JAN/FEB 2026 RETA Breeze

RETA BREEZE

REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS & TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2026

JUSTIFYING THE AMMONIA DELIVERY PAGE 22

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RETA HQ 844-801-3711 info@reta.org RSES HQ 800-297-5660 general@rses.org Vern M. Sanderson Executive Director, RETA/RSES

vern@reta.org Lori Schiavo Associate Executive Director, RETA/RSES lschiavo@rses.org Larry Copeland Customer Service Rep, RSES lcopeland@rses.org Stephanie Date Events Manager, RETA/RSES stephanie@reta.org Dan Denton Chapter Relations Liaison, RETA dan@reta.org Allie Dulabaum Assistant Editor, RETA/RSES adulabaum@rses.org Kali Grigorica Marketing Coordinator, RETA/RSES kali@reta.org Halie Hugenberg Training/Testing Coordinator, RSES hhugenberg@rses.org Samantha Ibarra Certification Coordinator, RETA samantha@reta.org Cadie Johnson Administrative & Conference Assistant, RETA cadance@reta.org Jason Kenny Production Specialist, RETA/RSES jkenny@rses.org Lupe Lopez Education Support Specialist, RETA lupe@reta.org Kayla Luna Certification Administrative Assistant, RETA

JUSTIFYING THE AMMONIA DELIVERY

page 22

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Message from the President..............4 From the Desk of the Executive Director...............................................6 RETA-RSES News..............................8 Education Corner............................10 Certification Corner........................12 Conference Corner..........................14 Conference Flashback.....................16 Fugitive Emissions in Ammonia Refrigeration.....................................18

Justifying the Ammonia Delivery...22 IIAR 9: Is It Required RAGAGEP? Part 5 . ................................................24 RETA Testing Corner No. 52 .................................................26 Find the Next “You” Vol. III..............................................28 Refrigeration Historian Vol. XXXIX ........................................29 Membership Corner........................30 Shade Tree Mechanic Vol. LIX ..............................................31

kayla@reta.org Eileen Lundin AP/AR Specialist, RSES

elundin@rses.org Brenden Lurie Member/Chapter Relations Rep, RSES blurie@rses.org Terry McIver Editor, RETA/RSES tmciver@rses.org Scott Melton Education Coordinator, RETA/RSES scott@reta.org Mitzy Osgood Membership Support Specialist, RETA mitzy@reta.org Kim Turner AP/AR Specialist, RETA kim@reta.org

REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS & TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION 1725 Ferry St. SW, Albany, OR 97322 Telephone: 541.497.2955 Fax: 541.497.2966 RETA.com

The RETA Breeze is the official publication of the Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA). RETA is an international not-for-profit association whose mission is to enhance the professional development of industrial refrigeration operating and technical engineers.

The information in this publication is based on the collective experience of industry engineers and technicians. Although the information is intended to be comprehensive and thorough, it is subject to change. The Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association expressly disclaims any warranty of fitness for a particular application, as well as all claims for compensatory, consequential or other damages arising out of or related to the uses of this publication. Publication of advertisements in Breeze, or any other RETA publication, does not constitute endorsement of any products, services or advertisers by RETA and shall not be considered or represented by advertiser as such. Copyright © 2026 Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association.

RETA.com 3

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

2025-26 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD David Gulcynski, CRES, CIRO Dot Foods, Inc INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Ray Urban Jr, CARO Lineage Logistics TREASURER Jeremy Murfin, CARO AC&R Specialists SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Melissa Cassell General Refrigeration Company BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeremiah Armstrong Brakebush Brothers Dale Clinton, CIRO, CRST Stellar Jason Daniell, CIRO APSM Mike Davis Republic Refrigeration, Inc. John Farnham Meier Supply Ron Fetterley, CARO, CIRO, CRST APCCO Jayson Goff, CMS CoolSys C.I.S. Rich Hoke, CMS Retired Brandon Jones, CARO Tyson Foods, Inc. Eric Kaiser TruTech Tools, Ltd Casey McConnaughy Bosch Home Comfort Group Mike Missall, CARO Summit Refrigeration Group Jodie Rukamp SCS Engineers

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

The last several months of 2025 were quite busy. The RETA-RSES Board of Directors, along with the standing committees, began a review of our association gover nance policies. This is something that any strong association should do periodically in order to ensure that its policies still reflect the best methods of conducting association business. This review results in one of two actions. Either the policy is updated to reflect more appropriate practices based on the current economic or cultural cues; or, the people for whom the policy is intended are reminded of the proper methods of “doing business” so to speak. ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) expects our associa tion to state what we are going to do to run the association, and then do it. Much like Process Safety Management, if we don’t do what we say that we are going to do, then that may result in a non-confor mance during the annual ANAB audit. While I don’t expect a full review of the policies to take place every year, one thing that I do expect is for new members of the Board or new committee members to read through those policies when they fill a role in our Association. Many other exciting things have happened over the last several months. First, RETA-RSES HQ has successfully aligned the general ledgers for both halves of our wonderful organization. We are now able to have a complete picture of our financial health. This is a huge and necessary step that will enable us to make sound decisions during our strategic planning meeting in April. Second, the Marketing Committee is gearing up to start a monthly HVACR podcast. This is one of several exciting avenues being pursued to help to raise awareness of our Association. Speaking of raising awareness, one of my goals for many years has been to have a conversation with Mike Rowe. Through his MikeRoweWorks foundation, he is trying to raise awareness regarding the desperate shortage of workers in the skilled trades and to encourage people to explore a

