RETA Breeze Sept/Oct 2025

RETA BREEZE

REFRIGERATING ENGINEERS & TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2025

2025 RETA NATIONAL CONFERENCE UPDATES PAGE 10

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

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 scott@reta.org Mitzy Osgood Membership Support Specialist, RETA mitzy@reta.org Kim Turner AP/AR Specialist, RETA kim@reta.org blurie@rses.org Terry McIver Editor, RETA/RSES tmciver@rses.org Scott Melton Education Coordinator, RETA/RSES jim@reta.org Lori Schiavo Senior Director of Operations, RETA/RSES lschiavo@rses.org Chantell Schaumburg HR Manager/Controller, RETA/RSES chantell@reta.org Kayla Branson Admin/Membership Assistant, RETA kayla@reta.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 ddenton@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 Certification Support Specialist, RETA lupe@reta.org Eileen Lundin AP/AR Specialist, RSES elundin@rses.org Brenden Lurie Member/Chapter Relations Rep, RSES

Growing Up "Compliant" Vol. 3b

page 16

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Message from the President..............4 From the Desk of the Executive Director...............................................6 The Power of Participation...............8 Conference Corner 2025 RETA National Conference ....10 Education Corner............................12 RETA-RSES News............................14 Growing Up “Compliant” Vol. 3b ................................................16 Regulations: The Sky is Falling!......20

What the Refrigeration Operator Owes..................................................22 Find the Next You............................24 Shade Tree Mechanic Vol. LVIII ...........................................25 RETA Testing Corner No. 50..........27 Refrigeration Historian Vol. XXXVIII .....................................28 Certification Corner........................29 Certification Honor Roll.................30 Membership Corner........................31

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 © 2025 Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association.

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2024-25 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Michael Hawkins, CARO Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

NATIONAL PRESIDENT David Gulcynski, CRES, CIRO Dot Foods, Inc EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Tracer Environmental

grapevine, you have missed out on some recent news from HQ, check your company’s spam filter. It may be a simple fix on your end. If not, please reach out to RETA-RSES HQ and let them know you are not receiving the messages. One message in particular you may or may not have received is the news of Jim Barron’s retirement. Jim has been the RETA Executive Director for the past 12 years. Jim is also a Past RETA President (2009) and Certification Committee Chairman. As an important member of the refrigeration industry for over 40 years, Jim has played a significant role in shaping how operators and technicians do their job safely. Jim was a key player in creating RETA’s current certification programs. If you run into Don Tragethon, ask him to tell you the story of how he helped rope Jim into bringing ANAB into our certification programs. I cannot begin to list all the contributions Jim has made to our organization and industry. The RETA-RSES Executive Committee will be making a special effort to highlight Jim’s career during the business meeting at conference. Until then, I would like to acknowledge Jim and his accomplishments personally, and say, thank you, Jim for everything you have done for our organization. Thank you for reading and take care!

Hello all—I hope everyone is well! As I write this final message as President, I am amazed how quickly the year has passed. The 2025 National Conference is upon us, and fall is in the air. Throughout the year I have had the opportunity to attend several Committee meetings. The Education Committee continues to produce results, and one of the highlights from RSES is the new Introduction to HVACR book, now available through RSES. If you have not already done so, please check it out. The Marketing & Membership Committees both have a great number of good ideas coming down the pipeline; and I am looking forward to seeing some of those come to fruition over the next several months and into the next year. A big change that I have seen from these two committees is the number of social media posts about RETA-RSES, what has happened as well as what is coming up. If you see a RETA–RSES post, take some time to read and share the post so we can reach out to folks who are not already members. There are thousands of people in the HVAC and refrigeration industries who do not know what RETA and RSES are, social media is a strong avenue to reach those people. Our Publications Committee continues to provide great articles for the RSES Journal and RETA Breeze. There has been a big change this year in communication to membership about the release of publica tions, as well as special announcements coming from RETA-RSES HQ. Instead of coming from an email address ending in “. com,” the messages are coming from an email address ending in “.org.” This has caused some of the informational communi cations from HQ to go to some company spam filters. If you learned through the

TREASURER Ray Urban, Jr, CARO Lineage Logistics SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Jeremy Murfin AC & R Specialists

