Clean Evaporator Coils Reduce Energy Expenditure, Lower Costs

Numerous factors can contribute to decreases in a refrigeration system’s energy efficiency, not the least of which is its cleanliness. Much of the time, when facility operators see a facility’s efficiency drop, they believe that indicates they must replace the systems with larger units, when in fact, they often simply need to clean the systems they’re currently using - particularly the evaporators.

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ASME Low Temperature Requirements for Impact Testing

For those of us that didn’t major in metallurgy, steel was always a pretty simple material. It was pretty springy and flexible stuff. Just about any shape was possible. Steel could be loaded up to a point and it would bend, but when unloaded it would spring back to its original shape.

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From the Montreal Protocol to the Paris Agreement: How Refrigerants Have Felt the Chill of Global Environmental Regulations

International refrigerant related environmental regulation began in a laboratory at the University of California, Irvine, in 1973 when a postdoctoral fellow, Mario J. Molina, under the supervision of F. Sherwood Rowland, made a groundbreaking and controversial hypothesis that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) could destroy ozone (O3) in the Earth’s stratosphere.

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International Update: A Focus on Education in Latin America

In Chile, the International Committee of the IIAR has been working with the University of Santiago’s department of mechanical engineering along with the Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (CChRyC) to develop a diploma track specifically to prepare refrigeration engineers to work with ammonia systems. The first class – 14 engineers in total – recently graduated.

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Understanding Bond Yields and the Yield Curve

When it comes to investing in bonds, one of the first factors to consider is yield. But what exactly is “yield?” The answer depends on how the term is being used. In the broadest sense, an investment’s yield is the return you get on the money you’ve invested. However, there are many different ways to calculate yield. Comparing yields can be a good way to evaluate bond investments, as long as you know what yields you’re comparing and why.

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Pre-emergency preparedness

Are you prepared? I think most of us think we are LESSON prepared, at least to deal with whatever we expect to happen. The trouble is that often what we come up against is not something we expected – therefore we are not prepared to deal with it. For ammonia refrigeration whether a system has 400 lbs. or 40,000 lbs. (or more) we should do pre-emergency planning and training.

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Regulatory Reforms Advance in Canada and U.S.

Regulations are a major consideration for the industrial refrigeration industry in the United States, Canada and many other countries. IIAR has long worked to improve the regulatory climate in the U.S. and is now working to broaden its influence across the globe. In some cases, this takes the form of promoting IIAR standards in countries that do not have well established regulatory schemes. In other cases, IIAR is working to advance regulatory reforms to reduce regulatory burdens while maintaining safety.

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Developing and Implementing Effective Ammonia Refrigeration System Operating Procedures

This paper provides guidance on developing and implementing operating procedures for ammonia refrigeration systems. The regulatory information is based on the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (29CFR1910.119) standard (1992), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions’ (40 CFR part 68) Risk Management PlanRule(1996), and the IIAR standards for Developing Operating Procedures for Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems (ANSI/IIAR7-2013).

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

It’s that time of year again, and I’m happy to welcome all IIAR members back to our most important event – the IIAR annual conference and exhibition. Before I get into the exciting things we’ve got in store for you as an organization this year, I’d like to take a minute to recognize all our sponsors and exhibitors. It is their support that provides the backbone for this annual event, sponsoring food and coffee breaks, not to mention our exhibit hall – and everything else that makes this one of the premier events in our industry.

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Chairman’s Message by Walter Teeter

It’s amazing how quickly a year can go by. Our 2018 annual conference is here already, and while that means this is the last annual meeting during my term as Chairman, this year’s conference represents just the beginning of many exciting developments for IIAR and its members.

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NH3 | CO2 TAKE GOLD

Ice rinks from community recreation facilities to the National Hockey League are moving to natural refrigerants such as ammonia and carbon dioxide as they replace aging facilities and deal with the mandatory phase out of R-22, a hydrochlorofluorocarbon that has been widely used at ice rinks across North America.

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Europe’s F-Gas Phase-Out, Price Increases, Leave the Industry Looking for Solutions

In Europe, the phase out of fluorinated gases with high global warming potential, known as F-gases in Europe and HFCs in the U.S., is resulting in severe shortages, causing prices to skyrocket and creating challenges for those that operate and maintain the systems.

