Document Gvr95kZ2YxzXKrDrBDXN4rR7
Annex II - Hydrocarbon Refrigerants in RHVAC Systems Casualties (selected incidents)
Hydrocarbon Refrigerant Casualties There is no systematic monitoring of accidents due to thermodynamic systems charged with exploding hydrocarbon refrigerants (propane, butane, isobutane, methane, propylene - also so-called "natural refrigerants"), installed in- or outside buildings (refrigeration, deep freezer, fridge, cold room, heat pump, dryer, air conditioner, etc.). Until now, fire brigades and house insurances do not survey natural refrigerant casualties. Despite few installations, the number of accidents happening in field services, with human injuries, is abnormally high. Repair and disposal risks are considerably high due to human error. Certain widely media reported case are listed below: 1. Bangladesh - 12 dead upon AC system in mosque. Bangladesh: 12 morts et des dizaines de blesss dans l'explosion des climatiseurs d'une mosque (actucameroun.com) 2. - Explosion of an air conditioner in Montpellier France followed by building fire. https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/explosion-d-un-climatiseur-dans-un-immeuble-amontpellier-declenche-un-incendie-1635924416
www.francebleu.fr
3. First Italian technician victim on thermodynamic system charged with natural refrigerant, registered in Torino Italy in August 2021 https://torino.repubblica.it/cronaca/2021/08/10/news/incidente_sul_lavoro_nell_astigiano_muore_un_o peraio-313610186/ 4. Accident field repair of a food deep freezer charged with natural refrigerant (R 600A methylpropane) in a Monoprix food household market (see VID MONOPRIX)
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5. Accident field repair of a deep freezer charged with 150gr hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane) refrigerant (see VID-20230406). Monobloc heat pumps will be charged with 500 gr.
VID-20230406-WA0 000.mp4
6. Exploding fridge charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYgg1sG2/ 7. Exploding dryer charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYggeXkj/ 8. Untrained technician, caused accident on deep freezer charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (methylpropane). https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7049650035281584128?commentUrn=urn%3Ali% 3Acomment%3A%28activity%3A7049650035281584128%2C7049674206594088961%29 9. Accident 28 March 2023 cold room charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://www.paris-normandie.fr/id400440/article/2023-03-28/aumale-les-cuisines-de-lhotel-le-dauphinprennent-feu-trois-personnes-en-urgence 10. Accident 24 March 2023 restaurant fridge charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://actu.fr/normandie/evreux_27229/incendie-dans-le-restaurant-flunch-d-evreux-que-s-est-ilpasse_58409327.html 11. Vailllant monobloc heat pump charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane): inaccurate installation guide to homeowner. Insufficient warning of responsibility of homeowner, for the installation and repair of his monobloc heat pump. https://www.vaillant.fr/downloads/notices/pompe-a-chaleur/arotherm-plus-1/vaillant-arotherm-plus-vwl1256-a-230v-s3-vwl-1556-a-s3-notice-demploi-unit-extrieur-202212-0020326641-01-2552779.pdf see page 91/256
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Danfoss lab-testing verified that 48 hours at 150C oven was the essential minimum time to fully eliminate hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane) from compressor oil in thermodynamic system, before repair. Any propane residue in compressor oil is risk of explosion. 12. Vailllant monobloc heat pump charged with natural refrigerant (propane): inaccurate installation guide to homeowner. Insufficient warning of responsibility of homeowner, for the installation and repair of his monobloc heat pump.
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13. German media Bild: EU wants to stop German heat pump exclusive preference for hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7046129253846773760?utm_source=share&utm_ medium=member_android 14. Tribune GB, May 28.2021 Karachi - 4 killed and 4 injured as A/C charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant blows up. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2302078/four-killed-as-many-injured-as-air-conditioner-blows-up 15. Explosion in a hotel in Victoria (June 14. 2014) with 2 technician killed. A/C was charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant. https://refrigeranthq.com/flammable-refrigerant-blamed-for-two-deaths/ 16. 1 fireman killed and 7 injured in New Zealand 4. May 2008, from a massive explosion on a refrigeration system with leakage, charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane) (see picture attached IMG 20230407)
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IMG 20230407
17. In New Zealand, May 2010, while repairing a refrigeration system, welding and replacing a defective valve, the unit charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane) exploded. (see picture attached IMG 20230407)
18. 9.Jan 2013 in Hong Kong, during maintenance of an air conditioner in a restaurant, charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant (propane) exploded. More than 20 people seriously injured. (see picture attached IMG 20230407)
19. During the serviceman decommissioned in Singapore in 2014 an air conditioner charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant, flash fire killed the worker and injured 2 persons.
20. An air handling unit, charged with hydrocarbon natural refrigerant and a leakage, resulted in a flash fire during its normal operation resulting in damages
21. A flash tank charged with liquid hydrocarbon refrigerant propane, exploded in USA, killing 4 persons and injuring another 6 persons.
22. In Brazil 2010 an explosion caused by a propane leak killed 18 people in a supermarket and injured 27 others.
23. In a factory in China that produced propane refrigerant an explosion resulted in the death of one worker and injured seven others.
24. In 2015 a propane leak in French supermarket caused an explosion that injured four people and destroyed the building.
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25. In 2016 a propane leak in a supermarket in USA caused an explosion that injured one person and resulted in significant property damage.
26. In 2017 a propane leak in a USA warehouse caused an explosion that injured one person and significantly damaged the building
27. In 2018 a propane leak in a food processing plant in the USA resulted in an explosion that injured four people and caused significant damages to the building.
28. In 2019 a propane in refrigerator of a restaurant in China caused an explosion that injured 17 people.
29. In 2020 in Australia a propane leak resulted in an explosion that injured 2 persons and significantly damaged the property.
30. In 2020 a propane leak in a food processing plant in Canada caused an explosion that injured one person and damaged the building.
31. In 2021 a R290 refrigerant leak in a warehouse in USA caused an explosion that injured 4 people with significant property damage
32. In 2021 a propane refrigerant leak in a supermarket in Mexico caused an explosion that injured 22 people with property damages
33. In 2021 a propane refrigerant leakage in a supermarket in Brazil caused an explosion that injured 1 person and significant building damage.
34. In 2021 a R290 leak in a supermarket in Indonesia caused an explosion that injured 4 person and damaged badly the property
35. In 2021 a propane refrigerant leak in Poland, in a supermarket, injured 1 person and destroyed part of the building.
36. In 2021 a propane leak in Portugal caused an explosion that injured 2 people and resulted in significant property damage
37. In 2021 a propane leak in the refrigeration of a supermarket in Romania injured one person and damaged the building
38. In 2021 a propane leak in the refrigeration of a supermarket in Serbia caused an explosion that injured three persons and resulted in significant property damage
39. In 2022a propane leak in a supermarket in USA caused an explosion that injured one person and resulted in building damages.
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