IIAR Recognized for Standards Development
“I’ve never seen an industry group move as quickly as IIAR has.”
Jeffrey Shapiro, P.E., IIAR’s code consultant and president of International Code Consultants
SDOs play an important role in supplementing model codes, such as building, fire and mechanical codes, to address special topics in greater detail than prescribed by codes themselves. In the case of ammonia refrigeration, model code adoption of IIAR standards cements IIAR’s position as the authoritative source for industry regulations, said Shapiro, who has been IIAR’s code consultant for nearly 20 years.
“IIAR has transitioned from an organization that was largely responsive to whatever regulatory agencies sent our way to an organization that sets the course for our industry by developing comprehensive standards and getting those standards adopted into law,” Shapiro said. “IIAR’s technical experts are highly qualified to guide our industry’s regulatory affairs and are better suited to that role than others who are less familiar with our industry.”
IIAR’s transformation is the result of a decision by the organization’s board of directors in June 2012, which supported growing IIAR-2 from a traditional standard into a more comprehensive document that could serve as both a code and a standard. The board also directed IIAR to transition IIAR bulletins and guidelines into adoptable, enforceable standards that thoroughly track the life cycle of ammonia refrigeration systems from design all the way through decommissioning. Shapiro strongly supported the board’s decision to make IIAR responsible for its own regulatory destiny.
“In the matter of four years, IIAR has almost reinvented itself with how we deal with regulatory aspects of ammonia refrigeration. That much of a spin in such a short time frame is remarkable,” Shapiro said. “I’ve never seen an industry group move as quickly as IIAR has.”
Shapiro presented an update on IIAR’s progress in standards development and adoption at the 2016 International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration Industrial Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition and will present a webinar in June offering a greater level of detail.
During the presentation, Shapiro offered a comprehensive review of the major changes in the latest codes and standards affecting the ammonia refrigeration industry, such as updates to refrigerant-gas detection alarm system requirements, classified electrical equipment and allowances for some refrigeration equipment to be located outside of machinery rooms.
Shapiro also described for attendees how IIAR standards are achieving broader acceptance as model code reference standards, including:
The International Fire Code, 2018 edition. The 2018 edition of the International Fire Code will recognize as mandatory standards:
- ANSI/IIAR 2-2014, Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 7-2013, Developing Operating Procedures for ClosedCircuit Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 8-2015, Decommissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
The International Mechanical Code, 2018 edition. The 2018 edition of the International Mechanical Code will recognize as mandatory standards:
- ANSI/IIAR 2-2014, Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 3-2012, Standard for Ammonia Refrigeration Valves
- ANSI/IIAR 4-2015, Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 5-2013, Start-up and Commissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
NFPA 1 Fire Code, 2018 edition. The 2018 edition of the NFPA 1 Fire Code will recognize as mandatory standards:
- ANSI/IIAR 2-2014, Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 7-2013, Developing Operating Procedures for ClosedCircuit Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 8-2015, Decommissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
The Uniform Mechanical Code, 2018 edition. The 2018 edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code is on track to entirely defer to IIAR Standards for regulation of ammonia refrigeration systems, with UMC Chapter 11 no longer applying to such systems. This recommendation was approved by the UMC Technical Committee in May 2016, and unless there is a successful public comment to the contrary, the UMC will defer to the following mandatory standards:
- ANSI/IIAR 2-2014, Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 3-2012, Standard for Ammonia Refrigeration Valves
- ANSI/IIAR 4-2015, Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
- ANSI/IIAR 5-2013, Start-up and Commissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
National Electrical Code, 2017 edition. The National Electrical Code will recognize an IIAR standard for the first time with IIAR 2-2014, Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems being referenced for electrical classification of areas containing ammonia refrigeration systems.
Shapiro said the inclusion of IIAR-2 as a reference standard in the National Electrical Code (NEC) is particularly noteworthy because the NEC is the only model code that has been adopted by all 50 states.
Going forward, he said IIAR will continue to be very busy with development of new standards covering operations, IIAR-6 and regulations for existing ammonia refrigeration facilities (including recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, or RAGAGEP), IIAR-9. In addition, an update to IIAR-3, which covers ammonia refrigeration valves, will begin soon.
