IICL RTB 003, 23 March 2012
Title: “Refrigerant
Refrigerant Gas Testing
Testing”
REFRIGERANT GAS TESTING
The container industry has been tracking the situation involving contaminated refrigerant gas in
refrigerated containers (“reefers”) designed to operate with R134a refrigerant. The use of an
incorrect refrigerant gas during the servicing of such reefers has resulted in contamination of
some reefers with chlorinated products. Refrigerant gas service cylinders contaminated with
chlorinated products have apparently also been found on ships.
The container leasing industry has been investigating and reviewing possible methods for
testing supply gas cylinders and reefers for such chlorinated product contam
contamination.
ination. The
investigation and review processes have been conducted by various interested parties,
parties
internationally, over several months. The Institute of International Container Lessors (“IICL”),
along with many other industry organizations, has participated in this process and has
monitored the various developments. Currently, there appears to be a consensus within the
container leasing industry on certain best practices and procedures regarding testing for any
potential chlorinated product cont
contamination
amination of reefers designed to operate with R134a
refrigerant.
The precise requirements regarding any testing, including whether any given reefer or supply
gas cylinder requires testing, when such testing should occur, the specific procedures
surrounding any such testing, the manner to proceed when a test reveals chlorinated product
contamination exists, and documentation that is required, are to be determined by the owners or
managers of the equipment at issue. The purpose of this paper is to present II
IICL’s
CL’s position only
with respect to methods of testing for contamination from a chlorinated product. As technology
develops or changes, and based on further experience of the container leasing industry with
these issues, best practices and procedures may cchange. Please check the IICL website,
http://www.iicl.org/techcorner/reefer.cfm , for updates on these issues and for related
information.
2
IICL RTB 003, 23 March 2012 (cont)
Title: “Refrigerant Gas Testing”
The current best practices and procedures regarding testing methods are outlined below:
• There are several methods that presently can be used to test whether gas in supply
cylinders or in reefers designed to operate with R134a refrigerant is contaminated with
chlorinated products. The industry consensus is that there currently are two safe,
accurate, and effective methods for such testing: the Halide flame test and the system
incorporating ‘gas sniffer’ tubes supplied by RAE Benelux.
• Details regarding the Halide flame test are available from multiple sources and the users
should become familiar with the proper procedures and equipment to use, as well as the
safety precautions that should be followed. A sample set of Halide flame test
procedures is posted on the IICL website at http://www.iicl.org/techcorner/reefer.cfm .
• Detailed procedures regarding the ‘gas sniffer’ test are available from RAE Benelux and
users should become familiar with the proper procedures and equipment to use, as well
as the safety precautions that should be followed. A sample set of gas sniffer test
procedures is posted on the IICL website at http://www.iicl.org/techcorner/reefer.cfm .
• Regardless of the method that is used, only properly trained personnel should be
involved with the servicing and testing of reefers and supply cylinders.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This reflects the position of IICL as of the date of this document.
Please visit http://www.iicl.org/techcorner/reefer.cfm , for revisions or updates regarding
this position and for further information regarding these issues. As noted above, future
experience with these issues and changes in available technology may result in changes
to this information.
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