Recent Blog Posts

Condenser Relief Valves

January 7th, 2025

Question: Are pressure relief valves required to be installed on an evaporative condenser? This is an update to a blog that was originally posted on 9/10/13. You can read the original blog here. Answer: This is a very good question and one that gets asked frequently. Since an evaporative condenser is not a pressure vessel, […]

When Does a Relief Valve’s Clock Start?

April 2nd, 2019

While it is well known that good engineering practice requires that relief valves be replaced every five years, industry literature does not clearly state when the five-year timer starts its countdown. Is it when the valve is manufactured? Taken out of the box? Installed? Exposed to ammonia? Due to the lack of clarification on this […]

Atmospheric Termination of Relief Valve Discharge Piping

February 5th, 2019

Since ammonia diffusion tanks were removed from the California Mechanical Code in 2016, atmospheric termination of relief valves has once again become a viable strategy for ammonia refrigeration systems. The question that often arises, however, is what constitutes “safe” termination to atmosphere. ANSI/IIAR 2-2014 §15.5.1 outlines five requirements for proper atmospheric termination: Discharge pipe must […]