Are there any legal requirements when using HCs?
As hydrocarbons are classified as flammable in international safety standards, their use in charges of up to 150 grammes per systems must follow certain guidelines. Guidelines for designing appliances for flammable refrigerants are available to meet the safety standards at any time. They specify that appliance producers manufacturing HC systems must be equipped accordingly, and service technicians must be trained in safe handling procedures. Safety standards cover leakage simulation tests and specifications for the sealing of several electrical components which may come into contact with leaking HCs. There are international standards on electrical safety in place, for the following applications: household refrigerators and freezers, motor compressors, commercial refrigerators and freezers, heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. However, a major problem for the global application of hydrocarbons is the lack of consistency from country to country, with some posing weaker or stri
