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RESIZING REFRIGERANTS

As hedrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are being increasingly phased out to meet government and regulatory requirements, natural refrigerants are candidates to fill the void, getting a closer look from many types of businesses installing smaller refrigeration systems, such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

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OSHA Initiates Small Business Review Panel on PSM Regulation

In February 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it is initiating a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel in order to get feedback on several potential revisions to OSHA’s Process Safety Management Program (PSM) standard.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

As you’ve likely noticed, this issue of the Condenser is all about the re-release of IIAR-2, the first comprehensive code standard for the safe, reliable and efficient design of ammonia refrigeration systems. We’re dedicating so much space to IIAR-2 because it is perhaps one of the most important, long reaching projects our association has completed in recent years.

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IIAR-2 GOES TO WORK

With the completion of IIAR-2, the most comprehensive standard for the safe design of closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems, the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration has written a single authoritative source document that provides a path forward for the ammonia refrigeration industry.

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EPA Proposes Rule to Strengthen Refrigerant Management Requirements

On November 9, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Update to the Refrigerant Management Requirements under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.”

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

In this issue, we’re presenting news on many exciting activities in our industry and our organization. IIAR is working harder than ever to deliver on its promise to membership: to promote the ongoing growth and health of industrial refrigeration.

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COOLING WITHOUT WATER?

Agriculture and food processing operations across the American West are scrambling to find new water sources amid a record drought. And although their water problems continue to be seen as a mostly regional issue for many in the industrial refrigeration industry, there’s no mistaking that water scarcity will loom larger in the years to come.

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Executive Order 13650 — Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security

On August 1, 2013, President Obama signed Executive Order 13650 entitled: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. The action was driven in response to an explosion at a fertilizer facility in West, Texas

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

Throughout this edition of the Condenser, you’ll see a common theme: change. New technologies are opening the door to new types of customers and applications for ammonia and other natural refrigerants.

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Standardizing a Customized Industry

The move towards lower charge has spurred demand for products like standardized package systems that promise solutions to at least some of the industry’s biggest problems. But exactly how those products will develop, and who will take them to market is yet unclear.

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Congress Tackles Regulatory Reform

The November 2014 elections resulted in a significant shift in control of Congress. Republicans gained control of the Senate and widened their majority in the House of Representatives. As a result, efforts to reform the regulatory process are seeing renewed interest this year.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

This issue of the Condenser marks the end of the last member year, and the beginning of a new one. It also marks our annual conference, where we come together from all corners of our industry to talk about the trends and technology shaping our business – at IIAR’s Annual Industrial Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition.

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The Case for CO2

The use of CO2 as a refrigerant has grown in recent years, thanks to market demand spurred by a combination of environmental regulatory actions and technology advances in microprocessor controls and valve design.

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EPA Issues Enforcement Alert on Anhydrous Ammonia

In February 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an enforcement alert entitled: “Anhydrous Ammonia at Refrigeration Facilities Under Scrutiny by U.S. EPA.” The EPA’s Office of Civil Enforcement issues alerts such as this periodically to highlight areas where the agency is placing enforcement priority.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

One of IIAR’s most important responsibilities is advocating on behalf of our members on state and federal policy. I’m happy to report that in 2014 we stepped up our efforts even more in this realm and we’ve been working closely with government regulatory agencies to provide them with our expertise in a number of different ways.

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THE MECHANICS OF CHANGE: Developing Industry-Specific Education to Narrow Industrial Refrigeration’s Skills Gap

Much has been made of the so-called manufacturing skills gap in the United States as manufacturers across a wide swath of industries report that the pool of prospective workers with the skill sets and certifications required to perform highly specialized job functions is narrowing, even as U.S. manufacturing continues its steady climb.

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IIAR Leads Coalition in Response to RMP Request for Information

In July 24, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency published a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the agency’s Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations. The RFI was generated as a part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to implement Executive Order 13650 - Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

Throughout this edition of the Condenser, you’ll see a common theme: Progress. I couldn’t be more excited about where IIAR – and the industry as a whole – are heading.

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SRV Calc

The five-year replacement interval for relief valves isn’t a practice that gets much scrutiny. It’s spelled out in IIAR Bulletin 110, and a provision establishing the need for a common interval appears in the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, making it a generally accepted “no-brainer” for much of the industrial refrigeration industry.

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Presidential Working Group Recommends Policy Changes Impacting Chemical Facilities

In response to the tragic accident last year in West, Texas, President Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. The EO is intended to enhance the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce risks associated with hazardous chemicals to facility workers and operators, communities, and responders.

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President’s Mesage by Dave Rule

There’s a lot going on these days, both in our industry and at IIAR’s headquarters. Regulatory issues have seen an increased focus for our organization while new technologies like low charge systems continue to grow in importance.

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Place Your Bets

Refrigeration technologies like synthetic replacements for HFCs, low charge ammonia and CO2 -based systems are growing like never before ahead of a planned phaseout of R-22 in the United States.

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IIAR Builds Coalition to Comment on Proposed PSM Changes

The Obama Administration continues its work under the Executive Order entitled: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security that was signed in August 2013.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

The beginning of the year has been a busy time at IIAR headquarters as we prepare for our Heavy Equipment show in Nashville. As usual, we’re looking forward to showcasing the best our industry has to offer.

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NH3 Around the WORLD

Ammonia refrigeration is emerging as a dominant market in many important world economies as governments move to re-energize the Montreal protocol to phase-down greenhouse gasses.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

The second half of the year is always a challenging and busy time for the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, and so far, 2013 has followed that precedent. As we wrap up this year’s work on behalf of the industry, the IIAR leadership is pleased to report on several successful initiatives in many different areas.

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The Executive Order on Chemical Security: A Closer Look

On August 1st, President Obama announced the signing of an Executive Order entitled “Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.”

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The Color CONUNDRUM. IIAR DEFINES PIPING CONVENTION

The importance of color coding ammonia refrigeration piping is a generally accepted best practice these days, but the debate over which colors to use has been anything but black and white.

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The Standard for Tomorrow

In 1974, the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration issued IIAR-2, a standard that would uniquely address the design and installation of ammonia refrigeration systems for the first time and establish IIAR as the standards writing body dedicated exclusively to ammonia refrigeration.

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The First 30 Minutes

In most situations, the correct response to a threat involving ammonia in the first thirty minutes after it is identified will effectively contain most potential hazards, before they have enough time to grow into an unmanageable problem. Preparation can mean the difference between a disorganized response and the ability to shut down a potential incident when time matters the most.

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MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY OF CARBON DIOXIDE REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS

The return of Carbon Dioxide as a refrigerant is probably un-stoppable because it is much more environmentally friendly than most of the non-flammable, non-toxic refrigerants currently in use. However, it is worth considering the reasons why industry departed from it in the 1940s.