Recent Blog Posts

Standard 9 has been revised – Here’s what you need to know!

August 5th, 2024

The first edition of IIAR Standard 9 was published in 2020. Consistent with the document title, “Standard for Minimum System Safety Requirements for Existing Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems”, Standard 9 lays out the minimum requirements that all systems must adhere to, regardless of when they were built. The original publication of Standard 9 required facilities […]

EPA Notice: Pacific Northwest Ammonia Refrigeration Facilities

July 23rd, 2024

A July 2024 publication by the USEPA has put small ammonia refrigeration facilities in the Pacific Northwest on notice. This notice states ‘EPA is providing advance notice of an upcoming enforcement initiative so that you can take steps now to avoid a penalty before the initiative begins.’ Many ammonia refrigeration facilities across the Pacific Northwest must comply […]

Ammonia Release | Contractor Error and Coil Failure

July 9th, 2024

Summary In August 2022, hydrostatic expansion occurred inside an improperly isolated evaporator coil, resulting in a release of approximately 230 lbs of ammonia. The leak occurred when one of the return tubes of the evaporator coil broke due to the overpressurization.  Incident Description The evaporator coil (Coil 3) was recently replaced and the other two […]

Piping Hangers and Supports | IIAR Standards and Guidance Documents

June 25th, 2024

Ammonia pipe supports are a crucial component to the construction of a refrigeration system. Inadequate pipe supports could lead to an ammonia release in the event of an earthquake, prolonged vibration, or physical impact. Many of IIAR’s standards and guidance documents provide helpful clarification regarding how ammonia piping should be supported and secured.  Design of […]

Ammonia Release | Compressor Suction Gasket

June 11th, 2024

Summary In June 2020, the failure of a bolt on the strainer cap for a compressor led to the release of 5,461 lbs of ammonia. One of the four bolts for the strainer cap had been broken for years. A second bolt broke during the incident as the compressor suction gasket failed. Incident Description When […]