career in them. In short, he is doing exactly what we are trying to do, and it would be exciting, not to mention beneficial for us, to work together. So, if you are active on social media, I encourage you to follow Mike and his foundation, and to engage by comment ing on posts. Be sure to highlight the importance of our industry and the critical need for “new blood.”With roughly 12,000 members in our Association, we may not be the biggest trade organization out there, but we are the “coolest.” Let’s strive to keep that number growing! Find Mike Rowe here: https://bit. ly/4bjNYg7 Find MikeRoweWorks here: https://bit. ly/49m9zlv Another note on social media engage ment: the RETA-RSES social media group is working hard to deliver meaningful content and to encourage industry discussion (and to have a little fun). Please comment when you see these posts. The recent discussion on hot work permits when using sulfur sticks was interesting, and proof that we still have work to do to educate our people who work in our industry. We have several industry appearances upcoming. THE RETA-RSES team will be at ASHRAE and AHR show in February. Please stop by and say hello to our road team! As always, thank you for the confidence you’ve shown in me by electing me to be your 2026 International President.

Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST RETA-RSES International President

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Certification: Lee Pyle, CARO SCS Engineers Education: Don Tragethon, CIRO, CRST, RAI Retired Education Co-Chair: Jayson Goff, CMS CoolSys C.I.S. Marketing: Mark Allen Turner Fisher Refrigeration, Inc. Membership: Jason Daniell, CIRO APSM National Conference: Jodie Rukamp SCS Engineers Publications: Victor Dearman, Jr., CIRO, CRST JBS Foods RINAA: Kenny Williams Retired As a non-profit association, RETA is governed by a board elected by its members. RETA was pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Officers and Board of Directors at the Annual Business Meeting, held at the National Conference in Grapevine, Texas. RETA board members serve a 3-year term and volunteer their time and energy to directly impact our community and association. The 16-member board and 5-member executive committee aim for both diversity of perspective and depth of expertise. There is a strength with our staggered terms and the Board is always changing. RETA Executive Director Vern M. Sanderson congratulates and welcomes all new members to the board. We thank our outgoing members and welcome new members, as well as extend a heartfelt thanks to Directors past, present, and future for their contributions and dedication to RETA’s mission.

We are at the beginning of a very exciting new year. There are so many things happening, with something for everyone, whatever your HVACR interest might be. The Certification Committee is diligently working on the develop ment of the certification exam for Book 1: Introduction to HVACR , which was released late last year. This exam will be a benchmark for all HVACR ANAB certification exams. We will have more materials released in the Spanish language than we have had in any other time in our organization’s history. Articles are being developed in Spanish for our magazines, and a Spanish-translated Technical Report is in production. By the time this issue is published, the first beta course utilizing our newest Industrial Refrigeration Course 1 (IR-1) Spanish book, will be scheduled to occur at our HQ Central facility. I hope everyone has been engaging with our social media blasts and receiving our surveys. They are a lot of fun. I’m still waiting for the debate on the greatest jeweler in refrigeration history. Maybe next month. Preparation for the 2026 RETA-RSES Conference is underway. There will be several improvements over last year’s family reunion.

All our Committees are starting the year off strong. The Education Com mittee has a multitude of book projects underway. The Membership Committee is developing additional member benefits. The Publication Committee is under new leadership and has a multitude of articles in development. The Marketing Commit tee has some very interesting projects as well, some of which you have seen promoted on our very active social media pages. We expect 2026 to be a great year for our Chapters, too. Many are planning additional activities for the coming year. The Speaker’s Bureau will be expanding shortly. We hope to have more activities for our students and our trade school partners. There are many options for traditional students to join our family through trade schools. While there is a lot of “new” in 2026, there is also a lot of “tradition al.” Our traditional education materi als are being updated, and new formats are being reviewed. While a lot of things change, the core elements of HVACR remain the same. It is vital that our educational materials continue to lay the foun dation of our processes while incorporating new information.

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Our Conference and tradeshow team will be out and about at our traditional shows—IIAR, AHR and the Salinas Safety Day—but you’ll also see us in some new places. The presenters at HQ are busy preparing presentations for several international conferences. We hope to see you there. Stop by and say hello. The Publications team has articles cued up from our traditional contribu tors—“The Shade Tree Mechanic,” “The Refrigeration Historian” and “Growing Up Compliant”—but there are some new authors, as well. These authors will be looking at new technologies with fresh perspectives on traditional topics. Two of our most traditional publica tions, The Technical Report and the Service Application Manual (SAM), will

will be any surprises. Regardless of which side of the organization you originated from, the new logo repre sents you well. 2026 is starting out as a great year, but ultimately the year can’t be successful without you, our dedicated Members. Nothing we do would have meaning without you. Thank you for being a member of the RETA-RSES family.