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeremiah Armstrong, CIRO Brakebush Brothers Melissa Cassell General Refrigeration Dale Clinton, CIRO, CRST Stellar Brynn Cooksey, CMS Air Doctor Heating and Cooling Mike Davis Republic Refrigeration Ron Fetterley, CARO, CIRO, CRST Applied Process Cooling Corporate Jayson Goff, CMS CoolSys Brandon Jones, CARO Tyson Foods Eric Kaiser TruTech Tools, Ltd Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Service Joe Marchese, CMS Koldcraft Refrigeration Services Casey McConnaughy Johnson Controls Technical Services

Dave Gulcynski, CRES, CIRO RETA-RSES International President

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025

Mike Missall, CARO Summit Refrigeration Group Jodie Rukamp SCS Tracer Environmental Gary Struhar, CMS Retired Harrison Travis, CM Sanden Vendo America, Inc

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Certification: Lee Pyle, CARO SCS Engineers National Conference: Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Education: Don Tragethon, CIRO, CRST, RAI Retired Publications: Vern Sanderson, CIRO, CRST, RAI Schwan’s Company Marketing: Jodie Rukamp SCS Engineers Membership: Jason Daniell, CIRO APSM As a non-profit association, RETA is governed by a board elected by its members. RETA was pleased to announce the 2024/2025 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, Jim Barron 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.

As the Executive Director of RETA RSES, I’m copied on a lot of Associa tion emails. It gives me a window into RETA that few people get to look through. I’m going to tell you what I see, because it’s a picture worth talking about. I see people of purpose—the thou sands of members worldwide who are the foundation of RETA-RSES. I see them working together to improve our industry; to create safe environ ments for their workplace and community; to build a stronger, more meaningful Association. I see them doing this in partnership with man agement, local municipalities, govern ment agencies, and with partner associations, and with each other, one-on-one, together. This got me thinking about the importance of the one-on-one part. Today, we all know there are plenty of ways to communicate with each other that do not entail face-to-face interac tion—email, voicemail, phone, text messaging and, still in use by some of

us, the US mail. There are times when we use these types of communica tions to avoid a face-to-face meeting. Admit it … we’ve all done that! We think we’re too busy to take the time to have that one-on-one conversation. But when we choose not to make or take this time with people, we lose that sense of fellowship that can only be created when we sit down and share ourselves, our stories, our lives with someone else. I know that I come away from this kind of interaction having learned much more than I anticipated, and not just about ammonia refrigeration, which makes the conversation more interesting. RETA-RSES provides an opportunity for this kind of fellowship each year to those in our industry, both members and non-members. It’s our annual national Conference. This year, we’re meeting in Spokane, Washington and celebrating the Conference’s 116th anniversary. Wow, 1909 was a long time ago. Certainly, much has changed over the nearly 12 decades and switch in centuries. Fortunately,

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some things have stayed constant, one being the coming together of our industry at our Conference. If you’ve never been to the Confer ence, here’s another glimpse at what I see during the four-day event. For me, the most important thing that hap pens at Conference is the fellowship that takes place on the exhibit hall floor, at the meal functions, in the classrooms, on the bus to off-site activities, in the hallways and corridors of the hotel and Convention center, and as people mingle together throughout the days. I see people talking to each other about all kinds of things. They’re catching up on each other’s lives—professional and personal. Yes, business is taking place. That’s the primary purpose of our Conference. There are a host of educational opportunities, both in the classroom and off-site at some

technical presentations. You can tell your boss that you will learn many new things which will make you a more valuable employee. And you can tell them I said that. You can also tell them, from me, that learning also takes place when we sit down, one-on-one, face-to-face with our peers and just have a conversation. That’s fellowship. That’s what’s kept us going for 116 years. I look forward to seeing you there.

FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT HAPPENS AT CONFERENCE IS THE FELLOWSHIP THAT TAKES PLACE ON

Jim Barron Retired Executive Director RETA-RSES

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THE POWER OF PARTICIPATION

Lori Schiavo

H ard to believe it is fall already. Where did the year go? By the time you are reading this issue, and as you likely read in Dave’s and Jim’s columns, the RETA Annual Conference will be in full swing in Spokane, WA. RETA and RSES continue to work together to provide an education track that meets the needs of commercial and residential HVACR professionals. This year, we have several sessions being offered that will appeal to these individu als, and hope to see more and more RSES Members attending the event. This is a great opportunity for RETA and RSES Members to come together to connect. If you see an unfamiliar face, please introduce yourself and welcome them to the show. In addition to its Members and Chapters, RETA-RSES Committees are the lifeblood of our organization. Each committee is comprised of individuals from every facet of the HVACR and industrial industries— from manufacturers, operators and technicians to end users, standards/ regulations professionals and educators— and they are the minds, volunteers and creators of much of the training and certification materials available from our Association. Volunteers of these commit tees steer the direction of each product based on their real-world experience and technical expertise. I bring up this topic for several reasons— first, the future of our industry relies on the passing down of knowledge. Committee work provides a platform to do just that… lend the next generation information that will empower them to be better profes

thrive, and without them, we would not be where we are today.

