Refrigerant safety information

1. Qualified and lawful use

Refrigerants should be selected, handled, recovered, charged, and disposed of only by people who have the training, tools, certification, and authorization required for the specific equipment and application.

• Verify whether EPA Section 608, Section 609, or another credential is required.
• Use refrigerant only in a system expressly designed or approved for it.
• Never identify a refrigerant only by cylinder color; confirm the label and product documentation.
• Never mix refrigerants or use an unknown or contaminated product.

2. Understand the hazards

3. Handling and personal protection

• Work in a well-ventilated area appropriate for the refrigerant and task.
• Use eye, hand, skin, and respiratory protection specified by the SDS and employer safety program.
• Use rated recovery, charging, leak-detection, ventilation, and electrical equipment compatible with the refrigerant.
• Keep valves capped or protected when the cylinder is not connected.
• Do not heat, puncture, drop, drag, roll, refill, alter, or tamper with a cylinder.
• Do not vent refrigerant. Use lawful recovery and recycling or reclamation procedures.

4. Cylinder storage

Store cylinders upright and secured against falling in a dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, sunlight, flames, electrical hazards, corrosive materials, incompatible chemicals, and unauthorized access. Observe all label temperature limits, fire-code rules, quantity limits, and separation requirements.

5. Transport and shipping

Refrigerant cylinders may be regulated as hazardous materials in transportation. Packaging, markings, labels, documentation, quantity limits, carrier acceptance, vehicle rules, and employee training can apply.

• Keep cylinders secured upright with valves protected during authorized transport.
• Do not leave a cylinder in a hot, closed vehicle or transport it in an occupied passenger area when prohibited or unsafe.
• Do not mail or return a cylinder using an ordinary label or an unapproved carrier service.
• Obtain written return authorization and shipment instructions from Cool Gas Depot before sending any refrigerant back.

6. Leak, exposure, fire, or damaged package

• Move people away from the affected area and avoid breathing vapor.
• Eliminate ignition sources only if this can be done without risk.
• Seek medical attention for breathing difficulty, eye exposure, frostbite, dizziness, or other symptoms.
• For product-specific first-aid and spill measures, follow the SDS and contact the manufacturer or emergency response professionals.
• For a package received damaged, photograph it from a safe distance and contact the carrier and Cool Gas Depot without using the product.

7. System compatibility

A matching refrigerant name is not enough to establish compatibility. Confirm the equipment nameplate, manufacturer service literature, refrigerant class, lubricant, charge method, pressure rating, valves, fittings, recovery equipment, leak detector, and applicable retrofit requirements. Cool Gas Depot does not approve field substitutions or retrofits.

8. Official resources

• EPA Section 608 Refrigerant Management
• EPA Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning
• PHMSA Hazardous Materials Information Center
• OSHA Hazard Communication