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CONFERENCE CHAIR’S MESSAGE

It’s the beginning of a new annual conference for all of us at IIAR, and that means it’s time to meet new colleagues, network, and catch up with friends and business partners at our industry’s largest event. Welcome to the 2018 IIAR Natural Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition!

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ARF Message

The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, in partnership with other industry leaders — including The Foundation, RETA, IIAR, GCCA, Lanier Technical College, and Fastport — has created an apprentice program for mechanics and technicians to help bolster the refrigeration workforce. The program is designed to train ammonia refrigeration technicians in all phases of their careers and combines well-developed on-thejob learning with related instruction.

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From Threat Assessment to Employee Engagement: IIAR Tech Papers Unveil Research, Analyze Data

Utilizing bow-tie graphics to assess and prevent potential threats to an industrial ammonia refrigeration system, the importance of employee engagement and building relationships with first responders, and the benefits of ammonia scrubbing with C02 are among the technical papers and workshops that will be presented at this year’s annual IIAR Natural Refrigeration Conference and Expo.

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Efficiency Can be Just Another Controllable Cost

Energy efficiency can be achieved in ways other than with new technology. It can also prove to be a controllable cost, just as with labor and equipment. By developing an energy management system that establishes clear, measurable goals for energy performance, end users of industrial refrigeration facilities can realize a significant reduction in energy consumption, delivering cost savings that fall straight to the bottom line.

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Little Details Add Up

When big things happe they really draw our attention, but in most cases it’s the little things we miss that can result in unexpected and sometimes undesirable results. We might breeze along taking account of larger items, not realizing or taking time to think that little details can make a big difference.

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Social Security: Claim Early and Invest Versus Delaying Receipt for Increased Benefits

Financial Advisors are occasionally asked to provide an analysis of the potential results of claiming Social Security early and investing the proceeds versus delaying receipt for increased benefits, which can be claimed as late as age 70. The following are the reasons that delaying social security income can be a prudent strategy.

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Using the Right Type of Monitor for CO2

The use of CO2 is becoming common in the industrial refrigeration industry, especially with cascade refrigeration systems. But many people are not as familiar with CO2 as they are with ammonia, some believing that the only respiratory issue with CO2 is that it is an inert gas like nitrogen or argon.

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Appeals Court Denies Rehearing of Ruling Against EPA Regulation of HFCs

On January 26, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied petitions requesting a rehearing by the full court of a decision finding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had exceeded its authority by regulating the use of HFCs through the Significant New Alternatives Policy program (SNAP).

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Energy Performance of Low Charge, Central Type, Dual Stage NH3 Refrigeration Systems in Practice

In the wake of the pending global phase-down of HFCs due to their contribution to global warming, users and owners of refrigeration systems are faced with decisions that at times appear difficult. These decisions relate to whether or not users continue to employ HFC-based refrigeration systems, switch to low GWP synthetic refrigerants or consider future-proof natural refrigerants such as NH3 , CO2 , hydrocarbons, water, or air in their new and/or expanded systems. In this decision-making process, one very important factor is often either overlooked or underestimated. This factor is energy performance—particularly the energy performance of low charge NH3 systems.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

This month you’ll be hearing from IIAR about one of our most important annual activities, our membership renewal drive. As an IIAR member, we all depend on you to take that essential first step to participate in the activism and advocacy of our industry, by

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Chairman’s Message by Mike Lynch

As your new Chairman, my first priority this year is to extend a warm welcome to all our new IIAR members. You are joining a community passionate about its work. Your participation and spirit of volunteer leadership is essential in creating the growth and change that will help our natural refrigeration industry meet the new challenges ahead.

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UNLOCKING AMMONIA

Ammonia refrigeration systems are becoming more compact, portable and simpler to install, widening the potential for adoption of ammonia, carbon dioxide and other natural refrigerants in previously untapped industries.

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With New Technology, Buying Decisions Hinge on Efficiency

The focus on efficiency and more important in every arena, and a growing number of companies are prioritizing the potential for long-term efficiency gains, reduced labor costs and streamlined maintenance - over initial cost - when designing their facilities.

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Industrial Refrigerant Apprenticeship Program Nears Completion

A consortium of agencies including RETA, IIAR, ARF, the Global Cold Chain Alliance, FASTPORT and Lanier Technical College has been working diligently to build the Industrial Refrigerant Apprenticeship Program and to get it up and running with the U.S. Department of Labor. It is with great pleasure that we announce that the process is nearly complete.

