NZ explosion highlights greed over need
Isn't it strange how the wheels go around. Years ago when VASA first became aware that some automotive technicians were falling for the environmental line that using a flammable or a hydrocarbon gas as a refrigerant in a mobile application was the right thing to do for the world, it warned that not one car manufacturer in the world had designed an air-conditioning system for a flammable gas. It further warned that warranties would be voided and insurance companies would be pleased to find a loophole which would help them avoid a payout.
The findings of a devastating explosion at a New Zealand cool store that it was a refrigerant made by Australia's HyChill which caused the explosion, killing one firefighter and seriously injuring six others, more than justifies VASA's continuing concern about the use of a dangerous refrigerant in equipment which is not designed for it.
Industry leaders in New Zealand and Australia were horrified by the accident, making calls for greater education about using the proper refrigerant for every application.
VASA had made the point years ago that the environmental arguments put up strongly by the promotion of HyChill refrigerant for vehicles were totally irrelevant when it came to the safety of human beings.
The Association had always said that it would only take one or two serious accidents to make technicians sit up and take notice that they were dicing with death if they used a flammable refrigerant where it doesn't belong. Well, the accident that HyChill said would never happen, has happened.
Now we see the leaders of other industry associations as well as industry magazines such as the respected Climate Control News published by Yaffa, saying things like "are we compromising the safety of humans for the safety of the environment".
The Department of Labour in New Zealand identified HyChill refrigerant, a highly flammable gas, as the cause of the explosion at Icepak Group's dairy cool store in Hamilton.
The gas has come under serious scrutiny on both sides of the Tasman since the tragedy, says CCN.
Wire & Gas warnings
At VASA's Wire & Gas convention in June, members reported that HyChill was still actively promoting the use of their flammable refrigerant in mobile applications in parts of New South Wales, apparently contrary to occupational health and safety laws which stipulate that before a dangerous gas is used written permission had to be obtained from the manufacturer of the vehicle and then the owner of the vehicle had to be advised that a dangerous gas was was going to be installed in their vehicle.
VASA members say that farm communities particularly were falling for the line and using flammable refrigerant in farm machinery, "because it was cheaper". One member even reported a Toyota vehicle, brand new, being released from a dealership in New South Wales already fully charged with hydrocarbon gas.
VASA believes it is time for a serious rethink by every technician in Australia about the dangers inherent in using a flammable gas in a mobile system.