After a 30-plus-year run as the Condenser magazine, the International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration said its long-running member journal will be rebranded in 2026 to become the Natural Refrigeration Review. IIAR said the organization’s Board of Directors voted for the change as a way to reflect the expansion of the publication in recent years.

The rebranding follows the IIAR’s name change for both the Institute and the Foundation, (The Natural Refrigeration Foundation), said IIAR President Gary Schrift.

“Our representation of our industry has evolved from an original scope that focused solely on ammonia and industrial applications to a scope that includes CO₂ and hydrocarbon refrigerants, and commercial and residential applications., and everything relating to the use and application of natural refrigerants,” said Schrift. “We’ve seen an overall expansion in our industry itself. These days we’re tackling the AIM Act in the USA, HFC phase outs worldwide, and many other big changes that didn’t exist when IIAR formed – and our mission and vision have expanded and changed to keep pace.”

The decision to change the longstanding name of the Condenser, IIAR’s over three-decades-old publication, to The Natural Refrigeration Review was made by the IIAR Board of Directors and staff during the organization’s Fall 2025 Board meeting, where IIAR leaders voted to choose the new name and approved a plan to expand the publication as part of the rebrand effort.

“This rebrand is an exciting opportunity to expand the depth of the information we produce as an organization,” said Andrea Fischer, Editor-in-Chief. “It’s a shift that positions our publication as a central engine for IIAR’s growth, outreach, and leadership in natural refrigerants.”

As IIAR has found new ways to expand membership, it has also begun communicating in different ways, producing technical references and articles to attract the attention of commercial, industrial, or policy-focused groups. The rebranding also reflects the ever-growing scope of natural refrigerants.

The Natural Refrigeration Review will include a new emphasis on producing technical guides and references for the industry, such as white papers and case studies. It will also provide IIAR members with more opportunities to showcase their expertise on equipment and issues through sponsored “product showcase”-style articles.

“This name change mirrors the IIAR and NRF name changes and really completes our transition from an education and communications standpoint,” said Schrift. “We’ve changed our educational and advocacy mission to deliver a wider scope of resources to our members, and now, an expanded Natural Refrigeration Review is going to make that effort even more relevant than ever.”

In tandem to this magazine name change and rebranding efforts, IIAR will launch a suite of new content products, and new IIAR Resource webpage, designed to meet the practical needs of decision-makers — especially those unfamiliar with natural refrigerants, said Schrift.

Meanwhile, The Review will continue to expand on many of the industry’s most pressing issues.

Over the past year, the magazine followed an ongoing shift in the industrial refrigeration landscape: the worldwide growth of natural refrigerants as a global climate solution. From regulatory breakthroughs to technical innovation, 2024–2025 marked a period of accelerated adoption.

IIAR attended the IDEA District Energy Conference and the IIR World Refrigeration Day, two events that featured new groups interested in the applications of natural refrigerants and the IIAR standards that enable their use.

Standards and Tools: Building the Infrastructure for Growth

IIAR also advanced many of its standards in 2025. Revisions to IIAR 5, 6, and 7 were ANSI-approved, while IIAR 2, 4, 8, and 9 entered review. The long-anticipated Hydrocarbon Safety Standard is nearing completion, with ANSI approval targeted for late 2025. Meanwhile, IIAR released a new Refrigerant Evaluator Tool to help users compare refrigerants amid the HFC phase-down, and will launch fact sheets and new videos for CO₂, ammonia, and hydrocarbons.

Safety, Preparedness, and Compliance

Safety remained a core theme of IIAR’s communication in 2025. Articles explored ammonia incident investigations, emergency preparedness, and updates to the EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) rule. IIAR also continued its work on Critical Task Guidance for ammonia emergency planning, reinforcing the importance of proactive safety culture.

Policy and Market Signals

The regulatory landscape, as always, underwent constant changes throughout the year. The AIM Act’s future faced uncertainty amid federal deregulatory efforts, while states like New York advanced restrictions on HFCs. Internationally, IIAR’s standards mapping project provided a comparative view of industrial refrigeration codes across 14 countries, supporting global harmonization.  This information will soon be available on the IIAR Resource site.

Education, Outreach, and Recognition

IIAR expanded its training footprint with on-site programs, such as the Trident Seafoods initiative, and training collaborations with RETA. The 2025 Natural Refrigeration Conference in Phoenix set new attendance records, while the upcoming 2026 San Antonio conference promises to be the largest yet.

PFAS Regulations Signal a Turning Point for Refrigerants

Meanwhile, a growing wave of state and federal regulations is reshaping the conversation around perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a class of persistent chemicals now under scrutiny for their environmental and health impacts. PFAS are increasingly viewed as a liability, with U.S. states introducing or adopting regulations. Until recently, refrigerants were not a central focus of these discussions, but that is rapidly changing.

Internationally, the European Union’s REACH proposal is expected to be finalized in 2025 and could ban up to 10,000 chemicals related to PFAS. This would directly impact nearly all current and emerging low-GWP HFC/HFO refrigerant blends, with estimates suggesting that 95% of synthetic alternatives could fall under the PFAS classification.

The implications for the refrigeration industry are significant. Supermarkets, in particular, face heightened regulatory pressure due to leak rates. Fortunately, PFAS-free, climate-friendly refrigerant solutions are already available for the supermarket sector, while the HVAC industry continues to face a more limited set of low-GWP options.

Industry leaders are urging a shift toward future-proof refrigerants—those not at risk of being swept up in evolving PFAS regulations. Natural refrigerants, such as CO₂, ammonia, and hydrocarbons, offer a stable path forward, free from the regulatory uncertainty surrounding synthetic alternatives.

Staying ahead of the numerous issues and innovations driving natural refrigerants in the next decade will require constant technical expertise and communication, a task that IIAR and the Review are ready to undertake with the magazine’s rebrand, said IIAR’s Schrift. “I’m excited to see what’s ahead for us as we delve into the stories and develop the kinds of resources our industry’s decision makers need to really advocate for naturals as the best refrigerant choice in the years ahead.”

The Condenser magazine website will undergo a gradual transition to the new Natural Refrigeration Review branding, which IIAR expects to complete in early 2026.