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ARF Message

In an effort to attract more young people to the industrial refrigeration industry using natural refrigerants, a high school in Azle, Texas, is taking a novel approach. By offering a fully dedicated ammonia refrigeration class, the school gives students unprecedented hands-on training, meaningful work experience and even industry credentials long before their peers are even considering what their careers might be.

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Documenting RAGAGEP

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard (29 CFR 1910.119) was issued as a final rule in 1992. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program (RM Program) regulation (40 CFR 68.79) was issued as a final rule in 1994.

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Standards Committee Focuses on CO2

One of the main focuses this year for the Standards Committee has been the development of a CO2 standard. As this refrigerant is growing in popularity, it’s becoming clear the industry needs guidance on its development, deployment and safety measures.

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International Committee Expands Outreach

Over the past year and a half, IIAR’s International Committee has established working chapters in several Latin American countries and has its sights set on more countries across the region and the world.

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Marketing Committee’s Report Quantifies Member Data

This year the IIAR Marketing Committee released its first State of the Industry report. The objective of the report was to compile various data sets and information about the industry and present it to IIAR members in an easily digestible way to share valuable information.

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How much is in the system?

One reason is compliance with federal safety and risk-management regulations. If the system is over the threshold quantity of 10,000 pounds, then it is subject to both the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) program and the EPA Risk Management Program (RMP). Additionally, some states may have more stringent program levels.

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Putting more Action in your Emergency Action Plan

In an emergency situation, every minute counts, and having a plan in place allows first responders and public safety officials to contain most threats before they grow into an unmanageable problem. During the Las Vegas Safety Day event, the Ammonia Safety and Training Institute, the Las Vegas Hazmat Team and others, including Michael Winburn, vice president of operations at Shetakis, which operates a cold storage facility in Las Vegas, came together to demonstrate how advanced planning can save critical time.

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IIAR Advances Regulatory Reform Proposals

President Trump has made regulatory reform a high priority for his administration. Trump has signed several executive orders on regulatory reform and task forces have been established at regulatory agencies to identify opportunities for regulatory relief.

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IIAR Remembers: Jim Wright

A longtime member of IIAR, two-term board member, friend and mentor to many in industrial refrigeration, Jim Wright was known for his tireless passion for a job well done, and his warm, generous spirit, which he shared freely with friends and colleagues.

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Best Practices in Managing an OSHA NEP or EPA GDC Inspection

In a recent OSHA Directive, CPL 03- 00-021, effective January 17, 2017, OSHA added EPA Level 1 and Level 2 processes to the Programmed Inspection and NEP selection criteria. This directive also provided some criteria on how facilities are targeted for an NEP inspection:

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

Business as usual is a term that has never applied well to industrial refrigeration. Our economic sector is constantly changing to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving supply chain, as we examine in this month’s cover story. Regulatory change, new technology and equipment development has propelled us into ever broader markets and applications for natural refrigerants.

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Chairman’s Message by Mike Lynch

In this issue of the Condenser, you’ll find several stories focused on new regulatory changes, code updates and the work of our many IIAR committees to keep the standards, education, and outreach efforts of our industry current and relevant.

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FRESH &Fast: HOW NEW CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS HAVE STOKED RECORD COLD STORAGE DEMAND

Occupancy rates at cold-storage facilities are at an all-time high, said Corey Rosenbusch, president of the Global Cold Chain Alliance. “There is denitely growing demand,” he said. “The industry feels like we’re in a good position right now with supply and demand, but there is pressure for more space.

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IIAR Standards Suite Gets Update

IIAR is working on changes to many of IIAR’s suite of standards. In a conversation with the Condenser, Standards Committee Chair Bob Czarnecki discussed each individual standard, providing detailed updates on the work being done. Here, the changes under consideration are outlined, organized by standard.

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Trade Groups, Lawmakers Speak Out in Support of the Kigali Amendment

Trade Groups, Lawmakers Speak Out in Support of the Kigali Amendment Several groups are focusing on advancing the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which calls for a worldwide phase-down in the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. The Kigali amendment, if ratified, establishes multiple legally binding schedules for participating countries to cap and phase-down the use of HFCs in favor of alternatives with lower global warming potential.