sionals. Being a part of a committee offers a way to memorialize your contributions to this industry while assisting the next group to enhance theirs. Another reason for this topic is the fact that the Education Committee has just released the first book in a new RSES series titled Introduction to HVACR , a book intended to start individuals on a path into the professional world of HVACR. Were it not for the collective knowledge in the committee meetings, this, and all books, tests, marketing materials, publications and conference activities, would not be possible. We are deeply indebted to each of our committee members who help to propel our industry and Association forward. We are always seeking more individuals to join these committees and round out the products and services we continue to create for field professionals. If you are interested in working on one of the RETA-RSES Committees—Certification, Education, Marketing, Membership or Conference—please know there is always room at the table for you. Contact RETA or RSES HQ to let us know where you are interested in sharing your knowledge and we will connect you with the right individual. Of course, I cannot complete this column on these topics without paying homage to the hard-working staff and Board Members laboring behind the scenes assisting in the fulfillment of our mission statement. Much of the work these individuals perform daily is 100% necessary to help this organization

So, if you happen to find yourself wonder ing how you can give back to the Associa tion that helped you become the profes sional you are today, consider lending your time and experience. I know I won’t be around for the next 100 years of the Association’s existence, but I sure as heck would like to contribute to its strength today to help to keep it going strong far into the future! We are also seeking some influencers, energetic HVACR professionals with solid field experience to help us bring more attention to the value of RSES around the industry. Contact me at lschiavo@rses.org or Terry McIver at tmciver@rses.org. Lori Schiavo, Director of Operations for RETA-RSES, has worked with RSES for more than 18 years in a variety of roles, including Executive Vice President and Publisher/Editor of its flagship publication RSES Journal . She currently oversees functions for the Educa tion, Testing, Marketing, Publishing and Certification departments at RSES, works with several RETA-RSES Committees, and recently started to oversee publication of the RETA Breeze and RETA Technical Report . In addition, she serves as an HVACR industry liaison for several state and federal training programs, trade and sister Association shows. Prior to HVACR, Schiavo has worked in an editorial capacity for the construction, mining and printing industries. She grew up in and worked for her family’s trucking business throughout the years laying the groundwork for her love of the trades.

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CONFERENCE CORNER

By Stephanie Date

T he countdown is on! With only one month left until the RETA 2025 National Conference, our team is working hard on the final preparations to welcome our RETA family to Spokane, WA. We're beyond excited to see you all again! technical sessions relevant to the industrial refrigeration industry. But that's not all— we've also packed in Hands-On sessions, Hot Points, and some fantastic workshops like the Operators Challenge, Management of Change, WiNR Panel and even a session on Epic Fails! You can also connect with colleagues at networking events like the WiNR Social: Where Cool Minds Connect and the Chapter Leaders Reception. If you're a first-time attendee, be sure to swing by the First Timers Social to meet new people and connect with key RETA stakeholders. And, don’t forget to attend our annual RETA Business Meeting to get the latest on the state of business. It’s a great way to stay in the loop without getting left out in the cold. REVIEW COURSES Did you know you can take a review course on-site just before the conference kicks off? We're offering CARO, CIRO, CRST and CRES review courses from Saturday through Monday. This year, we're also offering the IIAR 9 Certificate Course on Sunday and Monday. Think you have what it takes to train others? Sign up for the Train the Trainer session and become a RETA Authorized Instructor (RAI) during the conference! This year's conference schedule is chock-full of cool topics, featuring 18 different

BIGFOOT SIZED FUN AWAITS We're heading into a majestic Pacific North west Wonderland for this year's Monday night event. The NW is famous for its salmon, craft microbrews and stunning scenery. Keep your eyes peeled—you never know if you'll spot a certain furry, shy creature. On Thursday, we'll celebrate with our annual Awards Night, featuring comedian, magician and mentalist, Adam Stone. He'll wrap up the evening with a fun-filled show, and you can test your luck at the casino games. The fun doesn't stop there! Join us at the RETA After Hours Lounge for karaoke and games. It’s sure to be a chillingly good time! VOLUNTEERS Did you know you can get involved and be a part of the team that makes the Conference successful? It’s true. The RETA Conference has many volunteer opportunities:

