The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) of Brazil, in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), has published two new manuals focused on safety in the use of natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The publications are part of Phase II of the Project for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Servicing Sector under the Brazilian HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (PBH).
The manual Training and Capacity Building for the Safe Use of CO₂ and HC-290 in Commercial Refrigeration Systems was developed specifically for the new PBH course of the same name. The course aims to train 3,300 technicians across different regions of Brazil by 2030. The manual provides international-level technical guidance on best practices and safe handling of CO₂ and R-290, especially during maintenance and repair of commercial refrigeration systems.
The second publication, Guidelines for Safe Applications of Flammable Refrigerants in Air Conditioning Systems, is part of a training initiative targeting 5,700 technicians nationwide by 2030. It offers technical recommendations for the safe use of flammable refrigerants, such as propane (R-290), particularly during installation, maintenance, and repair work.
Both manuals were supported by the Brazilian Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Heating (ABRAVA). The first manual also received contributions from Eletrofrio, Fapro/ETP (Paraná), and Firjan-SENAI-Benfica (Rio de Janeiro), which were involved in creating Brazil's first two "mini supermarket"-style training laboratories for hands-on instruction on CO₂ and HC-290 safety.
“We hope these manuals will facilitate and promote the accumulation, improvement, and exchange of knowledge among hundreds of professionals in the sector,” said Stefanie von Heinemann, consultant and project manager at GIZ. She noted that the content was prepared by national and international experts and includes illustrated examples to support the dissemination of best practices, environmental benefits, and professional development.
Training and Qualification for the Safe Use of CO₂ and HC-290 in Commercial Refrigeration Systems
Guidelines for Safe Applications of Flammable Fluids in Air Conditioning Systems
