Locking Refrigerant Caps Now Code

I want to point out a relatively new provision of the International Mechanical Code and the International Residential Code – a requirement for locking refrigerant caps. In the International Residential Code the provision reads “M1411.6 Locking access port caps. Refrigerant circuit access ports located outdoors shall be fitted with locking-type tamper-resistant caps.” Since the IRC has become so common across the country, there is a good likelihood that your area requires locking access port caps. If you are like me, that may come as a surprise. The primary reason for the requirement is to discourage people from releasing the refrigerant and huffing it to get a quick high. Before you all go out and start snorting refrigerant, let me first tell you what it does. Basically, it deprives you of oxygen and you feel lightheaded and dizzy as a result. That is all the high is - dizziness from oxygen deprivation. Since it deprives you of oxygen, too much for too long and you die. Since refrigerant is heavier than air, once you have filled your lungs with refrigerant, it is hard to get it to leave so you can replace it with air. I first heard of this way back in the ‘70s when people would do just about anything, including smoking bananas and sniffing refrigerant. I thought it had gone away with so many other crazy ideas of the 70’s. However, there is an alarming increase in the number of people sniffing refrigerant. The mother of a teenage boy who killed himself huffing refrigerant has founded an organization called UPROAR which works to prevent similar tragedies. So where can you get these caps? They are available at wholesalers and also online. You can read more about them at NOVENT, or AirTec.  Here are a few links to different tragic stories where people died from inhaling refrigerant.  

UPROAR - many stories on this site.

Coral Springs Florida

Dust Off

Inhalent.org

Are You Becoming Obsolete?

There is certainly a lot of change taking place in HVACR! New refrigerants to replace old standards and  even newer refrigerants to replace the new refrigerants. Variable capacity compressors, communicating control systems, and communicating thermostats that look like an I-pad. It is tempting to say, no thanks, I will just stick with my R-22 units with single speed compressors operated by contactors that are controlled by mercury bulb thermostats. And yes, many of those are still around. However, if you choose to specialize in only retro technology, you are choosing to become obsolete. Technology changes whether or not we want it to. If your job is to install and service air conditioning equipment, you need to be familiar with what is current, or eventually you will be out of a job. I remember many years ago a technician in a parts house declaring that he simply refused to work on heat pumps. He basically was saying it was too much bother to learn about them, so he would just keep working on natural draft gas furnaces and air conditioners. He would not be doing much today because most the systems in this area are heat pumps and the rest are induced draft furnaces. What he was comfortable with just does not exist anymore. As technology changes, we have to adapt. Studying is just part of a technician’s job. I read about what is going on in the HVACR field almost every day. There are so many resources now. My favorite is the RSES Journal, but I also really like the Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration News. I will even pick up a book on occasion. Yes, I realize that reading printed material is somewhat old school, but both publications also have on-line articles. And there are always blogs. If you prefer face to face, find a local RSES chapter. The point is we all have to be students to stay current. Otherwise, we become as obsolete as mercury bulb thermostats and natural draft furnaces.

Are You Working Hard?

The summer heat is upon us. I truly hope you all are busy. Busy is good. It certainly beats not having anything to do. However, have you ever wondered how much of your business is tied to the way you do things? Although nobody can give you any more time, you often can use your time more efficiently, which has the same effect. Learning to use your tools more effectively is important in any field. One example in teaching is designing, giving, and correcting tests. I have had quarters where at the end of the quarter I would have a box that a case of 10 packs of printer paper comes in full of paper tests to grade. I emptied it out printing the tests, and then filled it again after the tests had been taken. I still give written finals, but all other tests are on line. Using the test database built into MyHVACLab, I can build a test quickly. Better, I don’t use any of my time or any class time taking the tests. Best, I don’t have to grade a huge box of tests every few weeks. Even if you want to write all your own questions, keeping them in a test database still makes sense. You don’t duplicate effort because you can re-use your own questions. Even for my written finals, I use the database to generate the test. Instead of using class time having my students take tests, I try to use the time going over tests that they have taken. Nothing sears a piece of information into your brain like learning you just missed it on the test. Tools can be the same way. You can keep on doing the same things in the same way even when there is a more efficient way to use the same tools you already use. I have met many people who did not know that the “extra” lines inside their gauges were saturation temperatures. Essentially, a PT chart built right on their gauges staring them in the face. Digital gauges take this to an entirely new level of accuracy and flexibility, but even analog gauges normally have a few of the most common refrigerants on them. Spending a little extra on truck stock can save a lot of time. If you have the parts you need on your truck, you can do two calls in the time it takes to diagnose the problem, go get the part, and then return to put it on. Whatever you work hardest at, spend a little time analyzing why you do what you do and asking if there is not a more efficient way. The time you spend will be saved many times over.  

Ride All the Rides

Summer is approaching quickly. Undoubtedly, many of you will spend some time at an amusement park, water park, or other recreational establishment. Many parks now have a single price for admission that lets you ride all the rides as many times as you like. After paying the price of admission, most folks try to ride as many rides as possible to get their money’s worth. I can remember planning out my day at Disney World so that I would make the most of my time. I can see many of you smiling because you have done the same thing and planned a manic day at a pricey amusement park so you would get your money’s worth. So here is my question. Why are we so intent on getting our money’s worth at an amusement park, but beg to be cheated in education? When you pay your tuition for the semester, you are paying to ride all the rides. Every lecture, lab, online assignment, and test is available for the price of admission. If you think tuition and fees are high, why would you not take full advantage of all that you paid for? Try reading the assignments more than once. It does not cost any more, and you get more out of the assignment. When you miss a lecture, lab, or assignment you are cheating yourself. Not only are you not taking advantage of the services you have paid for, but you are also limiting your earning potential later on. My brother Richard has a saying “work hard at school, or work harder all your life.” HVACR is a very performance based industry. If you can’t perform, you won’t last long. HVACR is also a very technical field. To excel, you need to understand the systems and how they operate. Sure, without a lot of training you can get a job holding the other end of heavy things or running to get tools for other people. But without training or education, you won’t advance much past that point. There are many ways to educate yourself, but the easiest and fastest is to go to school. Throw yourself into your studies. Attend all the lectures, read all the assignments, and do all the labs. Ride all the rides!