For more information and to get involved, contact Stephanie Date at stephanie@reta. org or by calling 541-497-2977. SAVE THE DATE Don't forget to save the date for RETA 2026 in Orlando, FL, from October 27-30, 2026! If you missed the chance to sponsor or exhibit this year, don't worry. We’ll have some great opportunities for 2026. REGISTER TODAY! Ready to join the fun? Register today! Just go to https://reta.com/page/2025-confer ence-register. We couldn't do any of this without the continued support of our generous sponsors, exhibitors, Conference Commit tee, volunteers, RETA HQ staff and Board of Directors.

We can't wait to see you in Spokane, Washington!

• • • • • •

Conference Committee Member

Onsite Session Moderator

Stephanie Date Conference Manager stephanie@reta.org 1-541-497-2977

Conference Speaker & Presenter

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OCT. 20–24, 2025 / SPOKANE CONVENTION CENTER / SPOKANE, WA

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EDUCATION CORNER

To all Members from the Education Coordinator: As we are nearing the 2025 Confer ence in Spokane, WA, I wanted to give a quick update on the books being written and reviewed. Industrial Refrigeration I (IR-I), Industrial Refrigeration II (IR-II), Energy Efficiency and the new Compliance Book will be completed by Conference. Then, the CO 2 introductions will be done and ready to be integrated into the Commercial and Industrial CO 2 books by Confer ence. We recently released RSES Book 1: Introduction to HVACR , a 347-page book for entry-level HVACR techni cians. This is the first book of a new series. IR-I and the RSES Book 1: Introduction to HVACR are in the Spanish translation process, and will be out by the end of the year. Finally, IR-I should be in SI before the end of the year. A lot of work in one year, but because of the great dedication of our volun teers, it has gone quite smoothly. So,

thank you to all that have been working hard behind the scenes this year. One thing that I find frustrating—but, is a fact—is no matter how hard everyone works, there are going to be some errors here and there. I encour age anyone who finds an issue in our books to please record the issue and send it through to education@reta.org so we can get the issues resolved. In closing, it has been a challenging time over the last month with lots of changes, but as they say, the only

thing that stays the same is change.

Thus, I want to share that even during these trying times I have been amazed by the dedication and commitment that the Board, Executive Committee and RETA-RSES staff have shown. So, please know that this Association is safe and in great hands.

Scott Melton Education Coordinator

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

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RETA NEWS

RETA HQ Spent a Week Together Getting Ready for Conference RETA staff met at HQ in Albany, OR from September 22–26, preparing for the 2025 RETA Annual Conference. The team spent two days assembling over 1,000 backpacks filled with sponsored items for Conference attendees. Conference Manager Stephanie Date said, “1,000 backpacks are quite the process—from soliciting sponsors, working with our fulfillment center, [to] organizing our HQ headquarters.” Various staff members completed other necessary tasks like assembling welcome bags, and organizing equipment and the warehouse. Conference Assistant Cadie Johnson said, “The great thing is that we're working with other RETA departments more now as we build up to Conference… we were able to come together for a great team-building exercise.” As Conference approaches, Stephanie and Cadie are hard at work finalizing Review Course Training materials, Conference social events, Conference schedule and speaker presentations, as well as sponsor and exhibitor participation. For current Conference updates, follow RETA’s social media and, keep your eye out for emails from conference@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 has 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 Vern Sanderson at Vern.Sanderson@Schwans.com. RETA‑RSES Launches Book in a New Series, Book 1: Introduction to HVACR The RETA-RSES Education Committee launched a new book series, the first of which is titled Book 1: Introduction to HVACR . This

hour, which equates to one (1) professional development hour (PDH).

