Hydrochlorofluorocarbon in cooling equipment to be phased out |23 April 2014

Refrigerant technicians will soon follow a five-day training on the use and safety aspects of hydrocarbons (R-600/R-290).

The training will be run by ozone unit in the Ministry of Environment and Energy and will take place during the first week of July at the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT), Providence.

The main aim of the training is to completely phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCSC) that is used in equipment like air conditions, chillers and refrigerators, water dispensers to name a few.

 “We are introducing new alternative hydrocarbons which are ozone friendly and has low effect in global warming potential. Therefore, the technicians who will have on-hand responsibility of dealing with such gas and equipment need to be trained on what needs to be done.

Due to its flammability potential especially if such work as welding or open flame are nearby such equipment, it is very important that technicians are well versed into the safety aspect of hydrocarbon,” said Inese Chung-Waye, the national ozone coordinator in the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

Mrs Chung-Waye said it is important and compulsory that refrigerant technicians attend the training because in future if they do not produce the proper document indicating they followed the full course, they will not get a proper licence to practice this service until the complete course is followed.

Technicians should contact either Mrs Chung-Waye or Maureen Hoareau on 2724391 and 4670512. The deadline to register is Wednesday April 30, 2014.