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Federal, State Programs Open Opportunity for Natural Refrigerants

Interest in natural refrigerants is continuing to increase, and several federal and state projects, led in particular by California legislation and agencies, are investing significant amounts of money into research and development programs designed to advance technology that could increase natural refrigerant use.

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IIAR Updates PSM/RMP

Project safety management and risk management plans are the subject of a recent IIAR publication update. IIAR has updated its PSM/ RMP manual, a compilation of all relevant Occupational Health and Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency requirements that would concern end users of ammonia refrigeration systems over 10,000 pounds.

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Latin American Countries Draft IIAR-Informed National Standards

The refrigeration industry in Latin America is critical to the regional and global economy, and thanks to an increasing awareness of environmental issues, government leaders are partnering with local chapters of IIAR to use their standards in drafting national regulations for the industry.

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Market-Driven Energy Efficiency

Building a facility and then retrotting it to be more energy efficient has been a practice used in the refrigeration industry for years; however, some forwardthinking companies are planning for efficient facilities from the start, and as costs come down, more organizations are willing to spend more upfront to see returns in the long-term.

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Estate Planning: Key Documents You Need

A durable power of attorney (DPOA) can help protect your property in the event you become physically unable or mentally incompetent to handle financial matters. If no one is ready to look after your financial affairs when you can’t, your property may be wasted, abused, or lost.

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Adding and Removing Oil

One of the important maintenance tasks in the operation of a refrigeration system is adding and removing oil. Oil is necessary in systems as a lubricant and, or, a sealant. Knowing how to identify and deal with the oil balance in a system is very important. Improper balance can have multiple effects on system operation.

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Appeals Court Vacates Trump Rule Delaying RMP Changes

A federal appeals court in August vacated a delay in Obama-era changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program (RMP) that would add compliance requirements to regulated facilities. Shortly after taking office, the Trump Administration issued a series of delays to the effective date of the RMP amendments, resulting in a final effective date of February 19, 2019.

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The 2018 and 2021 Codes Where We Are & Where We Are Headed

The 2018 editions of the International, Uniform and NFPA codes that affect the ammonia refrigeration industry, including the International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Building Code (IBC), Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) and NFPA Fire Code (NFPA 1) are now published and are pending adoption in many jurisdictions in the United States.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

This issue of the Condenser is all about operations. As you can see from our cover, one of the most important factors in that equation is geographical location. The regional and local operating environments define the business and regulatory landscape across the country. And that definition, in turn, determines how we uphold our high standards for safety and efficiency. The role that the regulatory framework plays in our industry, and even more importantly, how we respond to and inform it, is a central focus for IIAR.

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THE LOCATION LANDSCAPE

The cost of real estate, an available workforce and proximity to transportation dictate where businesses build industrial refrigeration facilities, and those factors are more important than ever in recent years. As rising demand spurs cold chain growth, clear winner (and loser) locations are emerging from the patchwork of regional U.S. regulatory and business environments. Increasingly, those environments are taking center stage in decisions to build a facility or what refrigerant to use.

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The 2018 and 2021 Codes: Where We Are & Where We Are Headed (Part 2)

Part 1 of this article presented IIAR’s many successes in changing the 2018 editions of model mechanical, building, fire and electrical codes in working with FM Global to update their recommendations for facilities with ammonia refrigeration.

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Understanding Compliance

I was talking recently to a professional acquaintance who told me that he is encountering more and more facility managers that ask him, “What is the minimum that we have to do to comply with 29 CFR 1910.119 and 40 CFR Part 68?”

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ARF News

The end of the year offers a time of reflection and an opportunity to give back to the programs, organizations and people that have supported us throughout the year. I am excited to tell you about all your foundation has accomplished in 2018 . . . and issue a challenge to you to get involved by giving to the programs which create opportunities to sustain the future of our industry.

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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies

If you are not engaging in year-end tax planning, you could be leaving money on the table. Consider the following strategies to identify potential opportunities to lower your 2018 (or 2019) tax bill. Be sure to consult with your a qualified tax professional before implementation.

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Awareness

Are you “aware” in all, or at least most of LESSON the aspects of your life? Awareness implies that you have knowledge of something by maintaining a level of alertness in observing or in interpreting what you see, hear, feel, etc.