347-page book is primarily for entry-level HVACR technicians and is intended to be an introductory course. This book is available as a printed edition or an eBook and will soon be released as an online course. It is available for purchase through the RSES online store at rses.org/store. Members should be sure to log in first to receive their Member discount on the product. 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 development 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. Auto PSM, PSM Consultants and ARTS will host an ammonia refrigeration safety and compliance training day on April 23, 2026 in Waukesha, WI. Gain eight PDHs at the various learning opportunities, including, but not limited to NH3 safety; PSM-RMP OSHA and EPA updates; IIAR Standards 2, 6 and 9; and RETA CARO, CIRO Certifications. Additionally, there will be 40+ vendors and a live ammo nia release (weather permitting). Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The pre-registra tion fee is $45; fee is $75 at the door. For more information, go to www.r-717safety.com or contact r717safety days@gmail.com. Upcoming RSES Technical Webinars 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 Upcoming Midwest R-717 Ammonia Safety Day

Following is a list of upcoming sessions with more scheduling in the works: • Oct. 22, 2025: “Advanced Combustion Analysis,” will be presented by Tyler Nelson, Instrumentation & Business Development Manager, Americas with Sauermann NA. For this presentation, Tyler will briefly go over combustion concepts before diving into advanced diagnostics for various run stages and what cues mean how to sell based off diagnostic results; and navigating Nov. 19, 2025: “Part 2: Building Better Homes: A Guide to Energy Efficiency and Electrification,” will be presented by Bill Spohn, CEO and Owner of TruTech Tools Ltd. During this session, Spohn will continue his road traveled to design and live in a net-zero. He has worked with top experts and contractors to advance energy-efficient homes and will offer practical insights into electrification, energy use, and how contractors and homeowners can responsibly plan for a healthier, more efficient future. Part 1 of this webinar aired in February 2025 and is available in the RSES Webinar Archives. Dec. 17, 2025: “Refrigerants: An Ever-changing Picture,” will be present ed by Scott Melton, Education Coordi nator, RETA-RSES. This session will take a look at the history of refrigerant changes as it relates to how the industry can plan for the future. All refrigerants will be discussed, but natural refriger ants will be a heavy focus. This presenta tion will have something for every level of understanding and is at the heart of everything our industry does. RETA-RSES is still looking for presenters! If you are interested in presenting a topic, please contact Lori Schiavo, lschiavo@rses. org or 800-297-5660. Webinar sponsorship opportunities are also available. • changing industry pathways, focusing on profibility, safety and career longevity. •

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Vol. 3b GROWING UP “COMPLIANT”

By Sarah Selzer, CARO

In Part 1 of this third volume on compliance, Sarah Selzer addressed the vital importance of having a Process Safety Management (PSM), Risk Management Program (RMP), and the value of process chemistry, block flow diagrams and materials of construction (MOC). Part 1 was published in the 2025 July/August RETA Breeze . Here, Selzer describes the importance of design code standards, safety systems, data reports and on how to remain up-to-speed on IIAR-4 and IIAR-9.

Design Codes and Standards Em ployed— many facilities approach it in different ways. Some facilities list the design codes by project for every project ever done at the facility. This means every MOC would require updates to the design codes and standards. Other facilities use general statements like, “The facility was constructed utilizing codes and standards in use at the time of construction.” So, what is the best solution? I like the approach of having a set of design codes for the facility. These codes are in use through a set time period. Every time the codes change, you can update the standard. Then, you can prove what design codes and standards were employed by comparing the MOC initiation date with the history of his design codes and standards. This cuts down on the number of updates and provides a good list that can be given to contractors bidding on projects. Material and Energy Balances for Processes Built after May 26, 1992— many people believe that just because a building was constructed prior to 1992, they don’t need a material and energy balance. Some inspectors may agree. Some inspectors will argue that if the facility has

first is the SOP outlining the operation of the engine room ventilation system. The second is an SOP on the operation of the ammonia detection system(s). The third, which may be the most important, is the overall refrigeration SOP. Per ANSI/IIAR-9: The following equipment documentation and system component documentation shall be obtained and on-file at the facility. Manufacturer Data Report(s) Compressor oil separator Compressor oil cooler (if applicable) Condenser (if applicable) Pressure Vessel Heat Exchanger (if applicable)

undergone substantial changes, a material and energy balance is required. I approach it from a practical side. Does the material and energy balance provide useful information? If so, I think I need one. Sometimes, these are referred to as a load balance. Load balances are a great troubleshooting and design tool. The load balance is what tells us if we have enough compression or condensing for an evaporator expansion, as an example. I think this is an extremely useful tool and well with the effort to develop and maintain. Safety Systems (e.g., interlocks, detection, or suppression systems)— these are normally included in the program as part of the standard operating procedures (Technical Operating Specifi cations [SOP/TOS]). They are very important. These safety systems give the operators information on what the safeties are and how they work. This can be extremely beneficial in troubleshoot ing. What about the safety systems that do not apply to a SOP/TOS? Well, in my opinion, that is a sign that you don’t have enough SOPs (I know, don’t come for me). I find several SOPs missing on a regular basis. The

