Keenly-awaitedreport from European Commission’s scientific arm definitively confirms that theHFO R1234yf poses no serious risk to the automotive industry. Commission nowexpected to up the ante in pursuing those who flout the Mobile Air ConditioningDirective by not installing the low-GWP refrigerant

A scientific review of theresearch by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre regarding thesafety aspects of the use of refrigerant R1234yf in Mobile Air Conditioning(MAC) systems has concluded that there is no evidence of a serious risk in theuse of this refrigerant in MAC systems under normal and foreseeable conditionsof use.

The EC is now expected to step upits actions against Germany,whose automotive manufacturers have refused to install the new refrigerant, andthe UK, Belgium andLuxemburg, whose agencies did not enforce the Directive.”

The two companies manufacturingthe refrigerant reacted to the news with clear relief.

Honeywell said: “The JRC’sindependent and unimpeachable report marks the final word on the safety of thisenvironmentally friendlier refrigerant, which automakers are using to complywith the EU Mobile Air Conditioning Directive.

The JRC provides independentscientific and technical advice to the European Commission to broadly supportpolicy-setting activities. It oversees seven scientific institutes across Europe with a wide range of laboratories and researchcapabilities.

JRC came to its conclusion aboutthe safety of R1234yf after a thorough and inclusive evaluation process of theextensive testing done by leading global automakers, independent test agenciesand SAE International, the world’s foremost automotive engineering body.

The commission’s work leaves nodoubt that R1234yf is safe for automotive applications”.

Honeywell said it continues to seestrong adoption by global automakers of this new refrigerant as they work tomeet new environmental regulations, especially in Europe,and the company is investing in production capacity to ensure adequate supplyworldwide.

Du Pont said: “”DuPont is pleasedwith the final conclusions of the JRC, as they reinforce our high level ofconfidence that R1234yf can be used safely in automotive air conditioning. TheJRC met with a range of stakeholders and conducted three public meetings toobtain input on the extensive safety testing that has been conducted on R1234yffor use as an automotive refrigerant.  The JRC focused, in particular, on thestudy conducted by Germany’sFederal Motor Transport Authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). “KBA hadconcluded that its testing, based on the requirements of German product safetylaw, produced ‘no adequate evidence’ of a serious risk related to R1234yf. TheJRC report went further, saying that these tests provided ‘no evidence’ofa serious risk.’

“While the KBA had conductedadditional tests under more extreme conditions, the JRC raised questions aboutthe real-life relevance of the testing conditions.  The JRC went on to saythat it would not be appropriate to use the more extreme testing to drawconclusions regarding safety of the refrigerant.

“We note that multiple automotiveindustry groups, including the German Association of International Motor VehicleManufacturers (VDIK) representing 34 major car brands from all over the worldand the SAE Cooperative research program comprising of 10 leading globalautomakers, have reached the same conclusion as the JRC that R1234yf can besafely used in automotive air conditioning.

“A growing number of cars on theroad today use R1234yf  Automakers are using the refrigerant in cars soldin the European Union today, in compliance with the EU’s Mobile AirConditioning (MAC) Directive.  Several automakers also are using therefrigerant for cars sold in the United States to take advantage ofcredits that encourage the use of products with reduced climate impact. Weexpect to see other automakers move to adopt the product.

“DuPont is pleased to see that theEuropean Commission is taking steps to ensure compliance with the MAC Directiveand to ensure conformance with applicable type approval registrationprocesses.”

[ΠΗΓΗ: http://www.racplus.com]