SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Maintain safety in the handling of hydrocarbon refrigerants 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
9541  Maintain safety in the handling of hydrocarbon refrigerants 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Air-conditioning Refrigeration and Ventilation 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 2001-06-13  2004-06-13  SAQA 0836/01 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2005-06-13   2008-06-13  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard is replaced by: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
116700  Maintain safety in the handling group 1 and 2 refrigerants  Level 3  NQF Level 03  9   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Engage in the installation, commissioning and maintenance of refrigeration equipment associated with domestic, commercial or industrial air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Persons credited with this unit standard are able to carry out their work without endangering themselves, others in the vicinity of the equipment and the environment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that learners starting to learn towards this unit standard have been alerted to the consequences of unsafe handling of refrigerant gases. It is assumed that learners to be assessed against this standard have studied and understood the "SAIRAC" Training Guide for the Safe Handling of Refrigerants." Issue June 1998, published by The South African Institute for Refrigeration and Air-conditioning. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Refrigerants commonly used in South Africa
Safety procedures as per `SAIRAC` training guide 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Identify refrigerants and understand their use in refrigeration systems. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The colour coding and identification of refrigerant containers is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The restrictions imposed by the Montreal Protocol on the use of refrigerants in South Africa is identified. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The methods of identifying the refrigerant in an unmarked system are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The identification of a system that has been retrofitted with a different refrigerant is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Charge and test system. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The procedure for charging of zeotropic and azeotropic refrigerants is explained and discussed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The action required on finding a leak on a system that has just been charged is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The methods of minimizing the loss of refrigerant from a system through leaks are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The importance of ensuring that a system is gas-tight and clean at all times. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. The methods of leak testing are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. The triple and deep vacuum procedures of removing moisture from a system are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. The need for dehydration before charging a system is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
8. The testing of recovered refrigerant and compressor oil for contamination before deciding to re-use or re-cycle it is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
9. The storage and disposal of recovered compressor oil is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
10. The method of minimizing the amount of refrigerant dissolved in compressor oil is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
11. The methods of recovery of refrigerant from a system are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Identify safe procedures in the handling of refrigerants. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The safety procedures needed when working with refrigerants in confined areas and occupied areas is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The hazards presented by CFCs, HCFCs and blends are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The additional hazards presented by HCs and blends are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The personal protective equipment to be used when working with refrigerants is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. The safety precautions to be taken to minimize refrigerant accidents and the effects of such accidents are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. The identification labeling required for refrigerant systems is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. The safety procedures required when handling, storing and transporting refrigerants are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
8. The additional hazards and safety procedures required when handling recovered refrigerants and oils are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Practice safe procedures in the handling of refrigerants. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The use of a vacuum pump on a charged system is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The charging of a system with refrigerant after evacuation is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The condition / state of the refrigerant (pressure, state, temperature) at points indicated by the assessor are demonstrated and described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The use of a recovery unit on a charged system is demonstrated. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
Any person wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, who may appoint a moderator to be present at the assessment.

The assessor must have knowledge and experience of air-conditioning or refrigeration. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The type of refrigerant and their uses
  • The charging procedures for refrigerants
  • Safe working procedures required when working with refrigerants 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems
  • Refrigerants are correctly identified 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities
  • Prepare, plan and select resources for charging systems 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information
  • Reading and interpreting Montreal Protocol 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically
  • Use tools and instrumentation and interpretation of results 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems
  • Understanding the effects refrigerant, when released into the atmosphere can have on the environment 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard 116700, which is "Maintain safety in the handling group 1 and 2 refrigerants", Level 3, 9 credits.

    The assessor will need to explain the functioning of the recovery unit if the learner is not familiar with the unit. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  20720   National Certificate: Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2004-06-13  Was MERSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.