Materials of Construction Compressor

Condenser Evaporator Auto Purger Ammonia Refrigerant Pump Heat Exchanger

Manufacturer Documentation for System Components Valves Instrumentation Controls

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manual and a design cutsheet. This applies to compressors, condensers, evaporators, auto purgers, ammonia refrigerant pumps, heat exchangers and anything else that contains ammonia within your system. Manufacturer Documentation for System Components— this includes: valves, instrumentation, control components, gauges, etc. You should have O&M informa tion, or at least the specifications from a catalog for all of these components. Missing Documentation Provision— ANSI/IIAR-9 also states: Where the documentation is no longer available, the owner or the owner's desig nated representative shall determine and document that the equipment is designed, maintained, inspected, tested, and is operating in a safe manner. This simply means that if you cannot get the information after a reasonable effort, you can draft a memo outlining the operating conditions of the equipment. Note how it is being maintained (per ANSI/ IIAR-6), and that it is being operated in a safe manner. However, if the equipment was just installed, a memo is not sufficient. Memos should only be used on older

“if applicable.” It is applicable if it has an ASME certification. Condenser (if applicable): This normally refers to shell and tube condensers which are ASME certified. Pressure vessels: All of your ammonia pressure vessels should be ASME certified. You should have documentation for them. Sometimes, smaller vessels are produced as part of a group and the ASME documen tation is slightly different. You still need it in your program. Heat exchanger (if applicable): This applies to all ASME certified heat exchang ers. In refrigeration we think of shell and tube, tube in shell, falling film, plate, and tube and shell heat exchangers. But that just scratches the surface. Examples include: scrape surface heat exchangers, ice makers, ice builders, jacketed tanks, jacketed silos, ammonia cooled mixers, carbo coolers, etc. Any heat exchanger that is ASME certified requires documentation. Any heat exchanger utilizing ammonia should have some form of documentation even if it is built to a different standard. Make sure you have U1A forms or other ASME certifications for all of your ASME certified components. Materials of Construction— always have an operations and maintenance (O&M)

This means that you need information from the equipment manufacturer within your PSM/RMP program. And it does not matter if this documentation does or does not meet OSHA’s and EPA’s definition of PSI. If it is documentation associated with the ammonia refrigeration system, it needs to be part of your PSM/RMP program. See the next section below for specifics. Manufacturer’s Data Reports— are the build sheets for American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) certified components. These are available through the national board. However, if you need one, start by contacting your manufacturer. They should provide this with every new ASME certified component. Many times, they will supply them for older equipment at little or no cost. The compressor oil separator is called out specifically because it is often missed. Some facilities look at a compressor package and list it as a compressor. It’s not, depending on the package. It may be a compressor and a vessel (oil separator), or maybe another pressure vessel (filter assembly, if it’s ASME certified), or maybe a heat exchanger (Thermosyphon oil cooler). Notice that it lists compressor oil cooler DOCUMENTATION SPECIFICS FROM ANSI/IIAR-9

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Further MOC and PSM

Documentation It is important to determine what is construction documentation and what should be included as part of your PSM/RMP Process Safety Infor mation (PSI). I would file the following with the Management of Change (MOC) materials, but would not con sider them part of PSI: • Inspection Reports; • Nondestructive Evaluation (NOE) Reports; • Weld Maps; • Work-In-Progress Inspection/ Testing Reports; • Testing Documentation; • Welding Documents and Welder Continuity Report(s); • Line Break Permit(s); • Ammonia Delivery Bill of Lading/ Invoice(s) and Delivery Receipts; Management or Management of Change (MOC); and • The following should be considered as PSM documentation, but I would file them in other sections of the program: • Standard Operating Procedures  file in the Standard Operating Procedure section of the PSM / RMP program. • Training Records  file in the Training section of the PSM / RMP program. • Hazard Safety Review or Assess • Pre-Startup and Safety Review (PSSR).

