
Candidates are required to;
- Identify the hazards associated with hydrocarbon refrigerants; flammability, low boiling point, asphyxiation, LFL, UFL, sources of ignition, practical limits and density.
- State and identify the commonly used refrigerant designations.
- State the requirements of hydrocarbon specific risk assessments
- Identify the appropriate fire extinguishers for work on hydrocarbon RAC systems.
- State the appropriate sources of health and safety information when installing, servicing and maintaining and de-commissioning of RAC systems
- State the regulations, codes of practice, and industry recommendations appropriate to the installation, servicing and maintenance and de-commissioning of RAC systems, including working with refrigerants.
- State the occupancy classifications and charge size limitations for refrigeration systems.
- State charge size limitations for human comfort cooling and heating for air conditioning systems.
- Identify the specific system features and components which apply to hydrocarbon systems; electrical devices, electrical enclosures, associated electrical devices (including halocarbon systems) & compressors (including starter and associated electrics).
- Identify the features and characteristics of; critical charge systems & oil compatibility.
- State the properties, advantages and disadvantages of hydrocarbon refrigerants including: leakage implications (direct and indirect), thermodynamic properties, cooling capacity and energy efficiency, density & not stenched.
- Explain why hydrocarbons are not suitable for retro-filling into halocarbon systems.
- Identify typical applications of hydrocarbon RAC systems: integral (plug in systems), fluid chillers, high stage CO2 cascade systems, split AC systems & domestic fridge freezers (ISO butane).
- State the requirements for completing a risk assessment for work on hydrocarbon RAC systems.
- State the requirements for creating and maintaining a safe working area, including requirements for temporary zoning.
- Identify appropriate tools and equipment for work on hydrocarbon RAC systems.
- Identify occupancy class.
- Identify the maximum refrigerant charge based on occupancy class.
- Calculate the maximum charge based on the practical limit.
- Determine from calculations the system specific maximum charge.
- State the methods and procedures for: strength integrity testing, tightness testing, leak testing & evacuation and dehydration.
- State the procedures for charging hydrocarbon refrigerants into systems.
- State the procedures for determining when charge is correct.
- State the records to be completed prior to handover.
- State the requirements for safely labelling hydrocarbon RAC systems.
- Specify the information that should be provided to customers, including; operation of system controls, using only appropriately trained servicing personnel & restrictions on the relocation of equipment.
- Identify appropriate ‘like for like’ replacement components for the following; electrical devices, electrical enclosures, associated electrical devices (including halocarbon systems) & compressors (including starter and associated electrics).
- State the importance of maintaining the integrity of sealed electrical enclosures.
- State appropriate methods for accessing and sealing hydrocarbon systems.
- Specify the requirements for recovering hydrocarbon refrigerants, including situations when it may be safe to vent refrigerants to atmosphere.
- State the requirements for the safe use of vacuum pumps evacuating hydrocarbon systems.
- Identify the safe procedures for handling potentially hazardous systems materials, including: hydrocarbon refrigerants.
- Identify work sequences for decommissioning and making safe a system in accordance with appropriate industry procedures.
Practical Skills
Candidates are required to;
- Complete a location specific risk assessment (using a dynamic risk assessment template).
- Establish and maintain a safe working area.
- Select appropriate tools, equipment and PPE for work on hydrocarbon RAC systems.
- Calculate the safe fill weight for the recovery cylinder (density difference between HFCs & HCs).
- Connect equipment in preparation for recovery.
- Recover hydrocarbon refrigerant to a prescribed pressure.
- Fill the system with Nitrogen to a prescribed pressure and release to atmosphere.
- Un-braze specified component.
- Re-braze specified component while purging Nitrogen through pipework.
- Pressure test joints (containment).
- Evacuate to below 2000 microns.
- Re-charge with specified refrigerant weight.
- Run system and check operation.
- Remove charging equipment.
- Seal system and complete leak test with appropriate equipment.
- Complete service records as appropriate.
It should be stressed than the standard 378/2016 does not stipulate any required qualification, only that the engineer should be competent according to EN 13313