This guide was developed by GIZ Proklima as part of the Green Cooling Initiative III project in Colombia. The Ozone Technical Unit (UTO) of Colombia's Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development actively participated in its development. The UTO played a key role in shaping the publication's objectives and approach.
Primary Goal
Best Practice Usage
The guide's primary goal is to promote the adoption of best practices for using equipment and systems with R-290 refrigerant within Colombia's commercial refrigeration sector. The initiative seeks to promote environmental protection and cold chain efficiency by leveraging the thermodynamic properties of R-290, which enable high energy efficiency.
The guide is intended for anyone interacting with this technology in Colombia, including service, maintenance, and installation technicians; also, equipment owners, operators, designers and manufacturers. It offers a valuable resource for the safe and efficient management of R-290. The content exclusively focuses on commercial refrigeration systems that use this type of refrigerant in Colombia.
Main Topics
The main topics covered include:
• The characteristics and safety classification of hydrocarbon refrigerants, such as R-290.
• Environmental and safety requirements, including toxicity and flammability load limits, occupancy categories, and system locations.
• References to relevant national and international technical standards such as NTC 6228, IEC 60335-2-89, ISO, IEC, EN, and ANSI/ASHRAE.
• Guidelines on occupational health and safety (OHS): risk assessment, ignition source prevention, and signaling.
• Good practices for preventive and corrective maintenance, including technical documentation, component inventory, and leak inspection schedules.
• Detailed technical procedures for servicing, including fault detection, controlled venting, and the safe recovery of R-290 refrigerant using certified equipment.
• Protocols for safely opening the system (without flame), replacing the filter drier and oil, and cleaning with oxygen-free dry nitrogen (OFN).
• Instructions for leak testing, system vacuuming, and accurately charging the system with refrigerant.
• Recommendations for system start-up, stabilization, and sealing.
• Considerations for the deinstallation or dismantling of equipment, as well as environmentally responsible waste management.
• Specific advice for owners on the safe use and maintenance of hydrocarbon equipment.
• Lists of recommended tools and equipment for technical work with R-290.
The publication is only available in spanish
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This guide is an essential tool for achieving safer, more efficient, and more sustainable refrigeration in Colombia.