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Supreme Court Declines to Hear HFC Case, EPA Proposes Removing HFC Leak Requirements

On October 9th, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to consider the case of whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.

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Energy and Function Analysis of Hot Gas Defrost in Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

Traditionally one of two methods for controlling drainage of the evaporator during hot gas defrost is used: pressure control, which keeps the pressure in the evaporator constant during defrost, or liquid drain control, which uses a float valve to drain condensed liquid from the evaporator. Each method’s energy consumption is quite different, as the pressure-control method bypasses a certain amount of hot gas during the defrost period.

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Chairman’s Message by Walter Teeter

The Annual Conference and Heavy Equipment Show was a great success this year, and now that the flurry of committee meetings, networking events and technical discussions has ended and we’re all back at work, it’s time to set some new goals and carry the momentum of our recent meeting into the rest of the year.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

Now that we’ve all returned from San Antonio, it’s a new member year, and your staff is digging in to accomplish many of the new goals set out for 2017. First among them is planning the next successful conference. We’re looking forward to returning to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and I hope to see you all there. Now is the time to take advantage of IIAR’s early membership renewal opportunities and get involved in the work of your committees.

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The Green Transformation

Refrigeration manufacturers said they would make production plans and future product development decisions according to the expected worldwide HFC refrigerant phase down put forth by the Kigali Amendment. The amendment, last year’s Montreal Protocol add-on, will specify phase-out deadlines for HFC’s, adding those refrigerants with high global warming potential to the group of ozone depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons that are already being outlawed under the international agreement.

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Where Rules Regulate Refrigeration, Uncertainty Surrounds Trump Administration

A new presidential administration always brings changes, but the election of President Trump has also brought a new level of uncertainty for the natural refrigeration industry. “We’re in a very new world with the Trump administration,” said Lowell Randel, vice president, government and legal affairs for the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. “We can get clues and signals but it is hard to know exactly what is going to happen at this early stage in the process.”

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Who’s Ready?

The majority of am monia refrigeration systems are well built, - lesson well maintained, and operated by people who know what they’re doing. IIAR has several Standards established to help in design, construction, maintenance and inspection of ammonia refrigeration systems and all of these factors usually result in no more than incidental releases from systems. Although rare, a system can have a potentially large release, or an actually significant event.

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ARF News

The son of John Adams, our more widely renowned second President, John Quincy Adams, and our nation’s sixth President, was an incredibly accomplished statesman and visionary. And he set a great example of devotion to a calling that many of IIAR’s past Chairs have followed. It’s an example of leadership that all can aspire to, and one that I hope to emulate as well.

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Stick to the Design and Keep Coils Clean for Maximum Efficiency

Understanding and sticking to the design characteristics of a cold room along with keeping evaporator coils clean, is the key to maintaining a system’s maximum efficiency level. Deviating from a system’s specified operating design, or failing to check the cleanliness and condition of coils, will waste energy and reduce the desired results.

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IIAR Guideline to Address Low-Charge Ammonia Systems

IIAR said it is developing an informative guideline document designed to help facilities with low-charge ammonia refrigeration systems simplify compliance with the OSHA and EPA General Duty Clause requirements from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Environmental Protection Administration.

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EPA Publishes Final Rule on Risk Management Program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed it multi-year effort to revise the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation with the publication of a Final Rule on Friday, January 13, 2017. The rulemaking was initiated as a part of President Obama’s Executive Order on Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security, which came in response to the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas in 2013. IIAR played an active role engaging with EPA on its proposed revisions to RMP and led an industry coalition expressing concerns with several of EPA’s proposals along the way.

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Compliance Doesn’t ETY Automatically Mean Safety

Your industrial ammonia refrigeration facility meets all the local, state and federal requirements regarding regulatory compliance, the Process Safety Management program or Risk Management program is up to date, the paperwork has been properly filed and you pass a government inspection.

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Eight Things to Know About Your 5-Year Mechanical Integrity Inspection

Mechanical integrity inspections should be conducted on the entire refrigeration system every five years in order to determine that an ammonia refrigeration facility’s equipment is safe and working to premium capacity

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Operating Procedures i n a r for Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

Tony Lundell, Director of Standards and Safety with the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, hosted a webinar in January titled “Operating Procedures for Ammonia Refrigeration Systems” as part of IIAR’s program aimed at educating and advancing safety initiatives for its members.

