Recent Blog Posts

Purpose, Scope, and Applicability (IIAR 6, Part 3)

September 17th, 2019

Chapter 1 of ANSI/IIAR 6 Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems addresses the Purpose, Scope, and Applicability of the standard. According to §1.1, the purpose of IIAR 6 is to specify “minimum requirements for inspection, testing, and maintenance for closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems”. Notice that there are no qualifiers for […]

IIAR 6 Overview (IIAR 6, Part 2)

September 3rd, 2019

Similar to other IIAR standards, ANSI/IIAR 6 Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems is divided into several Parts, with each Part containing multiple Chapters or Appendices. Parts 1-2 are normative, indicating that the content in these sections is mandatory. Part 3 is informative and therefore intended to be descriptive and […]

It’s Finally Here! (IIAR 6, Part 1)

August 20th, 2019

We’ve often heard the axiom that “patience is a virtue”. For the ammonia refrigeration industry, our patience has finally been rewarded with the publication of ANSI/IIAR 6 Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. By some estimations, IIAR 6 has been in development for over 13 years[1]. Countless IIAR Standards Committee […]

Do Machinery Rooms Require a Shunt Trip?

August 6th, 2019

The term “shunt trip” is often used in discussions regarding an ammonia refrigeration machinery room e-stop. Technically speaking, a shunt trip is a device that is designed to trip a circuit breaker remotely. In the context of an ammonia refrigeration system, the shunt trip would be located outside the machinery room so that all power […]

Do All Permit Required Confined Spaces Require a Permit?

July 23rd, 2019

On the surface, this appears to be a silly question. Regulations, however, often have nuances and it so happens that according to Title 8 CCR §5157, the answer is ‘No’. Let me explain. In California, Title 8 CCR §5156-5159 regulate all confined space activities. According to the legal definition a “Confined space means a space […]