HC-12a

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HC-12a, also called ES-12a, OZ-12a, DURACOOL 12a [1] and Hydrocarbon Blend B, is marketed as a "drop-in" replacement refrigerant for R-12 and other refrigerants. HC-12a is a mixture of hydrocarbons, specifically propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600a), and is therefore considered nearly non-ozone-depleting. The hydrocarbon blend is compatible with hoses and oils used in R-12 systems.

Because it is flammable, it is illegal for use as an R-12 replacement in the United States. [2] [3] Its use in public transport vehicles has also been illegal in the United States since 1990. [4] [5]

This hydrocarbon blend caused [6] of the Tragedia de La Cresta  [ es ] in October 2006, [7] a bus fire which killed 18 people and injured 25, some severely, which in turn led to an overhaul of Panama City's public transport system. [5] [8] [9] [10] The refrigerant ignited due to an electrical spark [11] which followed a refrigerant leak, [12] which quickly set the bus ablaze as the fire spread from the refrigeration system towards the interior of the bus. [13] [5] [4] The bus lacked emergency exits and fire extinguishers, and the occupants' peril was aggravated by the location of the engine and the refrigeration system compressor—below a cover on the inner side of the only passenger exit door. [14] A lawsuit in a US court against Northcutt, which imported the HC-12 involved in the tragedy, and OZ technology, Inc., which manufactured the HC-12 [11] [6] [15] [16] [17] began in 2008; in 2018, Northcutt reached a settlement with the victims of the tragedy and their relatives. [5] [18] [19]

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References

  1. ↑ "U.S. EPA: Legal Status of HC-12a®, DURACOOL 12a®, and OZ-12®". widit.knu.ac.kr.
  2. ↑ "Unacceptable Substitute Refrigerants". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "SNAP Regulations". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021. Unacceptable This designation means that it is illegal to use a product as a substitute for an ODS in a specific end-use.
  4. 1 2 "Empresa de Estados Unidos indemnizará a víctimas del bus 8B-06 | la Prensa Panamá". 4 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "La tragedia de la Cresta y el infierno del bus 8B-06".
  6. 1 2 "Juicio en Estados Unidos por tragedia de la Cresta".
  7. ↑ "Llevan batalla legal a los tribunales estadounidenses". Panamá América. October 22, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Recuerdan los 13 años de la tragedia del 8B-06 en la Cresta". 23 October 2019.
  9. ↑ "Vigilia por las víctimas del 8B-06".
  10. ↑ "Papadimitriu: Nuevo sistema evitará tragedias como la Cresta". la Prensa Panamá. 23 October 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Corte en EU admite caso | la Prensa Panamá". 24 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "La Cresta". 9 July 2010.
  13. ↑ https://www.prensa.com/sociedad/Autobus-infierno-grados-centigrados_0_4603789613.html, https://www.midiario.com/nacionales/luego-de-14-anos-de-la-tragedia-del-bus-8b-06-sobrevivientes-y-familiares-recuerdan-a-las-victimas-video/ (Both newspapers are owned by the same company, Corprensa: https://corprensa.com/nuestros-productos/)
  14. ↑ "¡Verdadero infierno! Sobreviviente del incendio del bus 8B-06 rompió silencio". 23 October 2017.
  15. ↑ "Víctimas del bus 8B-06 logran acuerdo con empresa estadounidense para indemnización". 3 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "Se cumplen 13 años de la Tragedia de la Cresta". 23 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "Víctimas de la tragedia de La Cresta fueron recordadas". metrolibre.com.
  18. ↑ "Empresa estadounidense indemnizará a afectados de la tragedia del bus 8B-06". 3 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "Se cumplen 14 años de la tragedia del Bus 8B-06". 23 October 2020.
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