Refrigerant Safety

Refrigerants can be a fire hazard or a toxin, or have other unsafe biological effects. In addition, they can harm the ozone layer. These safety classifications depend on things such as pressure or inhalation. Chemical mixtures are classified by the more hazardous chemical.

Fire Hazard

• Refrigerants in the Class Three Flammable group--such as the hydrocarbon refrigerants ethane, isopropane and butane--are flammable at 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 degrees Fahrenheit) at a pressure of 101 kiloPascals (atmospheric pressure).

  To mitigate the risk of flame or explosion, users should always monitor these refrigerants, store them in a ventilated area, used explosion-proof storage, keep them away from flame, and store them in areas where there are few people around.

Toxicity

• Refrigerants in Class B toxicity group, such as ammonia, are toxic at concentrations of less than 400 parts per million. (The Class A refrigerants--such as ethane, carbon dioxide and butane--are safe at that concentration level.)

  Users should avoid inhaling or ingesting the refrigerant or allowing it to come into contact with skin. Use all recommended personal protective equipment specific to each refrigerant's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) when handling refrigerants. The MSDS can be available online or directly from the manufacturer.

Cancer Risk

• Refrigerants such as the traditional refrigerant hydrochlorofluorocarbon R-22 can be weakly carcinogenic. The chlorofluorocarbons R-11, R-12 and R-22 are not carcinogenic, nor is the tetra-fluoroethane R-134. For these refrigerants, users should take the same precautions as for toxic refrigerants.

High Pressure

• Some refrigerants are pressured for use in cooling systems. Use specialized pressure proof systems, check for leaks or physical damage to the container and abide by the refrigerant's specified pressure limits when filling a container.