IIAR is preparing to launch a new educational certificate program this fall that will provide industry training as well as an unbiased means to validate what participants have learned

The IIAR Academy of Natural Refrigerants certificate program will allow design engineers, installers and responsible parties to show that they have received documented and standardized training. The program will begin with a training course on IIAR-2, the latest IIAR standard to be updated, and will expand to cover additional IIAR standards and other technical courses of study that are necessary for engineers working in the refrigeration industry.

“Our markets are growing and we are drawing new generations of talent into the use of natural refrigerants. It is our responsibility and challenge to be sure that the lessons we have learned are not only documented in our standards, but also effectively transferred to and absorbed by our industry’s new participants, our next generation of leaders and the industry as a whole,” said Mark Stencel, IIAR chairman and director of business development at Bassett Mechanical.

By taking part in the IIAR education program, end users, designers and manufacturers will be able to show they’re familiar with the standard, which is particularly useful when regulators visit a facility, Stencel explained.

“Regulatory bodies concerned with worker and public safety, such as OSHA and the EPA, look to responsible technical associations, like the IIAR, to lead the way and to provide a means to help ensure that risks are mitigated as proven knowledge levels are employed by our industry’s practitioners,” Stencel said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standard on Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (1910.119(g)) requires that employers provide workers who use, store, move, manufacture and handle chemicals with training on their hazards. Employers must also implement written operating procedures that provide clear instructions for working safely with such chemicals.

“OSHA does not require that each worker receive the same training. However, it may be advantageous to an employer that each worker receives similar training on operating procedures to assure consistency,” an OSHA spokesperson said in a written statement. “Additionally, OSHA requires that employers keep records on employee training so that when employers conduct mandatory audits of the program, inconsistencies can be detected and corrected.”

“The course curriculum is designed for the person who is new and unfamiliar as well as the engineer who has years of experience in the industry. The intent was to spell out every detail in the program.”

Bob Czarnecki, chairman of the IIAR standards committee and the primary author of the IIAR-2 course curriculum

Because the first phase of the program is oriented towards IIAR’s safe design standard, it’s especially suitable for end users who ultimately hold responsibility for their facilities, for designers, for design/build contractors and manufacturers who orient their offerings to the safe design practices of the ammonia refrigeration community.

Under the IIAR Academy of Natural Refrigerants, the IIAR-2 certificate course will include eight training sessions, typically an hour or less, given as a PowerPoint presentation with a voiceover. “At the end of each module, there will be questions to check understanding, and then you can move onto the next module,” said Bob Czarnecki, chairman of the IIAR standards committee and the primary author of the IIAR-2 course curriculum.

To receive an IIAR certificate, participants will be required to pass an exam; the goal is to administer the first certificate exam at the IIAR conference at the end of February, said Trevor Hegg, vice president of industrial refrigeration product development at Evapco Inc. “I expect the exams on future certificate programs to be done in person, but not always at the conference,” he said.

Czarnecki said the program’s content and exam will cover the full IIAR-2 standard. “It goes through the whole document to make sure we’re bringing out everything that is a requirement and that it is loud and clear what the engineer is supposed to do,” he said, adding that the training be applicable to a wide range of designers, operators and other end users. “The course curriculum is designed for the person who is new and unfamiliar as well as the engineer who has years of experience in the industry. The intent was to spell out every detail in the program.”

“It gives them a good basis for dealing with regulators and inspectors and makes sure everyone is on the same page,” Czarnecki said, adding that the initial goal of the program is to enroll at least 100 participants, but he hopes there will be many more interested in the program.

IIAR opted to start with IIAR-2 because that standard was updated recently and is positioned to become the referenced ammonia standard for the industry. “A lot of material was added to IIAR-2,” Hegg said. “Since so much effort was put into that standard and since it was so comprehensive, it makes sense to start with that document.”

IIAR-2 was substantively expanded in its most recent release. “It has been written in the specific language of codes and is being adopted as an important portion of the codes that govern the construction of refrigerated facilities,” Stencel said. He added that ignorance of the law is not an excuse and knowledge of the law provides invaluable guidance in making the best possible decisions.

IIAR-2 was substantively expanded in its most recent release. “It has been written in the specific language of codes and is being adopted as an important portion of the codes that govern the construction of refrigerated facilities.”

Mark Stencel, IIAR chairman and director of business development at Bassett Mechanical.

The training will strive to ensure that the standard is clear. “Sometimes in the standards, language may not be as clear as you’d like, and with codes it seems like there is room for interpretation. We are trying to get away from that, make sure everything is clear, give insight and provide examples,” Czarnecki said. Hegg said IIAR members face a number of regulatory burdens, and properly documented training can benefit operators. “You get into a situation where OSHA may not be well versed in regards to specifics within our industry. If inspectors come in and question operating procedures in a facility, it is important for operators to have valid documentation of their training program and a clear understanding of industry standards,” he said.

Ideally, regulators and inspectors will take the course to make sure everyone is familiar with the same rules and regulations. “It is for the benefit of the industry. Those participating with this program will help the industry in general,”Hegg said.

IIAR will expand the certificate program to encompass the full suite of IIAR standards, the IIAR Piping Handbook, the IIAR CO2 Handbook and an additional number of IIAR publications. “As our standards are maintained and updated via the ANSI process, the program is being designed to evolve and to validate and communicate an individuals’ knowledge of best practices both today and in the future,” Stencel said, referring to the American National Standards Institute.

Hegg said he believes the next greatest potential is in a certificate course for IIAR-6, which is related to maintenance. “If our engineers can obtain a certificate to show they have competence, it gives them industry recognized documentation to show they are doing things appropriately,” he said.

IIAR’s Dave Rule added that accomplishing the goals of the new program will also require full time leadership within the IIAR staff. He added that the organization has hired a new education director to manage the education program, the certificate and continuing education credits, the Learning Management System and other training efforts. The new director, David Sainato, will join IIAR this month.

“We are pleased that David Sainato will be joining the IIAR Team as the new Director of Education. David is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a BA in Behavioral and Social Sciences and a major in Government and Politics; minor in English. He has served as a Professional Education Manager at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry since 2002. In his current and previous work experience he has addressed many of the challenges and objectives IIAR will face in establishing a quality education program to serve the needs of our membership. David also has experience working with a highly educated membership base as well as technical and scientific data in the medical field which should prove helpful in transitioning to our industry,” said Rule.

The IIAR Academy of Natural Refrigerants provides a structured means for the education of incoming professionals as well as an unbiased means for interested parties to discern proven and specific ammonia refrigeration and natural refrigeration knowledge. “It is intended, as well, to be a source of pride and a measure of commitment to professionalism in the practice of ammonia refrigeration,” Stencel said.

He added that it is to IIAR’s credit that they have begun the process of building a broad educational program with a focus on safety and have created a certificate program to measure and acknowledge comprehension of IIAR-2 as well as other standards and technical materials.

“Ammonia, applied and used properly, is highly efficient and safe, and is an environmentally sustainable refrigerant. Misapplied or misused, it has risks that cast a shadow on these wonderful attributes,” Stencel said.

Hegg said, “People are excited about where IIAR is going. IIAR’s mission includes providing education, and people are generally excited about the concept.”