The Natural Refrigeration Review is a quarterly publication that contains technical articles, regulatory and code updates, industry news and information about IIAR activities and publications. It is distributed by email to all IIAR Members and IIAR Contact lists.
SUMMER 2026 THE NATURAL REFRIGERATION REVIEW
The Natural Refrigeration Review issues are available as PDF downloads for both lIAR members and non-members, or as individual article posts below. Click the button to view the full issue, or scroll through all the individual issue articles below.
The First 30 Minutes
In most situations, the correct response to a threat involving ammonia in the first thirty minutes after it is identified will effectively contain most potential hazards, before they have enough time to grow into an unmanageable problem. Preparation can mean the difference between a disorganized response and the ability to shut down a potential incident when time matters the most.
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Monitoring Recent OSHA Enforcement Trends
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration continues to be a major focus of IIAR’s government relations efforts, including the work of the newly reconstituted Government Relations Committee. IIAR members are reporting that OSHA has become increasingly active with inspections and enforcement activities. The National Emphasis Program for Chemical Facilities, or NEP, is a major reason OSHA inspection of ammonia refrigeration facilities has increased.
Read MoreA Preview of the 2015 Codes
Before I begin my regular column, I would like to spend a moment in remembrance of the horrifi c tragedy that occurred in the town of West, Texas on April 17. As I write this article, a memorial service is taking place to honor the ten emergency responders who selfl essly gave their lives in the service of their community when they responded to a fi re at a fertilizer depot in the heart of town.
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Ongoing Reviews of Procedures Now Can Prevent Confusion Later
We learn, hopefully, by our experience – in a classroom, in the field, or in our personal study. When operating an ammonia refrigeration system, we depend on education combined with experience. That education and experience can take the form of well thought-out and written operating procedures. And it’s worth asking: Are those operating procedures reviewed at least annually with the intent to correct or improve them from experience?
Read MoreIIAR Shatters Attendance Records, Sets New Goals at Conference
The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration hit record attendance numbers, signed agreements with international organizations and introduced a new president at its 2013 Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition, an event that marked a variety of transitions and new initiatives for the association this year.
Read MoreInternational Committee Meets for Second Time as Offi cial IIAR Working Committee
The IIAR International Committee’s second meeting since becoming a formal IIAR working committee in 2012 was attended by 54 people. After a review of the committee’s mission, purpose, scope and regional structure, Paul Bishop introduced the committee’s vice chairmen appointed since the last International Committee meeting was held in Milwaukee. John Flynn of Emerson Vilter was selected as the committee’s Senior Vice Chair.
Read MorePersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) for NH3 Releases Less Than 15,000 PPM of Vapor
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets the safe work practice guidelines that employers must comply with as minimum standards. Many states have assumed administering authority and have the right to define a higher standard of safety, when local hazards and special conditions exist.
Read MoreARF Targets $3 Million Funding Goal Amid Leadership Transitions
The Ammonia Refrigeration Foundation (ARF), the research and education foundation organized by IIAR, said it was on track to complete new research projects, award scholarships and raise existing funding levels this year.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Importance of Passivation
In recent years, the quality of the circulated water in evaporative condensers and cooling towers has declined as air and water pollution has increased. As regulations limit the use of many corrosion inhibitors for the hot dip galvanizing process, such as chromates, the passivation process for protection has become even more critical.
Read MoreChairman’s Message
Final preparations are being made for the 2013 Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition in Colorado Springs and that means my term as IIAR Chairman is almost complete. We have had many accomplishments during the past year; too many to recognize them all here, and there are many more to look forward to in the coming year under the leadership of Bob Port, IIAR Chairman 2013-2104.
Read MoreMAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY OF CARBON DIOXIDE REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS
The return of Carbon Dioxide as a refrigerant is probably un-stoppable because it is much more environmentally friendly than most of the non-flammable, non-toxic refrigerants currently in use. However, it is worth considering the reasons why industry departed from it in the 1940s.
Read MoreIIAR Code Advocacy Update
First issued in 1974, IIAR 2 is about to reach its 40th birthday. As a connoisseur of codes and standards, I can think of no other document that better captures the values and the mission of IIAR. Written over the years by individuals with some of the most recognizable names in the industry, IIAR 2 provides the primary basis for IIAR’s self-determination of the regulatory environment for design and installation of ammonia refrigeration systems.
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IIAR Government Affairs
The November 2012 elections brought no change in the balance of power in the Federal Government. President Obama won a second term, the House of Representatives remains controlled by Republicans, and the Democrats retained their majority in the Senate. With no changes in the balance of power, major legislative efforts will require some level of compromise.
Read MoreAmmonia Refrigeration Foundation UPDATE
One of the most important activities in the industrial refrigeration industry is the advancement of technology through research and education. The Ammonia Refrigeration Foundation is dedicated to this goal, enabling IIAR to advocate for code and government policy changes which benefit the industry in design, construction and the operation of increasingly safer and more efficient systems.
Read MoreRemembering Bill Bowles
The ammonia refrigeration industry lost one of its most devoted advocates and enthusiastic mentors last year with the passing of Bill Bowles, former IIAR Chairman, president of Evapco and first chairman of the Ammonia Refrigeration Foundation. Although Bill had retired from the industry, he remained personally invested in its success, serving on IIAR’s ARF Board of Directors as Chairman of the Trustees and as Vice Chairman of Evapco’s Board of Directors through 2012.
Read MoreInternational Update
Aiming to cut pollution while creating incentives for energy efficiency, the Australian Parliament passed the Clean Energy Future legislation on November 8, 2011, introducing a new carbon pricing scheme to be structured in two phases.
Read MoreIIAR Program Answers Industry with Small Facility Safety Guidelines
The ammonia refrigeration industry continues to experience an increase in enforcement activities that utilize OSHA’s General Duty Clause, specifically in facilities with less than 10,000 pounds of ammonia, where OSHA expects process safety-like standards to be in place.
Read More2013 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition
This year, IIAR’s 2013 Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Exhibition will be hold at one of the organization’s most beautiful conference locations, the Broadmoor Hotel and Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 17–20. With the usual emphasis on a well developed technical track, including a special focus on CO2, this year’s program will encompass many of the industry’s most important subject areas.
Read MoreCO2 Day Schedule
With the ever increasing awareness of the benefits Natural Refrigerants have for the environment there has been a renewed emphasis in the use of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as a refrigerant for the Industrial Refrigeration Industry. Naturally occurring refrigerants like Ammonia (NH3) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are by definition environmentally neutral.
Read MoreKEYNOTE SPEAKER
Washington resident Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as this country’s foremost highaltitude mountaineer. He is familiar to many from the 1996 IMAX documentary EVEREST and in 2002, he was awarded the historic Lowell Thomas Award by the Explorer’s Club for outstanding achievement in the field of mountaineering.
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