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Causes of Surface Condensation on Insulated Piping

Pipe, tanks, ducts, vessels, and other mechanical equipment operating at below ambient temperatures are insulated for various reasons with a key one being to prevent condensation of water vapor from the ambient atmosphere on the exterior surface of the insulation system. Condensation can lead to numerous problems including:

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Chairman’s Message by Walter Teeter

We're kicking off a new year and setting new agendas, and even though I’m well into my term as your IIAR Chairman, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone – new and renewing members alike.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

It’s the beginning of the summer and that means it’s time for one of IIAR’s most important activities – leading membership renewals. And while this may seem like a routine activity we all work hard to complete every year, I’d like to take the opportunity in my column this month to point out that, as an IIAR member, this is one of the most important contributions you can make to the success of our industry.

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The Internet of REFRIGERATION

The Internet of Things — an increasingly massive network of electronically connected systems, devices and people that enables cross-platform data sharing — is creating a large, connected ecosystem across many industries, including refrigeration.

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Packaged Components Promise Flexibility, Lower Install Costs

Package systems are providing turn-key solutions for those within the refrigeration industry, and some manufacturers are turning to packaged components within those systems, which can cut down on the number of parts in use and make maintenance easier.

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Cleaner Coils Boost Cooling Capacity

When a large food distribution facility was faced with major issues resulting from evaporator and condenser coils coated with dust, dirt, and production debris, it turned to EcoClear in Georgia and its deepcleaning system. The facility was looking to improve air flow, increase dehumidification, improve energy savings and reduce maintenance cost through a deep cleaning of the coils.

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IIAR Members Honored with Awards from Accelerate America

Accelerate America magazine honored five IIAR member companies for their work in advancing natural refrigerant adoption in North America as part of its second annual awards program. The awards were presented in June during the ATMOsphere America conference in San Diego

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IIAR Remembers George Yoksas

George Yoksas was a long-time federal safety regulator, but he hated when red tape got in the way of solving issues. “He wanted to find> solutions. He would say, ‘How can we make this work and have a meaningful impact?’ ” said Doug Reindl, a professor in the University of Wisconsin departments of Engineering Professional Development and Mechanical Engineering, and a founding director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium. “He was willing to think differently than someone who might look at a standard or regulation and say ‘It says this.’ He thought about what made sense.”

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Sealless Pumps Reap Energy Savings

Seal-less magnetic pumps, or mag-drive pumps, have become the preferred option for a variety of conditions in the ammonia refrigeration industry, mainly because they take the heat generated by the pump's electric motor out of the cooling proce

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R-22: Five Things to Know

With production of HCFC refrigerants ending in less than three years, food and beverage manufacturers who currently rely on R-22 are faced with some difficult choices. Although facilities can continue to use recycled, reclaimed or stockpiled R-22 past Jan. 1, 2020, there will come a time when the shift to lower global-warming-potential synthetic refrigerants or natural refrigerants, such as ammonia, is unavoidable.

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ARF to Create Industry Insulation Standards and Quality Control Guidelines

While insulation is a critical element currently is no industry standard for installation or quality control of the installation, a gap that the Ammonia Refrigeration Foundation plans to address with a new research project.

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RETA, IIAR Develop CO2 Training Materials

As hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are being phased out, there is a growing emphasis on natural refrigerants. To help improve safety and educate those within the industry, IIAR and the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association are working to create safety standards and develop educational materials

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Trump Administration Advances Regulatory Reform

President Trump made regulatory reform a priority during the campaign and pledged to provide industry relief from overly burdensome regulations.Since President Trump took office, he has initiated a number of actions to advance regulatory reform that will impact the industrial refrigeration industry.

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PARALLEL OPERATION OF SCREW COMPRESSOR PACKS

Ammonia screw compressor packs utilizing parallel operation of two or three smaller industrial NH3 screw compressors offer the optimum way to fulfill maximum part load efficiency, increased redundancy, and other highly desirable features in the industrial refrigeration industry.

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

In this issue of the Condenser, we’re looking at the exit strategies that end users and manufacturers alike are using – to move away from hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. As former IIAR chairman Bob Port mentions in our cover story “There is a lot of internal pressure to get out of [HFC’s and HCFC’s] from a sustainability standpoint, but it has to come at a reasonable cost and be a good business decision.”