•

Block Flow & Piping & Instrumenta tion Diagrams (P&IDs) - when completed Ammonia Charge Calculations Ammonia Delivery Bill of Lading/ Invoice(s) and Delivery Receipts Safety System & Relief Data Material & Energy Balance Pressure Vessel Data Forms & All U-Stamped Equipment Equipment and/or System Operation & Maintenance Manuals Pressure Relief Valve (PRY) Calcula tions Relief Discharge Line/Header System Calculations Machinery Room Ventilation Calculation & Ventilation System Data Change Management or Manage ment of Change (MOC) Hazard Safety Review or Assessment and/or Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) - Final Pre-Startup and Safety Review (PSSR) Standard Operating Procedures Equipment/Valve Lists ASME Ul-A, U-2, U-3 Forms

equipment where the information is no longer available. There is not a good definition that describes “safe operating conditions.” Here is what I use: if a unit has been operating at -20°F for the last 30 years, operation at -20°F is safe. if you decide to change the operating parameters to -60°F, then you need documentation. A memo won’t do because you don’t have a safe operating history under these new conditions to justify the memo. ANSI/IIAR-4 and Post-installation Docu mentation— ANSI/IIAR-4 is titled “Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems.” Appendix B. (Informative) provides what insulation documentation is to be maintained. Per the text:

• • • • • •

• •

•

•

•

B.3 AFTER INSTALLATION: •

•

As-Built Drawings - Upon full installation completion

•

• •

Inspection Reports

Nondestructive Evaluation (NOE) Reports

• • • •

• •

Weld Maps

Work-In-Progress Inspection/Testing Reports Testing Documentation - Per ANSI/ IIAR 5-2019 requirements Certificate of Compliance indicating Standards and Codes followed for installation Welding Documents (Per Section 4.4.1 and 4.4.2) and Welder Continu ity Report(s)

Training Records

Additional Items to be submitted for installation close out.

•

•

See sidebar, titled "Further MOC and PSM Documentation," for further details on MOC and PSM documentation. Multitude of Essential PSI Documenta tion— the following diagrams, lists and drawings are crucial to having a complete PSI file: Electrical field wiring— the electrical one-line diagram is part of my PSI. I want to maintain it as current, and the easiest way to do that is to add it to my PSM/RMP program and manage changes through the management of change program.

•

• •

Line Break Permit(s)

Electrical Field Wiring & Ladder Wiring Diagrams

• •

PLC Programming

ment and/or Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)  file in the PHA section of the PSM / RMP program.

Process Safety Information (PSI) Installation Updates - Where PSM regulated Installation Specifications and Drawings

•

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Ladder wiring diagrams— also something I want to maintain current. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming— anyone who doubts the importance of having the PLC programing as part of the PSI needs to be in atten dance when a processor scrambles at 2 a.m. with all the lines running. You’ll quickly become a believer. Always maintain backups of PLC programming and make sure the backups are updated as part of the MOC process. Equipment lists/Information— I’m a firm believer that IIAR-6 equipment sheets need to be maintained and updated as part of the MOC program. This should include a complete equipment list. Ventilation system data— similar to equipment information, I believe an IIAR-6 equipment sheet should be maintained for the engine room ventilation equip ment. As-built drawings— this seems somewhat ambiguous. Are we talking as-built plan views, fabrication drawings, isometrics, P&IDs, etc…? I would put some of these in PSI and some I would consider construc tion documents. I would caution that only those documents which you will maintain should be part of PSI. Instrumentation list— like the valve list, instrumentation lists should be developed as well. Instrumentation should have identifiers, and these identifiers should be utilized in SOPs, P&IDs and ladder dia grams. 3-way manifold list— you need to cycle 3-way manifolds on a regular basis. How do you make sure you have cycled them all unless you have a list. Also, if the list is constructed correctly, you can use it to document the cycling. Critical valve list— you need to cycle critical valves on a regular basis. You need to specify what is a critical valve and what is not. This takes a dedicated list. How do you make sure you have cycled them all unless you have a list. Also, if the list is constructed correctly, you can use it to document the cycling. (See sidebar for my list.) Safety relief valve list— safety relief valve installation dates must be maintained as part of the PSM/RMP program. This is to assure they are replaced or recertified on a five-year basis. Ammonia detector list— ammonia

