Part Four, Refrigeration Standards and Codes

Bill Lape’s article in the RETA Breeze outlines the historical development and standardization of safety codes and standards for ammonia refrigeration in the United States. He covers key regulatory changes, industry responses, and the establishment of dedicated organizations and standards to promote safe ammonia refrigeration practices, including:

• 1968 NEC amendment impact: In 1968, ammonia was added to Group D Hazardous Atmospheres in the National Electric Code (NEC), requiring explosion-proof equipment and intrinsically safe wiring in ammonia refrigeration machinery rooms, which increased costs and competitive disadvantage for ammonia systems. Subsequent proposals aimed to reverse this but only led to a compromise that referenced ANSI B9.1 for classification, laying the groundwork for industry-specific advocacy.
• Formation of IIAR: The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) was founded in 1971 to promote education and standards for ammonia refrigeration safety. IIAR developed the IIAR 2 standard, first published in 1974 and updated multiple times, aligning it with ASHRAE Standard 15 and expanding it to incorporate mechanical and fire codes, culminating in 2024 when the International Fire Code deferred to IIAR standards.
• Transition from guidelines to standards: Initially, IIAR issued recommended practices and bulletins, which were not mandatory but used by OSHA inspectors as references for safety compliance. This led to industry pushback and IIAR’s transition to formal ANSI consensus standards to ensure stakeholder input and regulatory acceptance.
• Comprehensive IIAR standards suite: IIAR developed a suite of ANSI standards covering definitions, design, valves, installation, start-up, inspection, operating procedures, decommissioning, and minimum safety requirements for ammonia refrigeration systems, providing a robust framework for safety and operational consistency in the industry.

About the Author: Bill Lape is Project Director and SCS’s National Expert for Risk Management Plans and Process Safety Management. Bill is a Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator (CIRO), a Certified Refrigeration Service Technician (CRST), and is the current Executive Vice President of the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA).

Additional Resources:

• Refrigeration Codes & Standards: Part Three of Many
• Part Two of Many: Refrigeration Standards & Codes
• Codes and Standards, Part One, RETA Breeze 2023
• Risk Management Plans and Process Safety Management