WE WILL HAVE MORE MATERIALS RELEASED IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE THAN WE HAVE HAD IN ANY OTHER TIME IN OUR ORGANIZATION’S HISTORY

Honored to be your Executive Director!

Vern M. Sanderson Executive Director RETA-RSES

release new chapters in 2026. A new logo is currently being registered. While new, it is very

traditional, and honors the history of both RETA and RSES. I don’t think there

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RETA-RSES NEWS

RETA-RSES New Compliance Book is Available at RETA Online Store

industry's demand for this resource. The book is now available for purchase through the RETA website. Members logged into the RETA site will be able to purchase this new book at the Member discount price of $195 ($295 for non-members). For more information or to order your copy, call 541-497-2955, visit www.reta.com or email info@reta.org. RETA Tech Reports Wanted The RETA-RSES Publishing Committee has been busy obtaining and writing content that is important for its membership, and we are happy to report that more content is on the way, in the form of a Tech Report! The RETA Tech Report is a revered series originally developed for distribution to RETA Members four times a year. Frequency of publication diminished as the world got busier, but we are working to re-establish more consistency with their release. Archives are available online starting from 1999 through to 2019. Want to contribute? Contact Victor Dearman Jr. at victor.dearmanjr@jbssa.com. RETA-RSES Pipeline for Chapter Officers Now Available Are you a Chapter Officer seeking some support from other Officers? Look no further than the re-established RETA-RSES Pipeline. This is a monthly eNewsletter created specifically for Chapter Officers. In addition to tips and tricks for Chapter meeting develop ment and management from HQ, the newsletter offers a peek at how other Chapter Officers are putting together their monthly programs. For more information, contact Dan Denton at dan@reta.org or Brenden Lurie at blurie@ rses.org. RETA-RSES eLearning Course for Book 1: Introduction to HVACR Available Online RETA-RSES has launched the eLearning Course for Book 1: Introduction to HVACR . Like the book, the course leads learners through seven Chapters, each focusing on

RETA-RSES Leadership Visit Indianapolis Plant

various HVACR topics. These include: • Chapter 1: fundamental safety requirements when working in the HVACR industry. • In January, RETA-RSES Executive Director Vern M. Sanderson, Associate Executive Director Lori Schiavo and Events Manager Stephanie Date were given an impromp tu plant tour of TJW Industrial, Indianapo lis, IN. Pictured here with a TJW employee are Lori (left) and Stephanie. Thank you, TJW Industrial! Chapter 2: heating and cooling basics. Chapter 3: basic installation of HVACR equipment. Chapter 4: fundamentals and systems. • The eLearning course opens with an introduction on course structure and is preceded by an HVACR Careers Pathway section. In addition, it includes a robust glossary, as well as end-of-chapter quizzes and a final practice exam. Individuals may take the final end-of-book exam on the RSES eLearning site and, upon successful passing with a 70% or better, will receive a certificate of completion equal to 20 CEHs/PDHs or 2 CEUs. This product is also available as a printed edition or an eBook. All of these can be purchased through the online store at rses.org/ • • • • Chapter 5: cooling systems. Chapter 6: valves. Chapter 7: system controls.

RETA-RSES has released our latest publication, Practical Compliance for Ammonia Refrigeration PSM/RMP Implementers . This essential new resource is designed to serve as a comprehen sive, step-by-step guide for professionals navigating the complexities of OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) and EPA's Risk Management Program (RMP) standards. This 331-page book is structured to cater to both newcomers and experienced practitioners. This allows readers to gain a basic understanding of a topic through chapter overviews or delve into extensive detail for deeper practical knowledge. The book covers all critical elements of a robust compliance program. This book contains 14 chapters. Some featured in the book include: • RMP & Management System; • Process Hazard Analysis; • Mechanical Integrity; • Incident Investigation; • Emergency Planning & Response; and • Compliance Audits. The book also includes tools such as a Practice Exam and Appendices to reinforce learning. The initial stock of the book notably sold out upon its preview at the recent RETA National Conference, emphasizing the

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•

Feb. 25, 2026: A presenter we had lined up for this date canceled on us, and we had difficulty finding a replacement. But now we can tell you to join us for a session by a guest presenter who is well-known within RETA-RSES. The webinar topic will be related to an element of training or technology. Visit our socials for more details. We thank our guest presenter for his willingness to fill in. Mar. 25, 2026: “Gas Detection is Essential for Ice Rinks,” presented by 2025 Kim Snowden Award Winner Debbie Koske, CTI Gas Detection Specialists. Because ice rinks and recreational facilities are occupied, public spaces, they have an added responsibility to ensure safety. Early and accurate detection of gas leaks is a top priority in these environments. Maintenance and safety personnel need to be made aware any gas leak, long

store. RETA Members simply need to call or email with their RETA Member number to enjoy a Member discount. Bulk purchases are also available at a discounted rate. For more information or to order your copy, call 800-297-5660, visit rses.org, or email training@rses.org. Did you know RETA Members can earn PDHs for attending the live RSES Technical Webinars. Launched in 2013, these webinars provide a monthly PDH-earning event that is available to RETA and RSES Members. Attendees of the live session will earn a certificate of comple tion good for one (1) continuing education hour, which equates to one (1) professional development hour (PDH). Following is a list of upcoming sessions with more scheduling in the works: 2026 RSES Technical Webinars Schedule

