The International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration standards revisions presently has IIAR 2 under review for its targeted 2026 revision. Standards IIAR 4, IIAR 8, and IIAR 9 are currently open for review as well, and IIAR 5, IIAR 6, and IIAR 7 revisions were ANSI “approved” in July 2025. Meanwhile, IIAR’s first hydrocarbons standard is targeted for an ANSI approval in 2025, while the ANSI/IIAR CO2-2021 Safety Standard for Closed-Circuit Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration Systems is finalizing an Addendum A soon and will sequentially be opened for its targeted 2026 revision.

This article provides a status report on the IIAR suite of standards. Behind each update is a network of subcommittee chairs, staff facilitators, and consensus body members working to ensure the standards reflect current safety practice, regulatory clarity, and cross-document consistency. Don Faust is currently the IIAR Standards Committee Chairman.

IIAR 1: ANSI/IIAR 1-2022 Standard for Definitions and Terminology Used in IIAR Standards is presently in effect. It will be opened up for review starting in mid-2026 for its next revision, with a targeted completion with ANSI approval in 2027. Jake Denison will serve as the IIAR 1 subcommittee chair for this next revision, and Tony Lundell, senior director of standards and safety at IIAR, will serve as the IIAR staff facilitator. An IIAR 1 future revision considerations (FRC) list has captured suggestions and considerations for its next revision.

IIAR 2: ANSI/IIAR 2-2021 Standard for Design of Safe Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems is presently in effect. It is presently opened now for review for its next revision, with a targeted completion with ANSI approval in 2026. Mark Bazis Jr. is the IIAR 2 subcommittee chair, and Matt Chojnacki is the IIAR staff facilitator, and Tony Lundell and Eric Smith are supporting facilitation from IIAR staff who have both facilitated previous IIAR 2 revisions. An IIAR 2 FRC list has captured suggestions and considerations for its next revision, which are being addressed at this time.

IIAR 3: ANSI/IIAR 3-2022 Ammonia Refrigeration Valves is presently in effect. It will be opened up for review starting in mid2026 for its next revision, with a targeted completion with ANSI approval in 2027. Morton Juel Skovrup will serve as the IIAR 3 subcommittee chair for this next revision, and Lundell will serve as the IIAR staff facilitator. This standard provides minimum “performance criteria” requirements for ammonia refrigeration valves and strainers that are used in closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems. AN IIAR 3 FRC list has captured suggestions and considerations for its next revision.

IIAR 4: ANSI/IIAR 4-2020 Standard for the Installation of Closed Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems is presently open for review for its next revision, with a targeted completion with ANSI approval in 2026. Brian Alleman is the IIAR 4 Subcommittee Chair. Chojnacki and Lundell are the IIAR staff facilitators. An IIAR 4 FRC list has captured suggestions and considerations for its next revision.

IIAR 5: ANSI/IIAR 5-2025 Standard for the Startup of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems was ANSI Approved on July 3rd, 2025. Nick Nechay served as the IIAR 5 subcommittee chair, and Lundell served as the IIAR staff facilitator. The revision addresses the standard to harmonize items with IIAR 2, IIAR 4, IIAR 6, and IIAR 7.

IIAR 6: ANSI/IIAR 6-2025 Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems was ANSI Approved on July 7th, 2025. Jeff Sutton is the IIAR 6 subcommittee chair, and Lundell is the IIAR staff facilitator. The revision addresses the standard to harmonize items with IIAR 2, IIAR 4, IIAR 5, and IIAR 7. Appendix B, which was updated to include the old 109 Inspections, was removed from this 2025 Revision. An IIAR 6 Certificate Course, instructed by Tony Lundell of IIAR staff, with twenty-six (26) passing participants, occurred at the RETA 2024 Conference in Grapevine, Texas.

IIAR 7: ANSI/IIAR 7-2025 Standard for Operating Procedures for Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems was ANSI Approved on July 7th, 2025. Lesley Schafer is the IIAR 7 subcommittee chair, and Lundell is the IIAR staff facilitator. The revision addresses the standard to harmonize items with IIAR 2, IIAR 5, and IIAR 6. Example Operating Procedures Templates, along with five (5) P&IDs, were included as Appendix D with this 2025 Revision.

IIAR 8: ANSI/IIAR 8-2020 Standard for Decommissioning of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems is presently open for review for its next revision, with a targeted completion with ANSI approval in 2026. Lesley Schafer is presently the IIAR 4 subcommittee chair, and Chojnacki and Lundell are the IIAR staff facilitators. An IIAR 8 FRC list has captured suggestions and considerations for its next revision.

IIAR 9: ANSI/IIAR 9-2020 Standard for Minimum System Safety Requirements for Existing Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems recently had an Addendum A developed to address a scope change and an interpretation, provide a clear compliance deadline, address some simple edits, and provide an informative flow chart. Also, an IIAR 9 Checklist was developed as a tool. It is presently open for its next revision with a targeted ANSI approval within 2026. Eric Johnston is the IIAR 9 subcommittee chair, and Lundell is the IIAR staff facilitator.

An IIAR 9 Certificate Course, instructed by Tony Lundell of IIAR staff, will occur during the RETA 2025 Conference in Spokane, WA. The initial evaluation and/or acknowledgement to meet compliance is due January 1st, 2026, for (older) existing closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems.

CARBON DIOXIDE (IIAR STANDARD): IIAR CO2: ANSI/IIAR CO2-2021 Safety Standard for Closed-Circuit Carbon Dioxide Refrigeration Systems recently had an Addendum A finish its first (1st) public review receiving three (3) comments that are being addressed for Chapter 11, Pressure Relief Capacity Determination that focuses on the “C = fDL” equation to determine what is the “f” in the equation for covering subcritical and supercritical conditions (which is now not a constant).

Once the Addendum A is completed and ANSI-approved, the full standard will be opened up for its targeted 2026 revision. John Collins is the IIAR CO2 subcommittee chair, and Lundell is the IIAR staff facilitator.

HYDROCARBONS (STANDARD IN DEVELOPMENT): IIAR HC: IIAR HC-202x Safety Standard for Closed-Circuit Refrigeration Systems
Utilizing Hydrocarbon Refrigerants is a standard presently in development. This standard pertains to utilizing “natural” hydrocarbon refrigerants that have zero ozone-depleting potential and ultra-low global warming potential. The committee reviewed and developed responses to one hundred sixty-one (161) public review #1 comments received, fifteen (15) public review #2 comments received, and two (2) (Informative) Appendix A comments received.

Joseph Pillis is the IIAR HC subcommittee chair, and Lundell is the IIAR staff facilitator. With the public reviews completed, this standard in development is now being reviewed by the IIAR Standards Committee Voting Members, IIAR Consensus Body Members, and the IIAR Board of Directors for their votes to approve. Once the voting is completed/addressed/ resolved, the standard is targeted for an ANSI Approval within 2025.