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A new ordonance regulating the use of dangerous materials has been in effect since January 1, 2004. It applies to equipment and devices containing more than 3 kg of coolant. This ordonance ceased to exist as of August 1 2005. The content of has been included into the "Chemikalien- Risikoreduktions-Verrordnung", ChemRRV, dated May 18 2005.
Affected are cooling and air conditioning equipment as well as heat pumps. These must be authorized by the responsible cantonal office. Cooling and air conditioning equipment in cars and trucks is excempt from this ruling. Also excempt from cantonal authorization is equipment installed before January 1, 2004.
Equipment and devices containing more than 3kg of coolant require periodical maintenance. The owner is is responsible for the keeping of a maintenance document. Existing equipment must be registered with the cantonal offices. The SVK/FWS maintenance document contains a registration card and the contact information for the responsible cantonal departments. The owner is also responsible to inform the cantonal department when equipment has been taken out of service and has been disposed of correctly.
Starting January 1, 2004 it is forbidden to refill coolants R12 and R502. Equipment using these coolants must be converted. Alternative coolants are: R134a, R407C and R404A. These coolants have been in use successfully for many years.
During the coolant replacement also the oil must be changed (ester oil instead of mineral oil). This may also result in the need to replace the compressor. Seals and expansion valves must also be replaced.
Systems using HFCKW/HFKW (partially containing chlorine, e.g. R22, R401A, R402A, R402B, R408A, R409A) may stay in use and may be refilled until the end of 2009. Recycled coolant may be refilled until 2014.
Systems using FKW/HFKW (chlorine free e.g. R134A, R404A, R407C, R410A, R507) may stay in use and may be refilled.
Natural coolants (e.g. R290 Propane, R717 Ammoniak, R723 Ammoniak - Dimethylether, R744 CO2) should be used whenever possible, provided the costs are reasonable and the systems are placed in an safety-related unproblematic area.
We suggest an early planning of the upgrade to safeguard the operational safety of your cooling equipment. Costs and upgrade time can only be minimized with a proper upgrade planning.
Please contact us with your questions or to obtain a free upgrade consultation. You find further information via these links: www.svk.ch and www.fws.ch.
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