before it is noticed by customers and guests. Apr. 22, 2026: “Best Practices for A2L Refrigerants,” presented by Louise Kellar, UEi Test Instruments. Mildly flammable A2L refrigerants are now required for all newly-manufactured residential HVAC systems. These refrigerants are unlike the HFC refrigerants they are replacing. Technical Webinar’s calendar. RETA-RSES is still looking for presenters for 2026! If you are interested in presenting a topic, please contact Terry McIver, tmciver@rses.org or production@rses.org. Webinar sponsorship opportunities are also available, which offer advantages over non-sponsored webinars. Be among the HVACR industry’s online training leaders. • Keep a look out on social media and the RETA forum for updates on the 2026

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

EDUCATION CORNER

To all Members from the Education Coordinator:

Well, another year has gone by.

It seems like yesterday, yet so long ago, that I first entered tech school in 1985 to officially start down my road in this industry. The road has been much different than I could have ever imagined, but it always led to a special place some where in the HVACR Industry. I’ve been a service technician in everything from residential, to com mercial, to industrial HVACR. I’ve worked as a consultant/contractor, PSM/RMP Implementor, safety man ager and instructor, ending here at RETA, now RETA-RSES. I say all of this to share that, no matter where I’ve been in this industry, I was constantly learning something new, and when I thought I knew it all I always got humbled by what I didn’t know. I also want to make the point that every time I got humbled there was always a friend there to help me learn more. That’s why I love RETA RSES. It is that safe place, to not just get our initial learning, but a safe place to go when we have been humbled.

None of us have all the answers and everyone one of us has things to learn, whether it is your first or fortieth year in the industry. I also have learned how important new and different voices are to get the best results. Thus, starting this year, we will be having a rotation of contributors to the Education Corner. You will be seeing articles from Don Tragethon, CIRO, CRST, RAI, our RETA-RSES Education Chairman, Jayson Goff, CMS, our RETA-RSES Education Co-Chair man, myself and possibly others. This will do nothing but improve our message and help us expand the topics that we cover, to reach all our members from RETA and RSES.

where your road takes you and what hardships you face, “Never forget you have friends in RETA-RSES.” It is a simple but true fact that if you put good people together and let them go, good things will happen. Please be part of making good things happen! That includes the greatest of all times, when we go to pick ourselves up and brush ourselves off and find there are friends there with hands reached out to help us up. Nothing feels better than knowing we aren’t alone!

Blessings to you and yours.

Scott Melton Education Coordinator

scott@reta.org 1-509-833-5258

And so, in closing this first article of the year, I just want to say, no matter

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CERTIFICATION CORNER

The goal of the RETA Authorized Instructor (RAI) program is to make quality Industrial Refrigeration Instruction widely available to businesses and individuals who operate industrial refrigeration systems. RAI reflects RETA’s commitment to a “Train the Trainer” approach to supporting high-quality instruction in support of all industrial refrigeration system operators, managers, consultants, and related technical and support personnel. A RETA Authorized Instructor (RAI) provides high-quality

training focusing on safety and the improvement of operational and maintenance competency in the industrial refrigeration environment. The RAI may use RETA’s standardized training material as well as other materials such as machinery specific operating and maintenance manuals necessary to provide the instruction. RAI instructors may use materials that are published by other sources if they document the comparability of alternate materials to RETA publications or that these materials supplement RETA-published content. RETA is fully committed to maintaining the fairness, impartiality, validity and integrity of all RETA certification programs. RETA policies and procedures are designed to ensure that all decisions about certifying every candidate are based solely on the candidate’s qualifications and performance on RETA examinations and other certification-related activities.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 32ND RAI! Andy Brogan is a Mechanical Integrity Inspector & Trainer at Nexus Refrigeration. Andy started in industrial refrigeration over a decade ago as a field service technician. He advanced into sales engineering, project management, operations management and eventually into his current role. Andy graduated from American Military University with a BA in Business Management. Andy is a retired Air Force veteran and resides in Yorktown, VA.

Andy Brogan Mechanical Integrity Inspector Nexus Refrigeration

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Honor Roll

Congratulations to our newly-RETA Certified Operators, who passed the exam(s) between November 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. For information about t he examination process and preparation to take the RETA Exam, please visit RETA.com.

