RETA Breeze_MayJune_Final_2025

IIAR was established in 1971. The stated mission was to “Promote education, infor- mation and standards for proper and safe use of ammonia as a refrigerant.”The IIAR 2 standard (IIAR 2) was developed in 1974 and approved by ANSI in 1978. Subsequent editions were published in 1984, 1992, 1999 (with an addendum published in 2005), and 2008 (with addendums published in 2010 and 2012). These editions were designed to work in conjunction with ASHRAE-15, which I discussed in Part 2 of this series. In 2012, IIAR began a compre hensive rewriting of IIAR-2 that was designed to incorporate all of the requirements in ASHRAE-15 and the model mechanical and fire codes that were applicable to ammonia refrigeration. This broadening of IIAR 2 and incorporation of other code requirements was part of IIAR’s desire to have ASHRAE and the model code-writing bodies defer to IIAR for ammonia refrigeration code requirements. This desire came to fruition in 2024 when the International Fire Code, the last holdout, formally deferred to IIAR for ammonia refrigeration. This was due, in part, to updates made to IIAR 2 in the 2021 edition. Standard 2 was intended to cover all of the design requirements for safe, closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems. However, early in IIAR’s history, many of their pub- lications were intended merely as recom mended practices, or guidelines. Some of these guidelines were officially designated as “Bulletins.” These bulletins covered a range of topics, including IIAR Minimum Safety Criteria for a Safe Ammonia Refrigeration System (B109) and Start-up, Inspection and Maintenance of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems (B110).

None of these guidelines were intended to be mandatory requirements. Enter the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Often, their inspectors, when inspecting an ammonia refrigeration facility that admittedly was a little lax in their Process Safety Manage ment (PSM) program, would cite the facility on not following Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practice (RAGAGEP). Publications referenced include B109 and B110. An uproar followed soon after, as people began to complain that they had had no input in the creation of these recommended practices. IIAR then began the process of replacing all of the “Bulletins” with standards, written and approved using the ANSI consensus process. This process gives stakeholders the opportunity to review and comment on these documents prior to approval by ANSI and subsequent publication. This led to the creation of a full suite of standards for ammonia refrigeration, including: • ANSI/IIAR Standard 1: American National Standard for Definitions and Terminology Used in IIAR Standards. ANSI/IIAR Standard 2: American National Standard for Design of Safe Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. • ANSI/IIAR Standard 3: American National Standard for Ammonia Refrigeration Valves. ANSI/IIAR Standard 4: American National Standard for Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. • •

National Standard for Start-up of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. ANSI/IIAR Standard 6: American National Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. ANSI/IIAR Standard 7: American National Standard for Developing Operating Procedures for Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. ANSI/IIAR Standard 8: American National Standard for Decommission ing of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. ANSI/IIAR Standard 9: American National Standard for Minimum System Safety Requirements for Existing Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems As part of this series, I will review each of the IIAR standards for ammonia refrigera tion, paying particular attention to some of the relatively new provisions of which you may not be aware. In the next issue, we will delve into some of the definitions that are in IIAR Standard 1 and highlight some of the history behind some of them and how they have been misinterpreted over the years. Please feel free to email me with questions at NH3isB2L@gmail.com. Bill Lape is Project Director for SCS Engineers. Bill is a Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO), a Certified Refrigeration Service Technician (CRST), and is the current Executive Vice President of the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA). • • • •

•

ANSI/IIAR Standard 5: American

RETA.com 21