Nigeria bans HCFC refrigerants from Dec

HCFC refrigerants such as the R22, R123, R401A/B, R402A/B, R408A and R409A are totally banned in the country with effect from January 1, 2015, because of their pollution and depletion of the ozone layers of the atmosphere which is not only harmful to the surface of the earth but destructive to human beings as well.
Chief Executive Officer of Techicool Nigeria Limited, Mr Niyi Kolawole, whose company is a strategic partner to LG Electronics on commercial air-conditioner sales and installations in Nigeria at an interactive forum with architects, building services consultants and contractors in Abuja on Wednesday, warned Nigerians against buying any of the those harmful refrigerants again.
He said only hydro fluorocarbons, HFCs, which is environmentally friendly will be allowed in the country from 1st January, 2015
He said: “Those HCFCs deplete the ozone layer from the upper layers of atmosphere resulting in ultraviolet rays of the sun reaching the surface of the earth. This leads to high temperature on the earth and the ultraviolet ray themselves are very harmful to the skin of human beings.”
Kolawole said their destruction of the ozone layer allows more harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth’s surface, resulting in the increase of skin cancer and other problems.
“The earth radiates infrared rays from being warmed by the sun’s rays in the daytime. These infrared rays should be absorbed in outer space, but before they get there, they are instead absorbed within the earth’s atmosphere by these compounds (CFCs, HCFCs etc) which cause the earth’s surface to get warmer,” he stated.
Kolawole advised users to go for R-410A which is a blend of HFCs substances that do not contribute to depletion of the ozone layer, unlike the R-22 that contributes to global warming. R-410A, he said, is already in the Nigerian market.
He said that was what informed Technicool’s effort to sensitise and train technicians on the use of R410A refrigerants in order for them to understand the installation as major handlers and users of refrigerants.
“We are here today to discuss and rub minds on issues of global warming which is beneficial not only to Nigeria’s building consultants but a support to the global drive for a sustainable environment for all.
“We are presenting to Nigerians once again, our Multi Vrf system, a typical building product. It is a new improved technology of a single outdoor unit which can be interconnected with up to 64 number of indoor unit maximum, depending on capacity. It offers outstanding energy saving, long piping length, simple and easy installation and is easy to maintain,” he said.
“The most common hydrofluorocarbon, HFC used in air conditioners is R-410A. This refrigerant is not just better than R-22 in terms of “global warming” potential but is also more energy efficient. And that is why most energy efficient air conditioners in India have R-410A refrigerant. Slowly as the energy efficiency standards in India will improve, we will see more air conditioners using R-410A as refrigerant,” he also noted.
“The R410A is a binary blend of HFC compounds, comprising 50% of R32 and 50% of R125. It has no chlorine content, no ozone depletion potential, and only a modest global warming potential.
Kolawole further said: “Techicool will continue to assist in this area by providing high quality, cost effective and prompt HVAC system solutions for green buildings in Nigeria in line with mechanical consultants’ designs and specifications.
 “Techicool Nigeria Ltd, as a strategic partner to LG Electronics in Nigeria, aims at client satisfaction, value addition and customer service is training the local technicians in Nigeria for proper handling of installations and maintenance services work for this equipment.
“We shall strive continually to improve and update our processes and systems to stay in tune with the modern technology.
“With these significant product and production process changes, testing and training must also change. Consumers should be aware that dealers of systems that use substitute refrigerants should be schooled in installation and service techniques required for use of that substitute refrigerant, he said.”