Ricardo A. Jasso Brandon Jones James Kay Jonathan J. Newsom Seth Schwarzkopf

CARO – Certified Assistant

Blake Wolters Franklin E. Wood Sean Yogerst Eric Zeisloft

Jose F. Islas Emma Jacquemin Brian Joyner Matthew Lasiter Polo Marquez Johnny Martinez Timothy W. Meitner Jeremy D. Murfin Kyle Neff Christine Nelson Dat Nguyen Francisco Ortega-Baca Bruce Palmer Taylor Pulis

Refrigeration Operator Ignacio Acuna Navarro Michael Adams Anthony Andrighetto Robert Bishop Michael Blaskower Taylor Burrill Steven M. Caldwell Nicolas Campoverde Rodriguez Eddie Chavez Jeremy Compton Alejandro Cruz Marcus Cummings Matt Derksen Kyle Erbaugh Karel Estrada Carralero Marcos Estrella Michael J. Fox Michael D. Hedstrom Jacob N. Herrera Chad Holen Jennifer Huerta

CIRO – Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator Johnathan J. Bogart

CRST – Certified Refrigeration Service Technician Christopher Baynard Jereme Green Christopher S. Greiner Spencer Kaminski Geronimo Morelos Aguilar Wesley G. Peterson Jesus Rojas

Okla Fitzpatrick Philip G. LaRose

Blake Oelfke Michael Page Chad A. Rader Omar Ramon William Ryan Sherwood Swick Jonathan Thompson Daime O. Tosado Bryan Wilson CRES – Certified Refrigeration Energy Specialist Fielden Derek Davis

Nathaniel Rigney Andrew S. Russell Jesus M. Salazar Daniel Saldana Matthew Shaffer

Luke Saggars Jonathan Tise

RAI – RETA Authorized Instructor Anthony Brogan

Kevin Sheetz Campoverde

Anthony Slater Isaac Valenzuela Luis A. Valle Richard Voigt

RETA.com 13

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

CONFERENCE CORNER

H appy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic and safe holiday season! The RETA-RSES National Conference Committee is already hard at work planning an incredible educational and fun-filled event for October 2026. Whether your primary goal is advancing your education and earning PDH credits, professional networking, or reconnecting with fellow RETA-RSES family members, our upcoming national conference will be the place to be! In this issue, we’re celebrating the top PDH and certification recipients from RETA-RSES 2025 Conference! Our 2025 National Conference in Spokane, WA, was a resounding success! Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Pacific NW, attendees braved the wilderness (and kept an eye out for Bigfoot!) to engage in an impressive variety of technical sessions, review

courses, workshops and opportunities to earn Professional Develop ment Hours (PDH) for recertification. Congratulations to everyone who earned PDH credits and certifications at Conference! All of us at RETA-RSES HQ are incredibly proud of your commitment to continued education. A special shoutout goes to the Top PDH credit recipients of 2025—your dedication and hard work are truly inspiring! Here’s to another amazing year of learning, growth, and connec tion. See you at the RETA-RSES 2026 National Conference!

Stephanie Date RETA-RSES Events Manager stephanie@reta.org 1-541-497-2977

21+ PDH Credits Jason Anson Jackson Bussanmas TJ Butler Emily Cardanini Chad Caten Ulices Cisneros- Birrueta Chamkour Claire Michael Donaldson Thomas Durfey Jacob Elgersma Travis Erekson Christopher Farnum Donavan Fenwick Rose Fierle Jonathan Garcia Garcia Andrew Garling Scott Goad Kevin Golding Miguel Gutierrez Shane Hall Patrick Halvorson Dennis Helmers Francisco Hernandez Jonathan Hernandez Joseph Hernandez Gregory Hummel Elias Jimenez Shannon Johnson Sylis Kariah Michael Kasper Dustin Kinsey William Kish

Ralph Bailey Cody Baker Douglas Barber Justin Baxley

William Kish John McGuire Justin Mincks Alius Morgan Jackson Perkins Tyler Quinlan

Robert Krieg Jon Kwok Paul Lee

Danny Howard Terry Howell Jonathan Hubbard Joshua Hupp Nedzad Imamovic Andrew Jaspers Jay Johnson Stephen Jolliff Steven Kaminski James Kay Devon Lough Tony Lundell Jose L. Magana Ana Martinez Manny Mascarenas Jeffrey Mitchell Jorge A. Moreno Robert Myles Jaime Naranjo Dharlie Narce Dan Parks John Piho David Pipke Chad Pulliam Michael Pursley Mike Ralston Jorge Ramirez Daniel Ramlo Raymond Rascoe Shilo Reyes Scott Mason Mark Matise

Daniel Rosas Cesar Salas Ruben Sanchez

William Lemay Teresa Maciel Brad Marcellus John McGuire Joel McSorley Alexander Mefford Loyd Mincks Alius Morgan Kurtland Murdock William Murphy Jonathan Newsom Jackson Perkins Milan Petrovski Kimberly Proffitt Tyler Quinlan Richard Rodas Jesus Rojas Jesus Salazar Matthew Stachura Jeremiah Stewart Brian Tiemeier Brian Ulmer Franklin Valdez Christopher West Jeffery Young 16–20 PDH Credits Joseph Anderson Sean Nicholls Steven Owen Christy Park

Ben Schlegelmilch Satvinderpal Sidhu Jerry Smith Brian Smith Mark Spillman Chris Stalter Zachary Stover Michael Thompson Joaquin Torres Donald Trimble Michael Villasenor Jeremy Walden Ronald Whisenant Matthew Wilkes Heather Wilson Bill Womble Anthony Zwick CARO Certifications Jason Anson George Early Jake Elgersma Travis Erekson Donavan Fenwick Rose Fierle Andrew Garling Joseph Hernandez Ryan Whitton Ryan Wiggins Emily Cardanini Caroline Carrell

