refrigerant R-123 leak detectors

[rscamaro]

That's a sales tactic that Carrier uses to try to scare the building owners into not buying R123 chillers and buying the less efficient R134A chillers. They also tell their techs that's it's nasty stuff so they spread that propaganda around.

Why does it have to be a sales tactic? OSHA is who sets the safety thresh hold.

I too work on Trane 123 machines on occasion and carry in my respirator and monitoring leak detector every time. I prefer to be safer than not, even if there is little chance of physical harm to me.

Is Trane doing any research for an alternative refrigerant for retrofitting 123 and 11 machines?

...Ron

[jayguy]

please keep in mind that i am NOT saying that you shouldn't be careful when handling R123. but some people want everyone to think that this stuff is poison. at the end of the day, this refrigerant doesn't require any different handling techniques than any other refrigerant from a safety standpoint, an EPA standpoint or a good practices standpoint. do you need to have lower ppm setpoints for your refrigerant monitors? sure. but that is for long term exposure safety. in the short term (refrigerant handling, spills, etc), you handle R123 the same as any other refrigerant.