VATIS UPDATE Article

As part of the Kigali agreement to phase-down HFCs, under the Montreal Protocol, China is proposing a review of safety standards to remove barriers to alternatives to HFCs, especially natural refrigerants. During negotiations of the global agreement to phase-down HFCs recently in Kigali, Rwanda, it became apparent once again that the lack of updated standards poses a barrier to alternatives such as natural refrigerants.

A consultation group, led by China, discussed the establishment of regular consultation on safety standards, with a concrete proposal to establish an ad hoc standards coordination group. The likely reason behind this push for standards is China wants to ensure its place as a market leader in the HFC phase down. International standards would greatly assist in transportation of natural refrigerants like ammonia as well as appropriate measurements of charge sizes for hydrocarbons and pressure standards for carbon dioxide (CO2).

The Consultation on standards requested that the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) establish a task force to co-ordinate with the International Electrotechnical Commission to review IEC 60335-2-40. They asked TEAP to conduct tests and risk assessments addressing; pressure, flammability and toxicity. Any review would then be forwarded to the International Organization for Standardization.