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| Chamber Cooling Systems Press Release |
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Press·· Release December 8, 2009 In response to a recent posting by the International Hyperbaric Association to the “bloggers of the world”,· ANDI International has issued this press release to clarify the cited non-issue. This supposed public service health care warning is a posting by the International Hyperbaric Association. ***WARNING - HEALTH HAZARD*** NEWS BULLETIN Critical Product Warning: R-22 Freon-based Hyperbaric Chamber Air Conditioners This hysteria created by the IHA has little basis in fact.· The factual retorts possible are numerous however the most significant of these are: 1) ANDI International has not ever sold ... and does not sell refrigerated dryers containing R-22 coolant.· ANDI does sell and has sold refrigerated dehumidifiers and air coolers that incorporate refrigerant R-134A as the cooling agent. As soon as we posted that statement, the IHA re-worded their posting to include the R-134a refrigerant, a very different compound. Why? To continue the information: 2) Refrigerated Medical Air Dryers containing R-22, R-134a and others are currently used in health care facilities worldwide without issue. Manufacturers of product incorporating refrigerants have moved to the more environmentally friendly R-134a beginning in 1995. The NFPA-99 regulations for health-care facilities cites in chapter 5, no restrictions on the type of refrigerant used. One major hospital recently verified that they have 78 medical air dryers of this type in operation. 3) In response to these "health hazard" allogations ANDI di;igently searched for any reported injury related to the use of such products in conjunction with hyperbaric chambers. Under federal law any adverse event, especially a serious injury or death, must be reported back to the manufacturer and/or the seller. 4) A working knowledge of refrigeration systems indicate the difficulty of the gas to migrate from a leaking low pressure chamber into the higher pressure breathing gas stream. Although remote in the extreme, it is POSSIBLE to have refrigerant contaminate the gas stream. However even a catastrophic failure of the cooling coil occuring during operation would cause only discomfort in the ratios possible in mono-place chambers. The ANDI dehumidifier cools the air stream using 275ml of refrigerant. The internal volume of the mono-place chambers using this system range between 1000 - 1500 litres. Potential toxicity levels with the air compressor turned off and no chamber venting occurring might reach 0.03 to 0.02%. (See # 5 below) The small quantity of coolant versus the large gas volume of the mono-place chamber limits the toxicity limit of the refrigerant that may some how leak into the chamber. One would need almost 400 times concentration to reach the sensitization threshold. The odor factor alone provides a warning if leakage occurred and would cause operator and occupant alarm as the chamber vents to atmosphere. I remind the reader here that this event has never been reported. 5)· Although anyone could use the Material Safety Data Sheet to cull some negative comment, the MSDA on a whole supports the low toxicity of this refrigerant. The MSDS states that: a) “R-134A is low in acute toxicity in animals.” b) R-134A has low flammability. c) Delayed effects of contact: none known. d) immediate acute effects: Cardiac sensitization threshold - 80,000 ppm. (8% concentration) As a reference, CO2 causes respiratory distress at 50,000 ppm. Interestingly ..... have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134a#Uses 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is an inert gas used primarily as a "high-temperature" refrigerant for domestic refrigeration and automobile air conditioners. Other uses include plastic foam blowing, as a cleaning solvent and as a propellant for the delivery of pharmaceuticals and in air driers, for removing the moisture from compressed air. So, to the IHA: “What’s the fuss about?” The IHA would best serve the hyperbaric community if facts were checked before the IHA issues any further “Health Hazard News Bulletin” listing an ANDI product. At ANDI, the safety of our clients has always been the first and foremost priority.· Over the past 20+ years ANDI has achieved the best safety record in the considered “high risk” area of diver training.· We have demonstrated the high standards of safety that other emulate.· We continue to operate with a perfect safety record, (no training injuries or accidents) across our recreational, commercial, technical, military and hyperbaric training operations. · ANDI continues to be greatly concerned over ongoing reports of poorly qualified, uncertified, untrained individuals providing low quality products along with reports of individuals taking it upon themselves to acquire "homemade" or "do-it-yourself-kit" products.· This health hazard notice is yet another example of a lack of specialization and/or knowledge of the requirements and design for pressurized breathing gas systems. ANDI continues to strive to provide the highest level of quality, service and safety to our customers.· We thank our past clients for the trust and confidence you have placed in us.· Your choice is truly an acknowledgment and appreciation for the quality that ANDI strives to provide. · Ed Betts, Executive Director, ANDI
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