Risk of explosion, Risk of poisoning & Risk of injury - AS83.00-Z-0001-01A

Never perform welding work on or near a closed air conditioning system. No smoking or open flames. Wear safety glasses and protective gloves. Work only in well ventilated areas. Carry out repair work on the air conditioning system circuit only after the system has been discharged. 

Potential risks 

Risk of explosion 

When closed air conditioning systems (charged or empty) become heated, high pressures are produced that can ultimately cause the system to burst. For this reason, all welding and soldering operations  on or near closed air conditioning systems are prohibited. High pressure levels can combine with refrigerant vapors to produce a mixture that is potentially explosive when exposed to atmospheric air.

Risk of poisoning 

Refrigerant can decompose when overheated. The resulting substances are toxic and should never be inhaled.

Risk of injury 

Refrigerant vapors are heavier than air; this means that escaping gases pose a risk of suffocation for anyone in a work pit beneath the vehicle.

Contact with liquid refrigerant may cause chilblain-like damage to the skin (due to under-cooling).

Safety instructions/precautions 

• All welding, brazing and soldering operations  on sealed air conditioning systems and in their immediate vicinity are prohibited.
• Never smoke when working with refrigerant, never expose refrigerant to open flames.
• A piercing odor  can indicate overheated refrigerant - never inhale these vapors. Leave closed rooms immediately and ventilate thoroughly.
• All refrigerant must be evacuated from the entire air conditioning system prior to doing any repair work  on the air conditioning circuit or components.
• Because it poses a hazard to the atmosphere as well as to personal health and safety, discharging refrigerant directly into the air is prohibited.
• Suitable evacuation, treatment and charging devices equipped with integral disposal and treatment facilities must be used for evacuating refrigerant.
• Even after the system has been evacuated, residual pressure may still be present in the system when loosening couplings. Therefore, loosen the couplings carefully, so that the pressure can dissipate slowly.
• Avoid all contact with liquid refrigerant.
• Always wear safety glasses and protective gloves when working with refrigerant.

First aid measures 

In case of eye contact

• Immediately flush with plenty of running water and consult a physician.

In case of skin contact

• Consult a physician immediately in case of frostbite. In case of inhalation
• of concentrated refrigerant, immediately take victim out into the fresh air and keep victim calm.
• If the victim's breathing is shallow, or the individual has stopped breathing altogether, tilt the head back and administer artificial resuscitation. Call a doctor.

In case of ingestion

• Consult a physician immediately.