Korbyn Bennett Ralph Bertrand Kevin Bradstock Cedric Brown Jonathan Butterfield Kevin Cardoza Mark Carlyle Martin Cerrato Connor Chase Timothy Clark Jerald Clark John Cole Eric Cuevas Jesse DeLong Stephen DeVore George Early Steve Elm Scott Emmell Ralph Fico Chris Flatness Casey A. Foster Thomas Fountain Chris Freis Jasen Grimes Cody Grzelak Jason Hahn CV Harris Charles Hemenway Luis Hernandez Roderick Hobson Todd Hornsby

Jeremiah Stewart Ryan Tomlinson Jeffrey Young CIRO Certifications Justin Benfield Jackson Bussanmas TJ Butler Daniel Laney Paul Lee Bradley Marcellus CRST Certifications Donny Andersen Shannon Johnson Michael Kasper William Lemay Juan Munoz Richard Rodas CRES Certifications Ricardo Jasso Jonathan Newsom Tyler Lickar

Ken Rhoades Brian Rieman Juan Rojas

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2026 SPEAKERS WANTED Our Call for Abstracts for the 2026 program is officially open! We are looking for industry's brightest minds to present in the Sunshine State. The Technical Program Committee is ready to review your submissions to decide which topics should be expanded into papers and presented at the Conference. Each Technical Paper and presentation will be available to each attendee during and after the RETA RSES 2026 Conference. Visit www.reta.com/ page/2026-conference-abstract for more information and to submit your abstract today.

SAVE THE DATE! Swap your flannel for flip-flops and your beanie for sunglasses! RETA-RSES 2026 is heading to sunny Orlando, FL! Join us October 26–30, 2026, at the Caribe Royale. We are trading Bigfoot sightings for Disney World magic and sunshine. This conference promises to provide everyone with more opportunities to learn and earn PDH credits than ever before—all while enjoying the palm trees and tropical vibes.

2026 PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 24–Monday, October 26 • CARO, CIRO, CRES, CRST & IIAR 6 Review Courses (pre-registration required) Monday, October 26 • Exhibitor Move-in • Management of Change (pre-registration required) • Workshops • WiNR Reception • Monday Night Event (pre-registration required) Tuesday, October 27 • Exhibitor Move-in • General Session & RETA-RSES Business Meeting • Technical Topics: Compliance, Engineering, Management, Operations and Hands-On Sessions • Certification Exam Testing • Opening Exhibit Hall "Island Style" Reception • After Hour Lounge Wednesday, October 28 • Technical Topics: Compliance, Engineering, Management, Operations and Hands-On Sessions

• • • •

Certification Exam Testing

Exhibit Hall Open

Rumble & Pub Style Quiz

After Hour Lounge

Thursday, October 29 • Exhibit Hall Open •

Technical Topics: Compliance, Engineering, Management, Operations and Hands-On Sessions • Certification Exam Testing • Chapter Leaders Reception • Mix-n-Mingle • Awards Night • After Hour Lounge Technical Topics: Compliance, Engineering, Management, Operations and Hands-On Sessions • Certification Exam Testing • The "Big Ticket" Drawing • Exhibitor Move-out Friday, October 30 • Exhibit Hall Open •

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Conference Flashback

Did you know you can go to https://reta.com/gallery to view the photo gallery of our Hands-on and Technical Sessions, RETA Rumble, Exhibit Hall, Monday Night Out in the Pacific NW Wonderland and much more from our time in Spokane? Don’t forget to tag us on our social media if you find yourself in the photos from Conference!

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FUGITIVE EMISSIONS in Ammonia Refrigeration

This article describes fugitive emissions and how to manage them for compliance.

Victor Dearman, Jr., CIRO, CRST

C alculating fugitive emissions in ammonia refrigeration systems is an often-misunderstood concept, and one that has been incorrectly used in some instances. This article will serve to explain and simplify what fugitive emissions are and what needs to be done to be compliant. We will also refer to and explore other articles written on the subject, and attempt to describe best practices. This article will not go into great detail about finding locations for ammo nia losses or what to do about them. To begin, we must understand that our first task is to calculate the amount of ammonia in a refrigeration system, to determine whether a facility is subject to OSHA’s Process Safety Management and EPA’s Risk Management Program (PSM/ RMP) standard and regulations, respec tively. If the designer of an ammonia refrigeration system did not calculate the amount of ammonia that would be necessary to properly operate the system, then we must either perform the calcula tions ourselves or have them be performed by a third party, such as an engineer or a refrigeration contractor that has engineers on staff. In most states, if there is a maximum intended inventory of 10,000 lb or more of ammonia, then the facility likely falls into OSHA’s PSM standard as well as

inventory levels ”—as well as 1910.119(f)(1) (ii)(A) – “ Consequences of deviation ”—are two things an operator should always be aware of. Both of these references are found under Operating Procedures. Also, under Process Safety Information 1910.119(d)(2)(i)(d) –“ Safe upper and lower limits of deviations, including those affecting the safety and health of employees. ” In other words, operating procedures must have upper and lower limits of operation, as well as an understanding of the consequences of deviation and steps to correct the deviation. OSHA tells us that we have to be in control of inventory levels, which is primarily assumed to be in vessels, followed by safe upper and lower limits of those vessels. We understand that vessel levels fluctuate over time. This article is not meant to do a deep dive on this, but for reference, let us use a recirculator for this example (the vessel is a high temperature recirculator in a cold storage application operating at approximately 33.5 psig/20 FSST (Figure 1). It might be difficult to make out in the drawing, but left of the level column are call outs directly from the vessel manufac turer. OPL is “operating level,” and in this case, the operating level is 28 ¾ in. from