The Valve List The valve list is a list of all the ammo nia refrigeration valves that should be maintained. This can become messy—so if you do a valve list for every single valve in your system, the information better be correct. Most facilities just maintain a list of their Pressure Relief Valves and Criti cal Valves. The guidance for this has changed, but I would suggest includ ing the following: • identifier;

detectors require calibration on a regular basis. Very few things are as embarrassing, or as costly, as having an inspector find an ammonia detector which hasn’t been calibrated. The list should contain the identifier, manufacturer, model number and location. I also suggest set points, though if they are outlined in an ammonia detector SOP then I’m ok with leaving them off the list. Safety equipment plan view— the location of safety equipment should be outlined on a plan view. This is a great document to utilize in training. This is also important to have in order to locate the safety equipment. This may include the ammonia detectors, or the ammonia detectors can be shown on a separate plan view. Refrigeration equipment plan view —the location of refrigeration equipment should be outlined on a plan view. This is a great document to utilize in training. Certified drawings —certified drawings should be maintained for all your ASME rated equipment. If certified drawings are not available, utilize general arrangement drawings. Whichever is available. Emergency evacuation drawings —these drawings should show evacuation routes and roll call areas. These need to be maintained as changes are made at the facility. Shelter in place drawings —these drawings should show egress routes to the shelter in place areas. These need to be maintained as changes are made at the facility. Engine room sign —there is a required sign at the engine room listing maximum intended inventory, emergency contacts, emergency instructions, etc. I include it as part of my PSI. There are many other items which could be considered. I am fully aware that not everyone will agree with my

• manufacturer; • model number; • connection size; • port size; • located on P&ID; • room location; • purpose; • function; and • description.

assessment here, which is understand able. PSM is a performance standard. Do what you need to do in order to make your program successful (within the rules). Sarah Selzer, CARO is Compliance Specialist for APSM. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her teammates at APSM. She has the distinction of having held a RETA chapter office as a teenager, the privilege of growing up in a refrigeration contracting firm, and the curse of thinking about refrigeration compliance all the time. Sarah was also a 2024 RETA 30 Under 30 winner. Volume 4 and further parts of this series will be published in future RETA Breeze publications. To read previous volumes, go to the RETA Breeze archives on www.reta.com.

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THE SKY IS FALLING! UH, OH... HERE COMES MORE REGULATIONS THAT WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT PART 6

Word has it that a major end-user of ammonia refrigeration is using recommended practices from the American Petroleum Institute (API) as part of their PSM-RMP program. Oh, the horror!

By Bill Lape, CIRO, CRST

I n the last issue, I discussed the creation of the International Institute of Ammo nia Refrigeration (IIAR) and the history behind its suite of standards for ammonia refrigeration systems. In this issue, I need to divert again from discussing details of the IIAR requirements in their various ammonia refrigeration standards, and once again back up. This time, it is not because of new regulations, but because of word getting out that a major end-user of ammonia refrigeration is using recom mended practices from the American Petroleum Institute (API) as part of their Process Safety Management (PSM) and Risk Management Program (RMP). Oh, the horror! As I mentioned in a previous article, many years ago codes and standards applicable to ammonia refrigeration were few and far between. The model codes didn’t formally coalesce around specific requirements until the late 1990s. IIAR Standard 2 did not become well known in our industry until that time frame as well, despite being first published in 1974. ASHRAE 15 was really the only standard that could be reliably applied to ammonia, but it also had a number of holes in it,

particularly prior to 2000. It was due to these holes that OSHA and EPA inspectors often tried to cite facilities with ammonia refrigeration for not following certain API standards, like API 570: Piping Inspection Code, or API 520-1: Sizing and Selection of Pressure Relieving Devices in Refineries. Many of these holes have been plugged by IIAR’s suite of standards. For instance, IIAR 2 addresses the sizing and selection of pressure relieving devices, thus eliminating API 520-1 as relevant Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP). IIAR 6 now spells out inspection, testing and maintenance requirements for closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems, thus eliminating API 570 as relevant RAGAGEP. IIAR’s mission was, and remains, the development of standards appliable to ammonia refrigera tion systems, thus providing facilities and regulatory officials with RAGAGEP for their refrigeration systems. So, what’s all the hubbub about this major ammonia refrigeration end-user using API Guidelines to enhance their process safety management programs? The concern is obviously that someone is using API information as RAGAGEP, thus opening the

IIAR 2 addresses the sizing and selection of pressure relieving devices.

door to citations against inapplicable standards . However, that is actually not the case here. In this instance, the end user is using API RP 754: Process Safety Perfor mance Indicators to establish leading and lagging indicators to measure the perfor mance of their process safety programs. Now, it should first be noted that API RP 754 is a Recommended Practice, not a

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