US warns of non-compliant refrigerant cylinders

USA: The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has warned of non-compliant refrigerant cylinders which could cause significant damage to property, physical injury or death.

The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has found instances of empty cylinders being sold to consumers, shippers and HVAC  personnel and service engineers that were not manufactured to a DOT specification or UN standard and lack certification markings.

A “concerning trend” has recently been observed of cylinders not authorised for the safe filling or transport of gases are being sold online by major retailers.

The PHMSA points out that these non-compliant cylinders, primarily manufactured by non-US companies, are not designed to contain and safely transport hazardous materials. As such, their use would be a violation of the US hazardous materials regulations. 

If an unauthorised cylinder has been purchased but not filled, the owner is advised to return the empty cylinder to its point of sale. If an unauthorised cylinder has been purchased and filled, the owner has been advised to enlist the assistance of a licensed and trained HVAC engineer to dispose of the cylinder.