EPA’s RMP rule (29CFR 1910.119 and 40CFR Part 68, respectively). However, there are states that have lower threshold quantities, such as Nevada, where it is 5,000 lb. Ammonia refrigeration systems are designed to be closed loop (no normal losses) systems, similar to that of freon based systems. However, like anything mechanical, these systems require periodic maintenance, such as equipment rebuilds or replacement, draining of oil from the system because oil inhibits heat transfer and the purging of non-condensable gases, whether through an Auto Purger or performed manually. Additional emissions occur due to valve packing leaks, and unplanned releases through pump outs or other activities. Proper mechanical integrity (ongoing maintenance), well written operating and maintenance procedures, and well-trained operators using said operating or maintenance procedures, as well as ammonia recovery, will help to minimize these losses. We must have documentation to prove how much ammonia we have in our systems and have an understanding that, over time, small amounts of ammonia will be lost from the system through aforemen tioned activities. EPA Risk Management Rule 1910.119(f)(1)(iii)(c) –“ Quality control for raw materials and control of hazardous

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Figure 1

HL, SD______________93 in.

OPL______________+28-3/4 in.

probe). If inventory calculations show the vessel at 15%, there might be an assump tion that level is too low and would cause operational issues. But, we must remember that whoever did those calculations referenced the overall length of the vessel and not the level column. The burden of converting that then becomes our issue at the plant. While we are considering that, this also helps us understand at what level we want the fill solenoid to shut off, so we do not exceed the surge volume needed. Not all vessel package manufacturers have this callout in their drawings, so it may become necessary to use things such as a pump curve to determine minimum liquid levels in a vessel in order to prevent things, such as pumps cavitating and potentially damaging the pumps. If inventory calcula

which the fill solenoid(s) will turn on to replenish what has been consumed in the refrigeration process” or “top the vessel off.” This is just an example of how levels are determined or the “quality control for raw materials and control of hazardous inventory levels.” From there, a couple of things emerge; the level shown in the level-of-sight column usually does not reflect the total volume of the vessel. OPL is at 28 ¾ in., but from the bottom of the level column, not the bottom of the vessel. So, it becomes critical to understand the difference. Using the High Level Shut Down float switch (HLSD) at the top of the column, this should represent 80% +/- of the overall vessel, but notice the level column shows 93 in. (the column is using a 100 in. level

the bottom of the level column. Not shown here is a sight glass associated with that level to give us a quick visual indicator of the liquid level when we do our inspec tions. How do they know that is the correct level? An engineering analysis shows the anticipated refrigeration load associated with the vessel (evaporators, heat exchang ers, etc.) which in turn determines the size of the liquid ammonia pumps. Each pump curve has a call out for “Net Positive Suction Head required” (NPSHr), or how high the liquid in the vessel has to be measured from the centerline of the inlet to the pump measuring up into the vessel. Our industry typically allows for one foot above that to account for fluctuations, which now becomes our operating level. Another way to view it is, “the level at

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accidentally overshoot it by a few to several cents? If you haven’t, please buy a lottery ticket and sign my name to it. In the PSM program I manage, we stipulate that our MII is 15% above whatever the normal inventory is. So, if I have a 100,000 lb system, we document that at no point in time will we ever exceed 115,000 lb of ammonia in our system. Why 15%? Because filling all pressure vessels to 80% would prevent the system from being able to run because of the High-Level Cutout Floats being physically mounted at approximately 80% of the vessel capacity (opinions vary on this one). However, we do have calculations showing all pressure vessels at 80% of the vessel capacity, but the document clearly states that the value is purely theoretical in nature. OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE KEY To conclude, it is a good idea to ensure that operating procedures are correct and the operators are trained on those procedures, including what steps to take during a deviation to correct the deviation. From a leadership perspective, the question has to be asked whether the compliance program (PSM, RMP, ARM, SRM-LC) is advanced enough to the point where the operators and managers have the training and sufficient time to calculate every ounce of ammonia lost; or if that time is better served at the outset by continuously strengthening the program to minimize losses through training and mechanical integrity. Victor Dearman, Jr., CIRO, CRST is the Director of PSM at JBS Foods Group, USA. This article is based on his sole opinions and not a reflection of any previous, current or future employer.

