Recent Blog Posts

Ammonia Release | Stress Cracking

April 29th, 2025

Summary In August 2016, the sudden breaking of a valve on an ammonia pump resulted in a release of 34-284 lbs of ammonia. The root cause was determined to be a stress crack that formed at the threads of a valve, ultimately leading to the top of the valve shearing off.  Incident Description The ammonia […]

Ammonia Week in Review | April 18, 2025

April 18th, 2025

Repeats and Fines in this week’s edition of the Ammonia Week in Review… Second Ammonia Leak in Six Years Forces Arena Shutdown in Port Alberni – This is the second time in six years that the chiller has suffered a “catastrophic failure,” according to city officials. […keep reading] Ammonia Leak Happens at Tyson Foods Poultry Plant – All workers […]

Relief Valve Replacement (Dual Assembly)

April 15th, 2025

This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 3/10/15. You can read the original blog here. Question: Do both relief valves on a dual assembly have to be replaced every five (5) years, or just the relief valve that has been subject to system pressure? Answer: Most pressure vessels in an […]

Ammonia Week in Review | April 11, 2025

April 11th, 2025

Ammonia Calls A Timeout in this week’s edition of the Ammonia Week in Review… Murray Bridge CFS Crew Helps with Gas Leak at Forest Range – Early on Sunday morning, the Country Fire Service was alerted to an ammonia gas leak inside an apple storage shed on Plummer Road at Forest Range. […keep reading] Ammonia Leak Forces Closure […]

Ammonia Release | Service Valve Hole

April 1st, 2025

Summary In June 2016, a hole developed in the nipple of a ½” service valve, resulting in a release of 1,224 lbs of ammonia. The service valve, installed on a liquid transfer vessel, began leaking liquid ammonia into the machinery room. Incident Description Long-term, chronic corrosion caused a 1.5 mm hole to develop in the […]