TM 9-2320-363-20-1
Safety Precautions
Whenever repairs are made to any air conditioner parts
that hold refrigerant, you must discharge, purge or flush
(if contaminated), evacuate, charge and leak test the
system. In a good system, refrigerant lines are always
under pressure and you should disconnect them only
after the air conditioning system has been discharged to
a refrigerant recovery unit through the service valves on
the compressor.
Refrigerants are safe when used under the right
conditions. Always wear safety goggles and nonleather
gloves while discharging, purging, flushing, evacuating,
charging, and leak testing the system. Do not wear
leather gloves; when refrigerant gas or liquid contacts
leather, the leather will stick to your skin.
WARNING
Use care to prevent refrigerant from touching your
skin or eyes, because liquid refrigerant, when
exposed to the air, quickly evaporates and will
freeze skin or eye tissue. Serious injury or
blindness could result if you come in contact with
liquid refrigerant.
Refrigerant splashed in the eyes should first be treated
with a few drops of sterile mineral oil in the eyes, then
rinsed with a weak boric acid solution. Do not rub the
eyes. Call a doctor right away.
Refrigerant splashed on the skin should be treated the
same as for frostbite: gently pour cool water on the
area, but do not rub the skin. Keep the skin warm with
layers of soft, sterile cloth. Call a doctor right away.
Even though refrigerant does not burn, when it contacts
extreme heat or flame, poisonous phosgene gas is
created. This gas is also produced when an open flame
leak detector is used. Phosgene fumes have an acrid
(bitter) smell.
WARNING
Do not work in an area where refrigerant may
contact an open flame or any burning material, such
as a cigarette. When it contacts extreme heat,
refrigerant breaks down into poisonous phosgene
gas which, if breathed, causes severe respiratory
irritation. Do not breathe the fumes from an open
flame leak detector.
You must work in an area where there is a constant flow
of fresh air when the system is discharged, flushed,
charged, and leak tested using an open flame leak
detector.
Changes in both federal and state laws will affect the
way dealerships service air conditioning systems. Under
current federal laws, refrigerant must be recovered and
recycled by all users to protect the environment, and not
released into the atmosphere. Many service operations
not directly involving the air-conditioning system require
the release of the refrigerant charge. Under the new
regulations, dealerships not having the required recovery
and recycling equipment (and properly trained and
certified personnel) will not be allowed to do any of this
service work.
Because of its very low boiling point, refrigerant must be
stored under pressure. To prevent the refrigerant cans
from exploding, never expose them to temperatures
higher than 1250F (520C). Never leave refrigerant cans
in the sun, and do not store them in sun-exposed areas
where heat can build up, such as in gloveboxes,
automobile trunks, etc.
3-92.4 Change 3