tion does not apply to ammonia refrigera tion systems. That said, our industry does things in such a way that might lead an eager environmental health & safety (EHS) manager or engineer into firmly believing that this regulation does apply to us. After all, PSM/RMP is often a hot topic, and everyone wants to be compliant. Now, I am in no way suggesting that our industry should not keep track of their ammonia inventory on a routine basis, but I do not see any useful utility in having operators of ammonia refrigeration system abide to the degree that Class I or Class II refrigerants are required to. Rather, we are required to quantify and document the normal and maximum intended inventory. Let us address those for a moment for clarity. MAXIMUM INTENDED INVENTORY Normal inventory is a combination of what the designer or a system states is needed to properly operate the system under normal operating conditions (not week ends, holidays, power outages, etc.) as well as what you physically charged it with proven by receipts for ammonia delivery. What if the designer information is not available? Then we either have the receipts for ammonia delivery, or we have someone perform the calculations to “quantify” what is actually in the system and compare that to what the inventory should be based on your Process Safety Information (PSI). What is Maximum Intended Inventory (MII)? In short, it is the amount of ammonia that a designer or leadership says that under no circumstances will ever be exceeded . Will it differ from the normal inventory? More likely than not, it will be different. Some believe that MII is how much ammonia the system would hold if someone filled all pressure vessels in the system to 80%. For most of us, we would have ammonia tankers lined-up down the road waiting to get into the facility to deliver that much ammonia, and is therefore theoretical in nature. All MII means is that we document ed, let’s say 100,000 lb of ammonia, as our normal inventory. While we were topping the system off to replace losses, we accidentally put in a little more than we had documented as the normal inventory. Have you ever tried pumping gas into your car or truck (say, $20 worth) and you

tions are done by an outside contractor, it becomes paramount to understand whether the contractor is going to verify the correct level as we did here, or if they are simply documenting the“as running”conditions of the plant on the day they visited. Along the same lines, knowing the refrigeration load also helps us determine how many evaporators can be in defrost at any given time, while keeping in mind needed “surge volume” for the liquid returning from evaporators during said defrost. Nonetheless, if all refrigeration equipment is operating “normally,” then the only place to see real changes will be the primary storage vessels such as the high performance rubber (HPR) or controlled pressure receiver (CPR). And with today’s controls, it would be easy enough to install labels, program in warnings or alarms or, in some systems, use low level shut-down float switches. It is important to note that this should also be evaluated during a process hazard analysis (PHA) as well. Getting back to the original topic, the question becomes, “Are these fugitive emission calculations actually necessary for us to perform?” To answer that question, we have to understand where the idea came from. Welcome to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act enacted by Congress under Title VI of the CAA. Section 608 outlines the require ments for refrigeration systems containing 50 lb or more of Class I or Class II ozone depleting substances. For more information on those substances, see 40CFR 82 Part F of the Code of Federal Regulations. On the website epa.gov/section608/ managing-refrigeration-and-ac-equipment , it starts with “Managing Refrigeration and A/C Equipment” and then states “ Section 608 of the Clean Air Act establishes the National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program. It prohibits individuals from intentionally venting ozone-depleting substances (ODS) refrigerants and their substitutes, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s) while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air conditioning or refrigeration equipment. ” In other words, since anhydrous ammonia is not an HFC and has no ozone depleting potential, as outlined in the provisions of EPA Section 608, the regula

Victor is RETA-RSES's Publications Committee Chair.

Sources: •

University of Madison Wisconsin Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, “Best Practices for Reducing Fugitive Emissions from Industrial Refrigeration Systems, December 2020. “The Form “R”Trap” by Dearman Jr., Victor; RETA BREEZE, Jul/Aug 2019. OSHA’s PSM Standard: osha.gov/laws-regs/ regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.119

•

•

•

EPA’s RMP Rule: epa.gov/rmp

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JUSTIFYING THE AMMONIA DELIVERY

Before you add an ammonia charge to the HPR, be certain there is no ammonia present in another part of the system.

By Brian Chapin & Victor Dearman, Jr., CIRO, CRST

T he issue: A facility with an ammonia refrigeration system which uses a High Pressure Receiver (HPR) as their main storage vessel notes that their HPR level is rather low, and they are considering ordering some ammonia to get back to the levels they “used to have.” The thinking is that they need to add to the ammonia charge to make up for ammonia that was lost over time. Before you go too far, a good question to ask is: Did I lose ammonia? Or, is it just some where else in my system? A common failure is not understanding inventory control and manipulating levels until the facility finds itself impacting production due to extremely low liquid levels. WHAT IF YOU DIDN’T LOSE IT? Did you add equipment without your Management of Change (MOC) addressing if this required

an inventory adjustment? Did you change the recirculator vessel levels, which make the HPR look low even though the ammonia is still out in the system? Has someone been mucking with the HXVs or TXVs, so you are “brining” coils? These are common issues, but the most likely culprit is seasonal variation . Conversely, has anyone purposefully throttled heat HXVs to starve equipment in an effort to transfer liquid back to the HPR? These are reasons why there are inventory where it should be. In fact, look up 29CFR1910.119(f)(1) (iii)(D), “ Quality control for raw materials and control of hazardous chemical inventory levels. ” If it’s August in Texas, it’s likely that your system is running about as hard as it will ever run. That means that the NH3 isn’t just hanging out in your vessels, but out in the various heat upper and lower limits of operation that help keep

Ammonia receiver tank. Photo courtesy EVAPCO.

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