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Making the Investment

As they move away from refrigerants with high global warming potential, commercial and industrial refrigeration users said they’re investing in new, natural refrigerant technology, including packaged ammonia systems and CO2 transcritical systems. The move to newer technologies is allowing them to ease some regulatory burdens, increase efficiency and improve safety.

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Did Amazon Just Invest in Natural Refrigerants?

In August, Amazon completed its $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods Market Inc., and the e-commerce giant now owns the upscale grocer Whole Foods, which is based in Austin, Texas, and has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

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Comparing Ammonia to 1234yf

Although ammonia has been the refrigerant of choice in industrial refrigeration systems for more than a century, it has faced competition from numerous synthetic refrigerants, most recently 1234yf and R32. Although the use of ammonia brings with it a greater regulatory burden, it remains the more logical choice of refrigerant in larger refrigeration systems, especially from a safety, efficiency and environmental standpoint.

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Back to Basics: To Reduce the Energy Burden, Reduce the Load

New technologies have led to improvements in energy efficiency, but it will take a new and smarter approach to industrial refrigeration system design to harness the full potential of energy savings – systems that are environmentally sound and costeffective.

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Situational Awareness Does Matter

I have often thought about situational awareness, but only on a cursory level. In my experience in dealing with emergencies, and seeing how people act in some situations most people seem oblivious to what is happening or can happen. Here is a recent experience I had that jarred me again into thinking about situational awareness.

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Attention: End Users and Contractors working in Illinois

In May of 2015, IIAR was notified that inspectors with the Illinois State Fire Marshal were requesting that ammonia vessels as part of refrigeration systems be internally inspected.

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Wealth Planning: Where to Begin on Education Funding

The IIAR and ARF reserve investment funds are currently managed by Stifel Financial Services under the investment policy established by their respective board of directors. In this and subsequent issues of the Condenser, you’ll find a “financial tech tips” article from the firm on this page. Members of IIAR may use the financial services of Stifel for personal and business investments and take advantage of the reduced rate structure offered with IIAR membership.

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To Stay Competitive, “Do the Math and Trust the Science”

Reduced-charge central ammonia refrigeration systems do not have to mean lower efficiency. With current technology, industrial refrigeration systems can be designed with a smaller ammonia charge and still operate at high efficiency. The key is trusting the math when designing a system.

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Closing the Flammability Gap

The safety of synthetic refrigerants versus anhydrous ammonia continues to provide a major point of debate within the refrigeration industry. Since ratification of the Montreal Protocol two decades ago, there has been a trend toward eliminating non-flammable synthetic refrigerants that have ozone depleting potential or global warming potential. At the same time, questions concerning the flammability and toxicity of replacement refrigerants have remained at the forefront.

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Court Rules Against EPA Regulating HFCs through SNAP Program

On August 8, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a ruling in the case of Mexichem Fluor Inc. vs. the EPA finding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exceeded its statutory authority by promulgating a rule in 2015 that regulated the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The 2015 regulation was issued by EPA through its Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP) as a part of the Obama Administration’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

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President’s Message by Dave Rule

This issue of the Condenser is all about education and training. As you can see from our cover, IIAR is unveiling a new apprenticeship program which will help our industry safeguard the generations of institutional knowledge we rely on for the development of our future technicians, engineers and managers.

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Chairman’s Message by Walter Teeter

We’re only three months away from the 2018 IIAR conference, and your staff at headquarters is working hard to wrap up annual conference programming for an event that promises to be one of the most exciting IIAR meetings yet.

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IIAR Launches Apprenticeship Program

Apprenticeship programs help businesses develop highlyskilled employees, reduce turnover, increase productivity and cut the cost of recruitment. They can also help employers attract new employees.

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Cold Chain Plays a Crucial Role in Emergency Preparedness

Disaster takes many forms – just this year, various sections of the U.S. have experienced catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires and flooding, all of which can knock out – sometimes for a long time – utilities that are essential to maintaining business. Earthquakes, tornados and blizzards are other major threats.

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The Future of Natural Refrigeration Begins Here

The future of industrial refrigeration begins at the 2018 Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo. This annual event will take place March 18-21 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO.

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